30,000 greyhounds go missing every year, in most cases being put to sleep after their racing career ends. The greyhounds are less euphemistically ‘put down’ but are instead drowned, beaten to death, poisoned or dumped on the streets.

This is the brutal reality of the greyhound racing industry and charities like ‘Greyhounds in need’ (GIN) are left to pick up the pieces.

Bournemouth GIN shop owner and anti-greyhound racing supporter Sue North, makes no secret of her view on the concept of greyhound racing. “I’m completely against it, I think the entire idea of greyhound racing as a sport should be stopped.”

Speaking at her shop on Wimborne Road, Sue explains that the dreadful treatment of the dogs starts not just after racing but before and during. “It’s not just the transition between racing and retirement- the puppies that aren’t good enough for racing, are often killed straight away by their owners.

They are thrown over walls, drowned; it’s sickening to think how people can do this to such beautiful animals.” The disgust in her face is plain to see and illustrates her passion to stop the unlawful abuse of greyhounds. “The racing dogs are often kept in cold, damp sheds and tiny kennels with almost no space to move for 23 hours plus.” 

The GIN charity, aims to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome abandoned greyhounds.  Focusing especially in Spain, where the plight of the innocent and vulnerable dogs is even more shocking than in the UK, the charity works tirelessly all year round to find homes for the refugee dogs in 11 different countries from around Europe, including the UK. 

Founder, Anne Finch, launched GIN in 1998 with her husband and the charity has evolved and expanded through the years with the help of the likes of Sue North who have set up GIN charity shops in areas all around the UK.

The Bournemouth shop situated in Winton High Street, was opened in 2000 by Sue and her daughter. Whilst insistently handing over leaflets and information packs about the charity, Sue proudly explains how it all began, “I adopted a Lurcher (cross breed of a greyhound) and I was really interested in getting involved with a greyhound charity. I found out about GIN and did some car boot sales to raise some money, but decided I wanted to do more” Sue continues.

“A friend of mine had an empty shop space to sell, and I thought, why not! We started the business with two thousand pounds which we got back within the first week, and we haven’t looked back.”

The shop has now been successfully running for 12 years with 13 dedicated volunteers and volunteer worker at the Shop Christine Titchin, was asked about what Sue has done for the charity.

“She’s made us have a presence in Bournemouth, we get lots of donations and make some really good money for the charity. Sue has always had a fantastic passion for the cause and is so committed; she couldn’t really do much more!” 

Charities have found it difficult in the last couple of years through the sliding economy which Sue acknowledged but proudly stated, how it’s continued its success. “We are always busy, continuing to get donations and we surprisingly do better than most nearby charities. We are quite a niche charity and I think that helps.”

As the charity is constantly looking for possible homes for the dogs in real need of some real tender love and care, when asked why a greyhound would be a great choice of a pet for anyone, Sue gleefully explained with a smile stretching across her whole face.

“They are beautiful looking dogs, they have a fantastic temperament, they are loyal, gentle and non-aggressive. They interact well with young children and surprisingly don’t need much exercise.”

Adam Spencer-Hicken