The Retired Greyhound Trust
Medway Greyhound Support Group

For all new, old and potential greyhound owners there is a support group who meet on the first Sunday of every month at 10.30am outside the Visitors Centre at the Riverside Country Park, Lower Rainham Road, Rainham, Kent.

It is organised by John Homer who can be contacted on 01634 403914 or by email on rgtmedwaysupport@aol.com.

The groups aim is to support the owners in socialising their greyhounds to other breeds, raising funds through sponsorship and generally having a good time.

News letter April 2010

Since our last News Letter in April 2009, a lot has happened; we did not hold a second sponsored walk in 2009 because of the recession. The April 2009 Sponsored walk raised £690 which together with the donations collected from monthly walks raised a total of £1617.75p, this was divided between RGT, RGT Croftview and Sittingbourne RGT.

I realised that we are now getting as many dogs on the monthly walk as we do on a sponsored walk. I also realised that it was the same few who were making donations and there are many others who feel unable to do so! You are not compelled to make a donation but every little helps!

It was decided almost by fate, that we should have a project to raise funds for. That project was the replacement of the roof at the RGT Kennel at Croftview at the same time, the paddocks needed urgent upgrading. This work was carried out just in the nick of time; the roof was finished just as the heavens opened up and the snow’s came but the dogs stayed dry and warm. It has also been one of the coldest winters for many years so you must see how important fund raising is.

RGT Medway made a promise to pay for the work at a cost of £3500.00. Since May 2009 we have raised £2105.55p, so we are more than half way!

There is a sad side to the past 12 months in that we have had a number of deaths of characters, both human and greyhounds! Our thoughts and prays go out to those families and friends and I make no excuse for including both human and greyhounds, they are both part of our family!

Over the past 12 months we have helped many dogs and their owner’s with problems ranging from seeking second opinion from greyhound vets on questionable treatment by pet vets! Counselling owners, whose dogs were suffering from behaviour problems and preventing dogs going back to kennels. We have also assisted in re homing greyhounds without the need for the dog to go back to kennels.

I need the assistance of volunteers who would be willing to act as walk marshals and put on a yellow jacket! We used to walk 15 to 20 dogs now it is over 70 and Jean and I are finding it very hard work!

Many thanks to everyone who has assisted in making each walk and event successful, my special thanks to Ann and Bob for organising the Christmas dinner (which raised £60 from the raffle) but my special thanks to my wife for carrying out the signing in and collecting donations.

To Bill and Lindsay from Sittingbourne for their continued support. To Cathy for help and support and carrying her nail clippers with her (she will clip your Greys nails for a donation!). To Sarah for acting as walk leader. I could not organise the walks without your continued help and if I have forgotten anyone please forgive me but again, THANK YOU!

THE GREAT BRITAIN GREYHOUND WALK – 20th JUNE 2010 10am START.

At 10am throughout Britain a Greyhound Walk will start, this will be our sponsored walk, please ask about forms!

John V Homer

Organiser

RGT Medway

SPONSORED WALK 5th April 2009

The sun shone today for the sponsored walk at the Riverside Country Park at Rainham and it was a far cry from last April’s weather when it snowed. There were over 90 dogs at the walk, a good support to help raise funds for the RGT.

We had over 70 entrants and 96 dogs including other breeds, they do not know that they are not Greyhounds!

On the day we banked £670 with £252 already banked making a total of £922 with another £574 in sponsorship still to come. There should be over £1500 in total!

If this is the case the support group proposes that it should be split three ways, Croftview, Sittingbourne and RGT National!

I have to thank a lot of people for the assistance that was given on the day, especially Maggie and Fred Joyce, Bill and Lindsay Buckley, Ann and Bob Ball and of course the Croftview staff led by Cheryl Miller!

If anyone is feeling left out, I apologise because there was a lot more of you that took on the role of Marshals and walk leaders and not forgetting the walkers themselves! THANK YOU!

John V Homer

Below are some pictures of the day.