Greyhound Trust Eastern Counties full with rescue dogs

Greyhound Trust Eastern Counties, based in Meadowgreen, near Hales, and Mildenhall, has 20 dogs in for homing across its two kennels, plus 38 dogs on its waiting list in total.

Vet costs have risen at the centre by £10,000 per year, which is double since pre-covid.

Many come into the centre from the racing industry, yet this year has seen a rise in unclaimed strays, other rehoming groups and private homes. 

Ex-racing greyhound Millie was dropped off at the Meadowgreen kennels with no explanation for her chronic lameness and her owner wasn't keen to answer questions. 

She was unable to walk across the car park without pain and every movement hurt. 

Millie looking for her peanut butter reward while the water fills at Wren Hydro (Image: Ingrid Wright)

Millie had no broken bones or chronic illness, but the vet believed she had likely suffered an impact injury which can be caused by running into something at speed, being hit by something at speed or children sitting on her. 

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She has had four months of medication, vet treatment, physiotherapy and hydrotherapy as she could only walk by relying on weight bearing. 

In previous years dogs would join the waiting list locally but are now joining from the Yarmouth and South Downs racing tracks, as well as Perry Barr, Nottingham, and Brighton and Hove.

Ingrid Wright, of the Greyhound Trust Eastern Counties, said: "People are returning to work and the cost of living and inflation is rising out of control. Then at the end of the queue is the family pet hoping that they'll not lose the roof over their head.

"Our vet bills have gone from an average £10,000 per year pre-covid to an average £20,000 per year since 2020 with a high of £30,000 in 2021."