Helping the Hounds of Macau

a black whippet with a green collar sitting on a blanket and green sofa

We want to share a story with you today about greyhounds that have been racing far away, in the Canidrome at Macau. Greyhound breeders from Australia sent their slower dogs here without much regard for their welfare. The ground on the track was hard, the facilities for the greyhounds were poor. Many were injured, many were put down if they weren’t fast enough. Animal welfare campaigners have been raising their concerns for years. Finally, in 2016, the decision was made by Macau officials that the Canidrome had to close. The owners were given two years’ notice. They were obliged to arrange a suitable rehoming programme for 650 dogs. When the Canidrome closed its doors in July 2018, 532 dogs were left inside, in urgent need of rehoming.

Local charity Anima (Society for the Protection of Animals in Macau) appealed for help to save the dogs. Volunteers began pouring into the Canidrome to help clean the kennels and care for the animals. An international rehoming programme was launched with the help of Pet Levrieri (Italy) for Europe and GREY2K USA Worldwide for the USA and Canada.

Kennel Sponsorship Certificate for Macau Greyhounds at Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary

We are sponsoring a kennel for the Macau dogs at the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary. This weekend five of the six dogs (aged between 5 and 8) arrived at Heathrow airport and are now safely recuperating from their long journey in their foster homes in Scotland. One more dog, aged 13 (Hong Kong Ace in the photograph above) will arrive in March. There are several other senior dogs still to be rehomed in Europe of which six will go to Italy, five to the UK and one to France.

The key to the success of this programme is the help and goodwill of many people working together. Every positive contribution has played its part, however small. Watching video footage of Heathrow’s Animal Team handlers walking through the sliding glass doors and handing dogs over to volunteers from various greyhound charities has brought tears to our companion’s eyes. Tears of joy. After everything these dogs have been through, some were smiling and wagging their tails. It’s as if they know that a happier life is ready to begin. The kind of life that every dog deserves. With walks in nature. A loving place to call home.

close up of a blue whippet with a pink collar looking up at the camera

For up to date information about the rescue and rehoming operation you can visit Save the Macau Greyhounds’ Facebook page.

The National Greyhound Adoption Program in the USA has taken one hundred of the Macau hounds in for rehoming in the USA. If you are in the US and interested in adopting or offering help, please contact them in the first instance.

Pet Levrieri in Italy have been co-ordinating the rehoming of the hounds throughout Europe and currently have dogs in foster and waiting for rehoming.

Levriers en Détresse is rehoming dogs in France and Greyhound Protection is rehoming dogs in Germany.

Several UK charities are taking in fifty dogs rescued from the Canidrome between them, of which Celia Cross Greyhound Trust is helping to rehome twenty.

Forever Hounds Trust is taking in three and have set up a Just Giving page.

We are supporting the Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary who are taking six dogs in total. They have a special sponsorship programme for the Macau greyhounds which remains open until April.

Some of the other UK charities involved are Erin Hounds Sighthound Rescue, Foal Farm Animal Rescue Centre, the Greyhound Awareness League (GAL), Greyhound Gap, Greyhound Rescue and Co-ordinated Emergencies (GRACE) and Makants Greyhound Rescue North West.

If you know anyone who might be interested in helping or adopting, please share. The remaining greyhounds are scheduled to arrive by the end of March.

Please help us say a prayer that they will all arrive safely in their new homes to enjoy a happy and loving retirement

With love from Eivor, Pearl and Xenia xxx

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/2.8 – 1/125 s – ISO 100, f/3.2 – 1/2000 s – ISO 160 and f/2.8 – 1/400 s – ISO 160.

Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Key

Dutch Goes the Photo Tuesday Photo Challenge: Surface

We are are delighted that on 26th March 2019 the remaining greyhounds left the Canidrome for their forever homes. You can read further details in Edge of New Tomorrows.

Author: whippetwisdom

The stories, poems and photographs on this blog are the original creative work of Xenia Tran. Inspired by life in the Scottish Highlands and in awe of nature she gives voice to the wisdom of her adopted and fostered whippets.

75 thoughts on “Helping the Hounds of Macau”

  2. XXXOOO! This post brought tears to my eyes. In my opinion, dog racing, horse racing, and any other kind of animal racing should be illegal. But there! So glad the dogs are finding the homes and lives they so richly deserve.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Laurie 💜 It’s been so sad to see that greyhound racing in particular has been incapable of proper self-regulation and care. We are glad that people are finally aware and more dogs are being saved to spend their retirement days in loving homes 🙂💖🐕 xxx

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. Thank you so much for helping to support these beautiful dogs. I will share this post. We volunteer for Greyhounds as Pets in New Zealand and it breaks my heart to think about what the hounds of Macau went through.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing 💜 It has been heart-breaking and we are so grateful that these dogs are able to leave the Canidrome alive and enjoy the loving retirement they so deserve 🐾💖🐾 xxx

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  6. Pingback: Helping the Hounds of Macau — Whippet Wisdom – a Highland Journey | DoggyMom.com

  10. Not sure whether my earlier comment went astray but I just wanted to say thanks for sharing this information, Xenia. So glad these dogs have the chance of a better life. I hope they all get the loving home they deserve ❤️ xxx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Cathy 💜 We are so grateful these dogs could be saved and we too hope they will find their happy forever homes 🍀 Hope you had a great day and much love to you and Finn from all of us here 🤗🐾💖🐾 xxx

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  17. Greyhound racing was banned here in my town in Florida. A friend of mine has adopted 3 greyhounds through the rescue program. They are the most gentle creatures…. This warmed my heart, Xenia.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Lois and great to see that greyhound racing is banned in your town 💜 We’re delighted that greyhound racing is now banned in the entire state of Florida too and that the remaining tracks have to close by January 2021. So happy to hear your friend has adopted three greyhounds – please give them a big pat from us all 🤗🐾💖🐾 xxx

      Like

      Reply

  19. Thank you Xenia for helping these poor souls to have homes and good health and care. They are so lucky. This post has made my day: a sad situation that has been rescued by the kindness of strangers.💕💖

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Draco. Animal welfare groups in Australia have been campaigning to have the export banned too, unfortunately with limited success. In 2013 Greyhounds Australasia finally banned the export and refused to issue pet pasports. Sadly, the Australian Department for Agriculture didn’t back this up and a further 519 greyhounds were exported to Macau, despite an industry ban in place.The breeders, of whom 179 were fined, and the pet transport companies involved sadly showed no concern or remorse. We are grateful the Canidrome is now closed to bring this very sad chapter to an end. The remaining dogs can now enjoy the rest of their lives in the loving homes they so deserve 🐾💜🐾

      Like

      Reply

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Annabelle, it doesn’t bear thinking about what would have happened if they’d gone to China. We’re so happy the Canidrome is finally closed and these lovely hounds can enjoy a happy retirement in a loving home. Much love and wags to you and Pearl from all of us here 🤗🐾💖🐾 xxx

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  23. On behalf of those that cannot speak for themselves, Thank You Xenia!
    Every animal deserves the simplest comforts life has to offer.
    A safe home, and people to love them.

    Keep up the good works!

    Paz

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  27. Smiles Xenia That’s Good News
    For the Greyhound’s that the
    Park there has Been Closed
    Also Great News
    Recently the
    One Close
    to Where
    i live is Finally
    Shut-Down too
    Sad When Best
    Friends are relegated as Slaves
    But Glad When Humans Come
    Around From:
    Again To:
    LoVE
    Greater Now..:)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  28. Pingback: Tuesday Photo Challenge – Round Up 148 – Dutch goes the Photo!
  31. Pingback: The Hounds of Macau – Best Friends BSGE
  32. Pingback: Tanka: Edge of New Tomorrows – Whippet Wisdom – a Highland Journey

    1. Thank you so much for your kind words dear Heather, it’s been an amazing operation involving many charities and volunteers 💜 Great to hear Shadow and Wilma have found a loving home with you – please give them a big pat from us all 🤗🐾💖🐾 xxx

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  34. Pingback: Thank You for Spreading the Love – Whippet Wisdom – a Highland Journey

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.