The Greyhound in Carshalton is hosting a weekend of bands July 21-23 ( and even if it rains there will be large umbrellas for cover!). Tonight friday it was the turn of Acoustic Bliss to play. A few photographs of the band. They did well in the inclement weather.
The state is working towards a ban from july 2017 after uncovering what they describe as “horrific” cruelty.”We are left with no acceptable course of action except to close this industry down,” Premier Mike Baird said. This emerged following an investigation and reports that animals such as rabbits and possums were being chased and killed in training sessions.
Four Australian states – NSW, Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania – subsequently launched inquiries into greyhound racing. In 2015 the NSW greyhound racing board stepped down after this illegal baiting was exposed in a TV documentary. This however was only the start. Mr Baird’s ruling came in response to the findings of a Special Commission of Inquiry, which were handed to the state government last week. The Inquiry found that in the last 12 years in NSW, between 49,000 and 68,000 dogs were killed because they weren’t considered quick enough to win races.
In recent years, the sport has enjoyed a resurgence across Australia. Prize money has sky-rocketed and betting is more than £2bn ($2.6bn) a year . This raises the question as to what will happen to the 20,000 racing greyhounds in this state alone. In the UK the Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare Trust that rehomes and socialises retired racing greyhounds expressed concerns earlier this year over the closure of a single greyhound track at Wimbledon and the potential influx of new greyhounds. 
There is already huge debate over this banning with views expressed that jobs and livelihoods will be lost, however the australian RSPCA reported this as an immense day for animal welfare. Opinion is thus divided.
NSW has strong penalties for animal cruelty of five year jail sentences plus a $22,000 fine for individuals found guilty of animal cruelty.
However critics argue that there is little evidence of these penalties being enforced.
In the short term the learnings are:
Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare ( http://www.hershamhounds.org.uk) also often known as Hersham hounds have their kennels unsurprisingly in Hersham. Sunday is a popular day to walk these gorgeous happy dogs, and as they are rescue hounds mostly retired from greyhound racing, they need socialising.
The local walks are excellent for getting a little exercise and a one hour walk will give you in Fitbit terms around 5-6000 steps. you can expect a few interesting meetings between greyhounds and other breeds, some are not bothered whereas some see other breeds as the devil. The occasional cat strolls out and sits in the road just watching ( and irritating ) the hounds.
Turners Lane in Hersham
Anya
The weather cannot promise to be good . So wellington boots or the equivalent are useful items year round. Anyone can walk the greyhounds though do need to register, which can be done on the day, with suitable proof of identity and address, so best to do your homework and contact the trust before hand to determine exactly what is needed.
Burhill Kennels, Turners Lane, Hersham, Surrey. KT12 4AW. Tel: 01932 224 918
Opening Times are from 11am to 2pm each day
It is also worth mentioning as described on the website that they never will destroy a well greyhound.
The Sanctuary – a home for life
Not all greyhounds are so lucky so we do step in and help those less fortunate greyhounds who are at risk, as and when we are able. We operate a ‘no destruction’ policy, which means that no greyhound will be put to sleep except on health grounds when there is no other option. For those greyhounds with long term medical or behavioural issues we have a sanctuary – their home for as long as they need it.
The weather is not always idyllic
I would encourage anyone to try this rewarding way to spend an hour or so, on any day in fact.
On sunday mornings a great way to get some exercise and be helpful is to take a trip down to Turners Lane in Hersham where Hersham Hounds/Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare have their greyhound kennels. The kennels are home to maybe 100 greyhounds at any one time.
Humphrey. A gorgeous greyhound who loves everyone
Home for the Greyhounds
Many walkers walk anything from a single pair of greyhounds to as many as eight. A thoroughly recommended way to get anything from 4-8,000 steps in Fitbit terms.
Turners Lane Hersham
Muddy Fields
The walk by itself is pleasant down the lanes. The field nearby show evidence still of the excess amount of rain of the last month and some of the fields are pure mud. One feels sympathy for the horses stabled there. The area is also home to many parakeets that take southeast England as their home, with their noisy chattering quite obvious, and flying around in small flocks of maybe 4-10 birds.
In the past the life of a greyhound at the end of its racing life, 4-5 years was not terribly optimistic but rescue groups such as WGW/Hersham Hounds work hard to ensure socialisation of the hounds and training for re-homing. Many dogs are rehomed though some are scarred and have idiosyncrasies that make it more complex.
If you do decide to come down and walk the greyhounds do remember to bring personal and address identification as this is needed to “sign-on”.
http://www.hershamhounds.org.uk
This rescue centre is actually in Hersham not Wimbledon but derives its name from the Wimbledon Dog Track not too far away. Rescue is maybe the wrong word. These greyhounds finish their racing life maybe aged 5 years and are mostly less than ideally or maybe not at all socialised. This centre works with them to train them and then home them. Each day anyone can go along and walk a greyhound. contrary to popular opinion then need quite short often gentle walks of maybe 20-30 minutes only and are kind docile dogs. the centre is an independent charity.
Whereas some dogs can be homed relatively quickly for others it may never be possible or take 3-4 years.
Burhill Kennels, Turners Lane, Hersham, Surrey. KT12 4AW. Tel: 01932 224 918
Opening Times are from 11am to 2pm each day
The cakes are from the cafe in Nonsuch Park in Cheam. The beer is from the Greyhound Hotel in Carshalton and is called Ghost Ale 4.5% Adnams Brewery. Superb to them all. Just photos and no chat! The Supid Soup can be found in Estonia. The Boat Bread can be found in Merton.
Ghost Ale
Nonsuch Park Cafe
Nonsuch Park Cafe
Nonsuch Park Cafe
Boat Bread
Nonsuch Park Cafe
Nonsuch Park Cafe
Supid Soups
As per the last post the rain in Hersham was extensive and whether this addled the brain of someone to leave an old sofa outside the Hersham Greyhounds Welfare place and adjoining the cemterty who knows but anyway they did. Bizarre.
Not a sofa
The poor lonely sofa of Hersham
The weather has not been pleasant in the Uk this last week and most nights one is greeted by a horrid frost. Today was no exception however the sun also rose and burnt off the frost early on meaning it was a great day to go and walk the rescue Greyhounds at Hersham. The work done by the mostly unpaid volunteers never fails to impress me and indeed today they were saying ” come and walk a hound on xmas morning”. The fields and lanes demonstrated admirably the recent rainfall and were literally full of water.
Sodden fields of Hersham
More sodden fields of Hersham
Went to the rescue greyhounds centre this morning with Elena and we took Glen to Painshill for a walk. There was talk about him being difficult and not getting on with other dogs, but in fact he was the sweetest greyhound. A real hound too. Sniffing as he walked. He had an interesting meeting with a large hissing swan but was not bothered by it. Usual downpour of rain after lunch followed by sunshine like Spain.
Had to have a haircut by public demand today which followed my weekly shave also by public demand. At this rate I will have to start having baths as well. Had a fathers day email from Mexico which was cute!
Tonight, in fact in less than an hour I am driving to Newcastle hopefuly getting there before midnight. My tour of the UK continues with drive back to Derby and eventually home wednesday evening. By then my newly resprayed car will have done more than 210,000 miles.
almost forgot. My only crime today was to frighten the paper boy. He frightens me, he is German and aged maybe 13 and weight more than me. Anyway for some reason the newsagent now puts all the papers for our road and others outside our front door on a sunday. I helped myself this morning before said Herr Paper boy arrived. When he did i opened the door and he was there and jumped back like Tom and Jerry cartoon. He may get a part in the new Addams Family movie without much make up! No hedgehog news, no sign of him today, hope he is still there. Where can I find more of those crunchy beetles he likes?
chris1957
Arcticterntalk.org 