CORNISH holiday letting business Classic Cottages has donated over £1,000 worth of much-needed food supplies to the Russet Greyhound Sanctuary in Camborne.
The donation comes at a time when many shelters are struggling to attract potential new owners for their resident rescues. The cost-of-living crisis means people are not coming forward as frequently to take on animals who need a second chance.
Classic Cottages’ marketing co-ordinator Liz Arnell recently adopted a five-year-old greyhound called Doris from the Russet sanctuary. During the process, Liz saw first-hand the amount of time, effort and funding that’s needed to care for these gentle giants while they wait for their forever homes.
When the chance came for Hayle-based Classic Cottages to make one of their regular donations to a good cause, Liz knew the Russet Greyhound Sanctuary, set up and run by Sandra Deacon, was the perfect choice.
Liz said: “Doris is a delight and I’m so pleased we found each other. Sandra seems to know instinctively which dogs are right for which people. I knew Doris would be coming home with me from the moment I saw her, and I think she felt the same way.
“She’s so lovely and gentle and placid – it’s bit like having a sloth around the place! She comes to work with me at the Classic Cottages offices and curls up like a croissant on her cushion by my desk. All my colleagues love her.
“I’m just so pleased we’ve been able to help Sandra and the sanctuary in some way. Adopting Doris has been such a rewarding experience.”
Sandra set up the Russet Greyhound Sanctuary 15 years ago and has rehomed around 2,000 dogs in that time. Greyhounds come to the sanctuary from all over the UK and need time, love and understanding to help them adapt to life after the racetrack.
The majority are not used to being around people, houses or other animals and Sandra has to teach them how to become family pets. She currently has 24 ex-racing dogs in her care which all need to go to good homes but there’s a shortage of people coming forward at the moment.
She said: “The number of greyhounds we receive is pretty consistent but there has definitely been a change in the number of people wanting to adopt them. It might be cost that puts them off but the benefits to owning one of these amazing dogs is huge.
“They’re graceful, loving, contented animals that are so adaptable to their surroundings. I see it as a real privilege to help these dogs. I know I’m biased but they’re just so lovely.”
Sandra added that she’s hugely grateful to Classic Cottages for the donation towards her food supplies - the costliest part of running her sanctuary. She’s also delighted to have been able to bring Doris and Liz together.
Sandra said: “They’re just so right for each other - like peas in a pod!”
Sandra spent years fostering greyhounds before setting up the Russet Greyhound Sanctuary in 2010. She runs the sanctuary from her home, where she has built kennels for her rescues, plus a day room. There are also plenty of fields for the dogs to exercise in.
Sandra relies on donations and volunteers to help her with the day-to-day running of the sanctuary. To find out more, see russetgreyhoundscornwall.com