MYLO might not have been great on the race track, but for Arthur Drury she is his new best mate.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When Mr Drury heard that greyhound racing was to be banned in NSW, leaving thousands of dogs in the lurch, he knew he had to act.
He started researching greyhounds and quickly decided he would like to adopt an ex-racing dog to give it a new future.
In the eight weeks that have past since Mr Drury and his wife Lina welcomed Mylo into their household he says he has not looked back.
“Mylo is beautiful, she really is,” Mr Drury said.
“She’ll climb on the lounge with Lina or I to go to sleep.
“It’s been a wonderful experience … she’s got a beautiful nature, she rarely barks and she’s very smart.”
Mylo is 3.5 years old, and Mr Drury said it was much easier to adopt an adult dog than a puppy.
“I’ve had puppies before, but I didn’t want them digging up the garden,” he said.
Mylo has also become firm friends with the Drury’s aging German shepherd cross dog Lucky, 11.
“We’ve always adopted dogs. It’s nice to give them a second chance,” he said.
The Drurys adopted Mylo through Greyhounds as Pets (GAP) and the couple said they were impressed by the support and transition information they received during the process.
Mylo is beautiful, she really is.
- Arthur Drury on his newly adopted ex-racing greyhound Mylo
“They work hard to find a life for greyhounds outside racing,” Mr Drury said.
GAP is a not-for-profit initiative co-ordinated by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) and currently rehomes around 10 ex-racing greyhounds a week.
A GRNSW spokesperson said with the ban on greyhound racing to commence on July 1, 2017, it is impossible to put a definite number on the amount of greyhounds that will need new homes.
“GAP rehomes greyhounds that have been retired from racing or who are unsuited to racing,” the spokesperson said.
All greyhounds that come through GAP have been behaviourally assessed for suitability as a pet.
“Greyhounds can make wonderful pets … they do not require huge amounts of exercise, tend to not bark and sleep for big portions of the day,” the spokesperson said.
“GAP prides itself on matching the right dog to the right adopter and their circumstances.”
- Greyhounds as Pets are holding an adoption day at Kellyville Pets in Beaumont Hills in Sydney on Saturday from 10am-2pm. For more information visit www.gapnsw.com.au.