She’s their best friend

THEY say dogs are a man’s best friend – that is definitely the case for Pakenham resident Kayleigh Maher.
So much so, the vibrant 25-year-old dedicates her time to saving retired greyhounds from death row and finding them new “forever homes”.
It all started from a passion and love for the dog that was fostered from a young age to now becoming the Victorian Co-ordinator for Greyhound Rescue.
Kayleigh dedicates her days to giving greyhounds a second chance at life, while working to erase the stigma that they are aggressive and purely racing dogs.
Born in England, Kayleigh fell in love with greyhounds as a child as her dad and uncle were both trainers.
She said that she learnt how the dogs should be treated during that time.
“My dad treated them like royalty … they were all so well looked after,” she said.
“I grew up around them and developed a love for them.
“A lot of trainers do look after them, but some don’t.
“I became aware of that as I was growing up and decided I wanted to do what I can for them and save as many as I could.
Kayleigh moved to Queensland from England about three years ago, where she became involved with a not-for-profit greyhound rescue group in the state called Friends of the Hound.
In February last year, Kayleigh moved again to her current home in Pakenham.
Friends of the Hound does not re-home greyhounds in Victoria, but Kayleigh said she wanted to continue her work rescuing the dogs.
So I did my research and I came across Greyhound Rescue NSW, run by Peter and Janet Flann, who established the group in 2008,” she said.
“I spoke to them both in June 2010 and they were more than happy for me to become the Victorian head co-ordinator.”
Kayleigh started off by putting adverts out for foster carers on the internet and in local papers, and got calls from four separate families who were willing to offer their help.
With the dog’s best interest at heart, Kayleigh did a home check to ensure the foster carers were suitable.
“I did home checks, as I always do, to ensure their homes and environment were suitable to become foster carers,” she said.
“I ensured they had secure fences, and were willing to have the greyhounds live inside while they were at home and at night time. And if they had dogs of their own I established what energy and temperament foster greyhound would go there to suit them.
“I then provided them with suitable bedding for their foster greyhound and some dry food to get them started. I asked my foster carers to provide fresh food including meat, pasta and vegies.”
After the home checks were satisfactory, Mr and Mrs Flann picked the most suitable greyhounds and transported them to Kayleigh from NSW.
Since starting out in July last year, Kayleigh has successfully grown the organisations in Victoria and found many greyhounds new homes.
To date, she has had 15 adoptions in Victoria, and currently has six greyhounds in foster homes looking for their “forever homes”. One is also out on a three-week trial with its new family.
Kayleigh said however the process from the racing to track to a new home was not a simple one.
Greyhounds are generally finished racing when they are about four years old, but they live until they’re about 14.
Once a greyhound is received from a trainer, it is either put into a foster home or into a boarding kennel until a foster home is available.
“We then socialise them and get them used to being around humans,” she said. “We help them go from race mode to becoming a pet.
“All our dogs are also small dog tested. We put them in front of a small dog and see how they react. Nine out of 10 pass the test, but if they don’t, we don’t give up on them. We work with them more to help socialise them.”
Kayleigh said when someone became interested in one of the dogs, a home-check was done to ensure the house and family was suited to the greyhound.
“If satisfied, the dog is put on a three-week trial at the home,” she said.
“So far, touch wood, we have never had a dog come back.
“We ask for a $300 adoption fee for our greyhounds when they are adopted after they have completed a three-week trial period to help recoup all our costs.”
All of the greyhounds are desexed, C5 vaccinated, microchipped, heartworm tested and treated, intestinal wormed and flea treated every month.
They also each have a martingale collar, lead, wire muzzle, dog coat and bowl, all of which goes with our greyhounds to their forever home.
A completely not-for-profit organisation, Kayleigh said she held a number of fund-raisers through the year to help cover the costs.
“I’m also really lucky I have a supportive partner as I volunteer basically full-time,” she said.
“He says if it makes me happy and I’m passionate about it, then he is fine with it.”
Kayleigh will have a stall at the Eastern Region Pet Expo in Knox on Sunday 3 April, with promotional stall.
She is also hosting a sausage sizzle at Bunnings in Pakenham on Tuesday 26 April to raise some much-needed funds.
She said all money raised and donated was put directly back into saving the greyhounds.
And while she said funding support would be great, more foster carers were also needed.
“If we could find more foster homes we would be able to place some of the greyhounds who are currently waiting in boarding kennels in NSW, all of whom have been saved from death row and are waiting for a loving home,” she said.
Kayleigh said she loved what she did, as it was so rewarding.
“Without people like us, many wouldn’t be here,” she said.
“What I enjoy most about what I do is the satisfaction of seeing these dogs come to us with nowhere to go and no-one to love them, some of which have been very neglected, and to then see them go on to wonderful forever homes with people who adore them.
“To see our greyhounds happy, content and healthy, living the pampered life they so deserve, that is all the reward I personally need.”
Kayleigh said greyhounds were often misunderstood and could make the perfect pet for a variety of different situations and families.
“They are not just racing dogs – some of our greyhounds have never raced at all,” she said.
“Most greyhounds need one or two walks a day, they do not need a huge backyard to run around in.
“They are creatures of comfort. Greyhounds are very much indoor dogs, they like to cuddle and are couch potatoes.”
Anyone wanting to support Kayleigh either through a donation, to become a foster carer or to inquire about adopting a greyhound can contact her on 0424 569 148.
For more information visit www.greyhoundrescue.com.au