Charity
More than 19k animal lovers call to end greyhound racing in Wales
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IN RSPCA open letter signed by an astonishing 19,715 people which calls for the end of greyhound racing in Wales has been delivered to the First Minister’s office.
The open letter, addressed to Vaughan Gething MS, the First Minister of Wales, stated that the thousands of signatories wish to see a phased end to the “outdated practice” in Wales in order to protect the welfare of countless dogs at risk of injury – or worse.
The RSPCA is part of the Cut the Chase coalition – which includes the Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, Hope Rescue and Greyhound Rescue Wales – who have long expressed concern about the negative welfare consequences that racing and the greyhound industry has on the dogs involved. The regulated sector’s own figures show that between 2018 and 2023, 2,751 greyhounds died or were put to sleep for reasons other than natural causes or illness. (data covering England and Wales).
Meanwhile, more than 26,500 injuries were recorded from greyhound racing over the same time period*. The latest statistics from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) – which regulates Wales’ only track – show that the number of dogs involved in racing who died increased by 47% in 2023, further adding to the coalition’s concerns.
Wales could be the first nation in the UK to phase out the activity. Earlier this year, the Welsh Government carried out a 12-week consultation which is considering the future of greyhound racing. The consultation closed in March.
The Welsh Government has yet to publish the outcome of the consultation – and in the meantime dogs at the Valley Greyhounds Stadium in Ystrad Mynach continue to risk death or serious injury due to being knocked over or falling at speeds often in excess of 40mph.
Published results from races and trials at the Valley track, analysed by Greyhound Rescue Wales, shows that, between 3 March and 29 May this year, nine dogs were recorded as “fell” and 15 more were recorded as “knocked over”.
But these stats don’t show the full picture. Injury data from individual tracks and veterinary reports aren’t released publicly, so the exact welfare impact of the dogs who have fallen in races remains unknown.
Billie-Jade Thomas, RSPCA Senior Public Affairs Manager in Wales said: “Greyhound racing is inherently dangerous for the dogs involved. Running at speed around oval tracks causes significant injury to many dogs, and in some cases, the injuries are so severe that it is necessary for dogs to be put to sleep.
“There are only 10 countries in the world – including all UK nations – where commercial greyhound racing still goes on in 2024. But the Welsh Government now has a golden opportunity to commit to phasing out greyhound racing in Wales once and for all, sending an important message to the rest of the UK that they need to act to deliver a better life for greyhounds.
“We’d like to thank everyone who signed our open letter – we were delighted to have such a strong response and have more than 19,000 people support this cause. It really does show the strength of feeling there is about ending greyhound racing, and what we can achieve together for animal welfare.”
At its peak, there were 250 licensed tracks in the UK. Today, only 20* remain, with only one that is unlicensed in Great Britain.
The Cut the Chase coalition has called for greyhound racing to be phased out over the next five years, and remains committed to the welfare of the dogs involved in the industry during this time.
Phasing out greyhound racing in Wales is a major campaign priority for the RSPCA, as the charity marks its landmark 200th anniversary this year. Since its formation in 1824, the RSPCA has changed more than 400 laws for animals.
In reply to this story, a spokesperson from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), which now regulates the Valley Greyhound Stadium, said:
“Since successfully becoming licensed under GBGB in Autumn 2023, the Valley Greyhound Stadium has been transformed and welfare standards have never been higher. A veterinary surgeon is now on site for all trialling and racing and new high-quality veterinary and kennelling facilities have been put in place.
“GBGB-registered greyhounds receive far more protections than domestic pet dogs. They benefit from a host of systems and regulations, from veterinary surgeons on site at all time and independent oversight of trainers’ residential kennels to a national programme of training for individuals involved in the sport. It is gratifying that, under our remit, we can help promote the highest standards of greyhound welfare at the Valley Stadium whilst preserving this historic pastime and local source of employment for Wales.
“We have been pleased to engage with key stakeholders in Wales in recent months on the high standards that exist within our licensed sport, as well as our commitment to driving improvements still further through our long-term welfare strategy ‘A Good Life for Every Greyhound. We will continue to support the Welsh Government’s consultation process on licensing of animal activities to be evidence-based.”
Charity
A family’s courageous fight against MND raises thousands for Paul Sartori
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A BRAVE family dealing with their mother’s diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease has raised £12,050 for Pembrokeshire-based charity The Paul Sartori Foundation. Ann Evans from Dinas Cross was diagnosed with the life-limiting condition MND in 2021 and her husband Steve and their 5 sons have rallied around Ann through the stages of her illness, showing incredible strength and resilience.
With MND, messages from the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord gradually stop telling muscles how to move, leading to a series of life-altering and life-limiting complications. The Paul Sartori Foundation was glad to be able to assist the family with equipment that could help Ann with mobility and comfort. Paul Sartori Senior Registered Nurse Gaynor Davies has also been supporting the family for the last few years.
“The Evans family have all shown extreme bravery in the face of Ann’s diagnosis and are an incredible example of a strong family unit. Ann’s husband Steve has ensured that Ann has the best care possible, and her sons and their families have gone above and beyond to help other families who find themselves in the same circumstances”.
Ann’s sons, Aled, Billy, Ceri, Hefin, and Gwyn, set up a fundraiser earlier this year. The brothers wanted to do something to honour their mother’s courage, so set themselves individual challenges to raise money for the Paul Sartori Foundation.
Ceri undertook the Welsh 15 Peaks Challenge with friends Xav, Andy, and Simon, hiking all 15 peaks higher than 3,000 feet in Eryri in less than 24 hours. Billy ran 5k every day for a month, which is akin to running from Fishguard to Cardiff! Gwyn, who lives in New Zealand, undertook a mini-triathlon in Whangarai on North Island, managing a 2k sea swim, 25k cycle, and 8k hike. Aled and his friends Ed and Phil hiked 21k along the challenging ridge of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
Aiming to raise £5,000, the boys, whose children also joined them for their challenges, were overwhelmed by the show of financial and moral support for their cause. Having more than doubled their fundraising amount, the donation now goes to help buy equipment to help other families dealing with mobility issues due to life-limiting palliative illnesses such as MND. With the money raised, the hospice at home charity will purchase two beds with specialist mattresses and rails. Ann had also received a high-tech chair from the Motor Neurone Society and with the money raised, The Paul Sartori Foundation will be able to buy the same chair to help other patients in the future.
Clinical Coordinator and Equipment Facilitator Pat Coombs was invited to meet the family and thanked them for the incredible amount donated to the Equipment Hire department at Paul Sartori.
Pat said, “With the help of this brave family we’re able to help and support other families with specialist equipment that will give people the best quality of life and as much dignity as possible in their hour of need”.
Charity
How my life was saved by Wales Air Ambulance after garage roof fall
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A WEST WALES man has spoken out about the lifesaving care he received from the Welsh Air Ambulance after a terrifying accident at his home. Chris Heyns, who works for Utility Warehouse, shared his story in hopes of highlighting the vital service provided by the air ambulance team.
On 21st July, Mr Heyns, from Bridgend, suffered a serious accident when he fell from the roof of his garage, landing on the concrete floor below. The fall left him unconscious and, upon regaining consciousness, he was in excruciating pain. It was later revealed that he had shattered two vertebrae and sustained a bleed on the brain.
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“My wife called 999, but unfortunately, the nearest ambulance wouldn’t arrive for around 80 minutes,” Mr Heyns recalled. “However, just five minutes later, she received a call saying the air ambulance would be with me in 15 minutes.”
The Welsh Air Ambulance team arrived swiftly and provided Mr Heyns with much-needed pain relief, helping to ease his suffering. His wife described the crew as “amazing and so professional” in their handling of the situation.
Mr Heyns was airlifted to Cardiff University Hospital, where he underwent spinal surgery the following day. After spending three weeks in hospital, he is now recovering at home, though he acknowledges that the road to full recovery will take time.
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Reflecting on the ordeal, Mr Heyns expressed his deep gratitude for the air ambulance service. “I could not imagine what my wife and I would have had to endure if the Welsh Air Ambulance team hadn’t arrived so swiftly,” he said.
Although Mr Heyns admits that he had never previously donated to the air ambulance, his experience has prompted him to take action. “After my ordeal, I’m pledging to raise money next year to truly say a huge thank you for being there for all of us in times of need.”
Mr Heyns’ story serves as a powerful reminder of the critical role played by the Welsh Air Ambulance in saving lives across the region, often in the most challenging of circumstances.
The Welsh Air Ambulance Charity operates four helicopters, which are on standby 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, covering every corner of Wales. Each year, the service responds to approximately 3,500 missions, delivering advanced critical care to those in dire need, whether in remote rural areas, busy urban centres, or on major roads. The helicopters are equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment, and the highly skilled crews include critical care practitioners, paramedics, and consultants.
Since its inception in 2001, the Welsh Air Ambulance has saved countless lives, providing a lifeline for patients who might otherwise face long waits for emergency treatment. The charity relies entirely on public donations to keep flying, with each mission costing an average of £1,500.
For many, like Mr Heyns, the Welsh Air Ambulance is not just a service but a literal lifesaver, making it an essential part of the emergency medical landscape in Wales. As Mr Heyns prepares to raise funds to support the charity, his story highlights the importance of sustaining this vital service for the benefit of all.
Charity
Lifeboats launch following reports of missing child on Tenby beach
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BOTH of Tenby’s lifeboats were launched at 5.40pm on Friday (Aug 30) after a report that a child was missing on Tenby’s South beach, having last been seen in the sea.
The volunteer crew were quickly on scene and were tasked to perform shoreline searches from Castle beach, up towards Giltar, with RNLI lifeguards searching from the shore. The Y-boat was also launched from the Haydn Miller with two crew aboard to provide an extra asset for the search.
Within minutes of being launched, the crew of the Y-boat located the missing child swimming close in to the shore on South beach. He was taken into the care of the lifeguards, before being returned to his relieved family.
The lifeboats were then stood down to return to station, arriving at 6.05pm
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