GRWE 'processes' and rehomes around 500 dogs every year and at any one time we have around 65 dogs in rented kennels needing various levels of veterinary care. We have additional spaces for emergencies such as when a large number of dogs are found locked up in a shed on an allotment, say, or tied up in woodlands and abandoned. All dogs who come into our care receive a full veterinary examination and are neutered, vaccinated, wormed and micro-chipped. Many of the dogs need immediate dental treatment, mainly extraction due to the dreadful state of their teeth, and mange is also common, especially if the dog has been picked up as a stray or has been neglected. By having the veterinary and kennelling costs covered for two years GRWE will have greater capacity to assist in emergencies and we will be able to free up resources to invest in organisational capacity building, possibly employ a fundraiser/administrator and develop current and new income streams. Founded in 1996 GRWE is the leading greyhound rescue organisation in England & Wales completely independent of the racing industry. GRWE has no offices or own kennels, employs no staff and relies wholly on voluntary income and the tireless efforts of a great many dedicated volunteers and supporters spread over a large geographical area. While impossible to obtain accurate figures, it is estimated that around 12,000 greyhounds are ‘retired’ from the tracks every year, 50% of which simply ‘disappear’, most likely killed. The other 50% are mainly picked up by rescue charities. The vast majority of dogs retiring are fit and healthy, aged only 2 – 5 years, who simply cannot run fast enough to earn prize money for their owners and are therefore discarded. Often they will have been kept in appalling conditions and miserably treated. A race for life indeed.