9.52pm on a cold November evening at a Greyhound Stadium in Western Ireland. 

Six racers line up, ready to spring out of the traps for race 9 of the evening.

In trap 5 is Monty, a two-year-old black greyhound with good racing form. One of the favourites for this 550 metre sprint. Monty has finished in the top three of his last eight races and has won over €1,000 in prize money for his syndicate of owners. He’s young, fast and at the peak of his career. 

31 seconds later and the race is over. Monty finishes last.

Minutes later Monty is lying on a veterinary table in the treatment room with an injured hock. But instead of being given pain relief and treatment for his injury he is waiting to be euthanized.

Monty’s owners have decided his racing days are over. It is cheaper to have him destroyed than to treat his injuries.

For many, many racing greyhounds this is how their career on the track ends. Along with their life. 

Thankfully, for Monty, his story doesn’t end here.

Forever Hounds Trust worked with an Irish Rescue to treat and rehabilitate Monty and will shortly be bringing him over to the UK where he will receive further treatment and behavioural support to get him ready for a forever home.  

Monty has spent his entire life in a kennel or on the track. He’s never been shown affection or treated as anything other than a commodity.  

Every week Forever Hounds Trust takes in ex-racers like Monty.For every ex-racer like Monty there are countless others that we are unable to help. Their racing days may be over but right now they urgently need your help to have the second chance at life they deserve.

We can only be here to help dogs like Monty with your support.

£7 will pay for pain medication for 3 days

£25 will pay for a raised bed to keep a hound warm, away from draughts and ease pressure on joints

£100 will pay for a course of physio to ease the tired legs of an ex-racer 

On behalf of Monty and all other ex-racers THANK YOU.