According to RTE research in 2019, ninety per cent of greyhounds bred for racing do not make it to 5 yrs old. (https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2019/0626/1057535-greyhound-rte-investigates/). In the 6 years since, there's been little evidence of change.

Hector’s Greyhound Rescue is a charity based in mid-Wales that typically has around 45 dogs safely in kennels awaiting new homes.

Hector's does all it can to find homes for as many dogs that their funds can support. The charity is funded entirely by public goodwill and the efforts of like-minded volunteers and supporters who raise funds in all sorts of ways.

Like plucky little Ambrose who’s stride of about 5” is going to cover almost 130 km of the Scottish Great Glen to raise money for his taller greyhound brothers and in aid of Hector's. Little “Scotty” Ambrose, tells us he’s a Scottish Miniature Greyhound, and he is out to prove that he’s tougher than his taller brethren: “They can’ae cut it, they’re all built for speed and ha’ nae lang go in ‘em.” he tells me as I catch him during training.

“Last year mah mistress Nikki did the West Highland Way without ma, and frankly ah was fizzin; that’s mah hem right there an she didna take ma. So ah was determined that it’s nae happ’nin agin.” Little Ambrose went on to say. “Well she’s Welsh so she woodna ken the pull o’ the glens upon my soul, so we had words wen she got back ah kin tell thee.”

Ambrose has been training with Nikki every month since last May and he can now cover 25k a day despite his diminutive size. Nikki has a scheme that will chop up the distance between Fort William and Inverness along into five fairly even chunks. I asked "Scotty" how he was going to get to the Great Glen and how did he plan to fend for himself in the wilds of bonnie Scotland, he replied with a twinkle in his eye:

“Ahm a dog laddie, and a Scottish Greyhound at that, ah dinnae need nae tallie, “ he paused for a moment, “but between us ah do hae a wee support crew. There‘s mah mistress Nikki, she’ll be keeping ma company, navigating an’ ahen, making sure I dinnae stray from the route ‘cos ah admit to a tendency to chase the fowl ‘o the forest and forget where ah am. Oh, and there’s a sassenach coming too; Guy’ll drive me aboot when the day is done and pick up ma poop, I dinnae trust him with much else.”

So that’s it, little “Scotty” Ambrose is hoping dog lovers everywhere will help him exceed the £1400 his mistress Nikki raised last year and in turn help Hector's Greyhound Rescue save a few more of his taller brethren and find them caring forever homes. However much Ambrose raises, every penny will be sent to Hector's Greyhound Rescue.