Celebrity
'paranormalist' and greyhound lover Uri Geller has urged people
to support a new target for charity The Retired Greyhound
Trust (RGT) - to find new homes for 2,000 ex-racing greyhounds
by the end of the year.
Geller, who himself has a pet greyhound JonJon, has asked
that people who are thinking of having a dog as a pet consider
taking a greyhound into their home.
Uri Geller comments: "Go for it. You will fall in love
with the dog in a matter of 24 hours. A greyhound will bring
so much warmth into your family. If you are an animal lover
then do give everything that you can to help the Trust."
The RGT has already re-homed over 1,000 greyhounds since January
2002, and is hoping that momentum will increase in the latter
part of the year to reach a goal of 2,000.
Typically retiring from racing at around three or four years
of age, greyhounds can live to be 13, making for a long-term
pet. Despite popular misconceptions, greyhounds take no more
effort to look after than the average breed of dog, are friendly,
docile animals, and are happy with two 20-minute walks each
day.
"JonJon, our greyhound, immediately adapted himself to
a family environment," Uri Geller continues. "They
are the most loving breed of all dogs." Geller, recently
a contestant on ITV1's reality game show I'm A Celebrity...
Get Me Out Of Here, also owns a dobermann, a chihuahua, and
a wire fox terrier. He also explained how greyhounds have
a particularly close relationship with their owners and how
astute they are in knowing what is happening in the home -
for example, when they are to be taken for a walk - even if
their routine differs from day to day.
"Every dog owner will tell you that there is telepathy
between humans and animals. There is a bond. We can't measure
the extra-sensory perception waves of a dog yet but one day
there will be a mechanism - and you will be amazed to find
that dogs would have a very high frequency of ESP."
Those wishing to find out more about adopting a greyhound
should call The Retired Greyhound Trust on 0870 444 0673.
