What became of the greyhounds when Walthamstow Dog Track closed

 Two years since the closure of the much missed Walthamstow Dog Track – what happened to the Greyhounds that once thrilled the crowds?

London once had 33 Greyhound Stadiums-but now has just two. Walthamstow(known as ‘The Stow’) with its distinctive neon signs and stylish 30s design, was a victim of this decline in interest in Greyhound racing. It closed in August 2008and the site was sold for redevelopment. Many East Enders still miss their traditional night out at the dogs.

With the closure, 211racing Greyhounds were made redundant overnightand faced an uncertainfuture.

Nearly 2 years later, the work of Manager Joy Battley and thestaff and sponsors at the Barley Kennels in Waltham Cross has seen all but 7 of the dogssuccessfully adopted byfamilies from all over the south east.Barley is part of the Retired Greyhounds’ Trust.

Joy’s work with Greyhoundsgoes back a long time. Her father had a race dog, her sister is married to a trainer and she worked at a track herself.

She saysthat “Greyhounds just love to race. They chase things, it is what they do”. She does not agree with animal welfare activists, some of which used to demonstrate outside Walthamstow, who say that this is a cruel sport.

The Retired Greyhound Trust offersa lifelong service to Greyhounds. Not only are the dogs well looked after at the Stadium Kennels but are offered an ‘after care service’ when re homed. “The dogs have to be in top condition” says Joy “or they simply will not win races!” On retirement they can move to centres like the BarleyKennels.

However not just anyone can take one of Joy’s dogs; homes are checked; there is a contract of care; dogs are neutered to prevent irresponsible breeding;and training and follow up is given to new owners. Many dogs come back to visit with their new families and the kennels can look after old ‘boys and girls’when a holiday is needed.

“Greyhounds are addictive” Joysays “many people take more than one. I havetwo at home along with two cats and they all seem to get on very well”.

Many new owners are delighted with their new pets. Sarah and Bob took a ‘girl’ called Mary and say “ Although we have only had Mary for about 10 months we could not imagine life without her now, especially as she thinks she is human! We are so pleased and thankful that she is now with us and only wish that we had enough room to help some of the others.”

The seven dogs left have some issues. Joy says their “chasing instinct can be quite strong!” Suzyis such a hard to place dog, she writes about herselfon the kennel website (with some help from staff): “I am a 4 year old pretty girl. I love people and enjoy lots of attention. I am very keen to chase so would best suit an experienced dog owner with NO CATS or small animals”

SUZY

The dogs that never find a home or who are brought back by people who cannot manage them arekept at the kennels indefinitely. “We will never put a dog down unless they are very ill indeed” Joy says.

Responsible dog ownership is what Joy and her staff are all about. She is dismayed by the behaviour of some breeders and owners. “We put a lot of care and time into our Greyhounds” she says “I know it is difficult to legislate, but I wish some way could be found to protect the welfare of all dogs”.

Visitors and potential owners of retired Greyhounds can visit the Barley Kennels seven days a week from 10am to 1pm (see http://www.wsretiredgreyhounds.co.uk. Anyone is welcome to come alongand take a dog (or two) out for a stroll. The centre is in pretty countryside, though the local rabbits seem to delight in walking past the greyhound exercise enclosure to drive the dogs crazy – that chasing instinct again.

As for the old stadium, it is still standing butwith weeds growing on the track and is beginning to look very sad.

A campaign, Save Our Stow (SOS), is underway to reopen Walthamstowwith backing from the local MPs andIan Duncan Smith,the Work and Pensions Secretary. However the new owners, the London and Quadrant Housing Association,have put in an application to demolish the stadium and build houses. The fight to reopen one of the East End’s iconic venues continues.

Bill Waldron, the well known owner of Westgate Motors in Hackney and a Greyhound fan says that Walthamstow was  “The Newmarket of dog racing. The EastEnders never went anywhere else after Walthamstow closed. It was like part of the EastEnd died.” Bill’s father used to take him when he was a boy in the 50’s. Bill also regrets the loss of employment and money the track used to bring to the area. He is quietly optimistic that the Stow will reopen and, like many of his friends, is watching developments very closely.

So for the track, the future looks uncertain. But the retired Walthamstow Greyhounds, thanks to the work of the Barley Kennels,are now well established in caring homes.