Greyhound Rescue Wales has been awarded a special grant from leading animal welfare charity Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

Battersea will support Greyhound Rescue Wales’ special programme The Last Hope Fund which pays for expensive veterinary treatment for greyhounds who have sustained life-changing injuries at the race track.

Lindsay Jackson, GRW’s Chair said: “We were delighted to receive this funding which has allowed us to employ a part-time member of staff to provide the best possible care for these greyhounds during their rehabilitation at our rehoming centre.

"Once they are fully recovered, we will then find them homes as family pets."

Margaret Hulme, Grants Manager at Battersea, recently visited Greyhound Rescue Wales at their rescue and rehoming centre in Garnant to meet the staff and current dogs waiting for their new forever homes.

Margaret said: “It’s a privilege to come out and meet the people behind the rescue organisations.

"We get a feel for the work that the charity does in their application but visiting first hand and seeing the care and love given to these dogs so that they can go on to lead a full and happy life is very special.”

Margaret wanted to let other dog and cat charities in Wales know about the new grant scheme.

“Battersea Grants is a new initiative that helps support smaller rescues and shelters by offering grants of between £3,000 and £15,000," she said.

"This money will help organisations continue their great work with dogs and cats across the UK.

"We hope that this grant will help make a real difference to the lives of cats and dogs in the community."

"We want to support rescues and shelters in the UK, not only by awarding funding, but also by sharing the experiences and knowledge we have gained as an animal welfare charity that has been rescuing and rehoming animals for 158 years”.

Alison Stubbins has recently joined the team at Hillcrest, thanks to the special grant from Battersea.

Alison said: “I love being with the dogs, it’s my ideal job.

"These dogs come in with life-changing injuries which can include amputations.

"They need the time and care to recover and recuperate both physically and psychologically from the trauma they have experienced.

"It’s wonderful to spend ‘one to one' time with a dog and see how their confidence grows as they recover from these traumatic injuries.”

Greyhound Rescue Wales are keen to raise the awareness that grants and support are available from Battersea for any cat or dog rehoming charity and would encourage South Wales animal charities to find out more.