It was great to welcome Senedd Members @Heledd_Plaid, Lisbeth McLean and Sara Crowley to the rescue centre today. They met some of our dogs & we talked about the challenges facing our sector right now. In particular we discussed the need for more robust breeding legislation & enforcement resources, including the welfare & financial impact of the long and drawn out legal process for signing over dogs seized from illegal & low welfare breeders.

Seeing is believing. We saw it all first hand. Broken legs. Drug cheats. Deaths. Traumatised dogs. No amount of PR spin can hide the inherent cruelty of greyhound racing, it’s time for England to follow Wales and Scotland’s lead and #CutTheChase.

To be clear, the complaint was only in respect of his use of the term “fat-cat lobbyists” to describe hard-working animal welfare charities in Wales. It did not refer to his views on greyhound racing. No-one is reporting him or silencing him for his pro-racing stance. @Cai_ParryJones knows this because he had a copy of our complaint. How elected members engage with third sector organisations is important. Words matter.

Our defence of the work of animal welfare charities in Wales made the news yesterday. Language matters. nation.cymru/news/dog-rescue…

AN OPEN LETTER TO @Cai_ParryJones Dear Mr Parry-Jones, I am deeply disappointed by your recent Facebook post. Not because you wish to overturn the ban on greyhound racing – that is your prerogative as an elected Member of the Senedd – but because of your unnecessary and offensive description of hard-working and respected animal welfare organisations in Wales as “fat-cat lobbyists”. Animal welfare is a cross-party issue, and it is both legitimate and important for charities to engage with elected representatives and advocate for policies that we believe will deliver the best welfare outcomes for animals in Wales. We will not always agree with every party or individual politician, and issues such as greyhound racing, the badger cull and hunting can understandably be contentious and divisive. But we have always sought to engage constructively and respectfully, recognising the different roles we each have. The #CutTheChase coalition – Hope Rescue, Greyhound Rescue Wales, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross and RSPCA – plays a significant role in safeguarding animal welfare in Wales. Between us, we rescue and rehome thousands of animals every year. Last year alone, Hope Rescue provided a place of safety for 794 dogs. Coalition members support owners in crisis by taking in their pets; help local authorities discharge their statutory stray dog responsibilities; support pet owners fleeing domestic abuse; help homeless people keep their pets; rescue surplus and injured greyhounds; provide subsidised veterinary care; investigate and prosecute animal cruelty; help close down puppy farms; and support pet owners to keep their animals through community programmes. This is difficult, challenging and often deeply emotional work. We are currently operating in the midst of an animal welfare crisis, with demand for our services far exceeding our capacity to respond. At a time when charities are already under enormous financial and operational pressure, it is particularly disappointing to see organisations working on the frontline characterised in this way. Advocacy and engagement with politicians are a legitimate and essential part of charitable work. Campaigning for long-term change that improves animal welfare, tackles the causes of the problems we see every day and reduces pressure on already overstretched services is an important part of our role. We have always sought to maintain constructive relationships with Welsh Government and opposition parties, regardless of whether we agree with their policies. We may disagree profoundly about greyhound racing and how its future should be determined, but those disagreements should not diminish the contribution made by the organisations and people working every day to protect animals in Wales. To describe those organisations and their supporters as “fat-cat lobbyists” is not an accurate or fair characterisation of the work we do. Nor do I believe it is helpful to the wider relationship between politicians and the voluntary sector when there are legitimate policy disagreements. I would therefore ask you to reconsider your choice of words and how you engage with our sector. More importantly, I would welcome the opportunity for you to come and speak with us tomorrow, when we will be attending the #WorldAnimalDay celebrations at the Senedd. You will find representatives of all the coalition organisations there. We would be very happy to talk to you about the work we do, the challenges we face and why we believe advocacy for animal welfare is such an important part of our role. We may not agree on greyhound racing. But we should be able to disagree while maintaining respect for one another and for the people working every day to protect animals across Wales. Yours sincerely, Vanessa Waddon CEO, Hope Rescue

The @RoyalVetCollege has launched a new survey asking for public attitudes about greyhound racing. If you live in England, please do respond with your views. The survey can be found here 👇 surveymonkey.com/r/greyhound…

Right now, anyone can start a rescue with no experience, housing or governance – only voluntary standards exist. We're proud ADCH members & hold @RSPCA_official Platinum Pawprints, but the sector needs proper regulation. Great to film with Niki Roe & @RuthJonesLabour on this.

70% of dogs who arrive at Hope need medical care, we currently spend £300k in veterinary bills each year. Maggie arrived with ear, skin & urine infections & open wounds. Can you help us heal paws by donating today? Donate 👉hoperescue.org.uk/healing-pa… #HealPaws #HopeRescue #SummerAppeal

Breaking: A major new report concludes that the greyhound racing industry is incompatible with animal welfare standards💔 Read the report in full and find out why we're demanding an end to commercial racing: bit.ly/4whgBSY

Our founder and CEO will be speaking at the Century of Suffering March in London on 25th July. Organised by Shut Down Campaigns, @AnimalAid and @LeagueACS, calling for an end to greyhound racing. Join us at 11.30 a.m. from I Knightrider Court, EC4V 5BJ.

Last week, Lynda Cooper was convicted of 11 animal welfare offences and illegal dog breeding at Cardiff Crown Court, receiving a suspended sentence and a 10-year ban from keeping dogs. In 2024, we took in 77 dogs from the property. 🔗hoperescue.org.uk/pontypool-…

We're looking for a Community Fundraising Officer to help grow our grassroots fundraising programme! 📍 Hope Rescue Centre, Llanharan 🪙 £25,000 pro rata (Actual Salary £16,650) ⌚25hrs per week 📃 Permanent Apply 👉 hoperescue.org.uk/community-…

It's time to celebrate the dogs who found their forever homes! 🏡 This week we said goodbye to: 🍪Cookie (now Poppy) 🎈Blake Congratulations to all the lucky families and a big thank you to Miraculous Meals for their support ❤️

The demand for flat-faced dogs is fuelling a crisis in animal welfare. It's not cute if it costs their life. Read more about the #CostOfCute here 👉 hoperescue.eu.prod.cw.npe.ac…

We're thrilled to welcome journalist and tv & radio presenter, Mariclare Carey-Jones as Hope 's new ambassador! As an avid dog lover and animal welfare campaigner, she couldn't be a better fit! Welcome to #TeamHope Mariclare! 🐾 hoperescue.eu.prod.cw.npe.ac…