WATCHING greyhounds gracefully run round a track at up to 43mph, it is easy to forget what happens to their lives when they can no longer race.

Fortunately local charities ensure they are looked after in retirement and a group of Redditch-based workers, based at Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) in Albert Street, have just made a vital donation towards the upkeep of Midlands-based retired dogs until they are re-homed.

Paul Williams, of Perry Parr Retired Greyhound Trust, said: "PPDGs generosity will help us in our constant challenge to find forever homes for ex-racing greyhounds.

"They make fantastic pets and are very easy to look after. PPDG's donation assists us to look after up to 16 greyhounds at any one time in our kennels near Birmingham Airport and to run awareness road shows, demonstrating to the public how wonderful Greyhounds are.”

Christine Greenhill works at PPDGs Redditch office and she proposed the donation from the company’s award winning payroll-giving scheme.

"I have seen the Retired Greyhound Trust at numerous charity events and was appalled to learn how much greyhounds suffer when they are no longer deemed "useful" as a race dog,” she said.

"It is thanks to the trust that these gentle dogs have a second chance to find a loving home to live out the rest of their days which is why I nominated them for support with the vastly rising costs of running the kennels."

All greyhounds are attended to medically and are neutered, vaccinated, wormed, flea treated and micro chipped before being placed in good homes.

PPDG employees have been recognised for their generosity at The National Payroll Giving Excellence Awards organised by The Institute of Fundraising. At an event at The Treasury in London, the company’s scheme took the title for the Best Sustained SME campaign.