Fund-raising has long been an important element of the Saluki scene in the UK where until the recent ban on hunting with dogs there was a significant problem with what are referred to as ‘fringe’ breeders. As their name suggests, these are people who are not involved in the mainstream of Saluki activities but involved in producing Salukis and Saluki cross breeds for illegal coursing on which large amounts of money were wagered. Some are also involved in the theft of Salukis either for breeding or coursing. In the past many of the stolen Salukis were never recovered, while others were returned to their owners on payment of substantial ransoms.

In recent years the theft of Salukis and other breeds for ransom has also been adopted by many petty criminals including those supporting drug habits as an easy way to make money. This trade in stolen dogs has led to a climate of fear among dog owners in general and Saluki owners in particular because of the frequency with which their dogs are targeted. An indication of this is that the Kennel Club bowed to pressure from Saluki exhibitors and in the interests of improved security allowed exhibitors to withhold their addresses from show catalogues to prevent identification of their premises. Unfortunately, the policing of this crime leaves a great deal to be desired despite the repeated lobbying of Parliament by dog owners and welfare groups.

The welfare implications of the mass production of Saluki puppies by ‘fringe’ breeders, on the one hand, and the theft of Salukis on the other, were considerable. Unwanted dogs- those who did not prove themselves on the coursing field or bitches found to have been sterilised –were often dumped in the countryside or out of vehicles on major roads. Some valuable show dogs were killed and maimed in this way. Meanwhile, puppies produced by disreputable breeders flooded the market, often being sold on car parks out of the boot/trunks of cars to anyone who took a fancy to them. Inevitably many of these puppies went on to produce further puppies or to become unwanted by owners who couldn’t manage them. Many of the dogs caught up in this sad trade were often badly abused or neglected, or passed from one owner to another. So, almost twenty years ago the two UK Saluki clubs formalised rescue schemes they had each operated informally into a registered charity, the Saluki Welfare Fund (SWF), which is run jointly.

Until the introduction of the ban on hunting with dogs three years ago, the SWF was annually re-homing some 60 or more Salukis and in some instances buying bitches which had been used as breeding machines or even entire litters in order to remove them from the production line and provide them with good, permanent homes. One bitch whose progeny occupied the SWF for many years had produced nearly 30 puppies by the age of three, puppies usually poorly reared and socialised.

Fund-raising for SWF has become an accepted part of involvement with the breed for many Saluki breeders and owners and this continues despite a decline in the number of needy Salukis since the hunting ban. However, there is no room for complacency because the Conservative Party is committed to re-instating hunting with dogs if elected to power. Fund-raising continues as vigorously as formerly and it was therefore appropriate that the recent Festival of the Saluki concluded with a fun and lure coursing day in aid of the SWF. This took place the day after the final show of the festival in the south of England and was a great success, being very well-attended and raising nearly £2000 for SWF.

Meanwhile, in the north of the country a sponsored countryside walk in aid of SWF and attended by 36 Salukis, other breeds and their owners raised nearly £500. An auction of Saluki memorabilia and books helped to swell the funds and some of the more collectable items will be offered for wider sale at a later date.

Just prior to the festival the media reported the conviction of a man who had been illegally posing as a vet and selling restricted drugs and vaccines to dog owners. He was found to have over 150 dogs in his kennels, most of them Salukis or Saluki crosses. This person, notorious in Saluki circles, had been mass producing Saluki puppies for several decades and almost single-handedly kept the breed welfare services working at full stretch and capacity. It is hoped that while he remains in prison the number of Salukis in need of rescue will reduce significantly.

The latest edition of Saluki Snippets, the newsletter for friends and supporters of the Saluki Welfare Fund, was published in October. This provides reports and photos of fund-raising events, details of future activities and of Salukis in need of homes. It also provides progress reports on those who have been successfully re-homed and other features. Of particular interest in this edition was a very full and well illustrated article on the Festival of Falconry held in the south of England in mid-July. This event attracted falconers from all around the world including Turkmenistan, Kyrgystan and Kazakstan and was attended by Hamed Al Ghanem, Director of the Arabian Saluki Centre in Dubai. Salukis displayed at the two day event attracted a great deal of interest and discussion, notably among far Eastern falconers who drew comparisons between them and their own Tazi and Taigan hunting dogs.

Saluki Snippets is published twice yearly and is available for £6 from Daphne Parnham, South Green, Maldon Rd, Steeple, Essex CM) 7RT.

Copies of the 2008 Saluki Calendar are also available from Brendan Austin (brendanaustin @aol.com) for £8.95 plus postage and packing. This calendar is a bumper edition which includes the September 2007 Festival and runs to December 2008. It is packed with photos of Salukis from the past and would make a delightful Christmas gift for any Saluki enthusiast.

Saluki enthusiasts visiting London over the Christmas period may be interested in the Saluki Art Exhibition at the Kennel Club, Clarges Street, Piccadilly. This runs from 3^rd September to 18^th January and at only £2.50 to enter it is well worth seeing.

Helen Graham - daxlore@wanadoo.fr