THE future is looking brighter for eight greyhounds which were rescued from their filthy and cramped 'prison' at Westhoughton.

The greyhounds - two adults and six pups - - were being kept in "appalling" conditions in a shed and locked enclosure and an outhouse in the back garden of a house.

Pat Graham, who runs the Lexus greyhound rescue organisation in Horwich, stepped in when neighbours reported the terrible conditions the dogs were enduring.

The dogs, some with open sores on their bodies, were living in their own filth. Local people said they were never taken out and the stench from their compound was sickening.

When neighbours complained to the environmental health department, they were issued with a recorder to tape the noise levels, but say nothing more was done.

Pat says they also alerted the RSPCA, but because the dogs were being fed and had shelter, the organisation was unable to prosecute.

An angry Pat contacted the dogs' owner and managed to persuade him to sign the dogs over to her care. But she is now pressing the authorities to make sure he is never allowed to keep dogs again.

Pat collected the dogs this week and took them to her Horwich home where they were bathed and given something to eat. Pat claims they had been on a diet of potatoes and vegetables and will have to learn how to eat meat.

They have been found temporary homes with an animal worker in Yorkshire where they have been placed in isolation in case they are harbouring any infection. One of the dogs rescued later developed Parvo and had to remain at the vet's for several days on a drip. Permanent homes will be needed soon and anyone who can help should contact Pat on Bolton 668589.

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