A North Ockendon charity for rehoming retired greyhounds is appealing for help from big-hearted Havering households after its 20 resident dogs were made homeless.

GreyhoundHomer, the Essex, East London and Hertfordshire branch of national charity the Retired Greyhound Trust, was evicted last month following a dispute about the condition of the kennels.

The greyhounds are now in temporary accommodation, but each needs a permanent home.

Pat Philpot, who runs GreyhoundHomer, said: “We phoned round all the trainers and people we know and put dogs all over the place, just to get them into homes.”

Greyhound Homer is currently looking for new kennels from which to run its operation – but Ms Philpot said the immediate issue was the rehoming of the dogs currently in its care.

Chief exec of the Retired Greyhound Trust Peter Laurie said: “Last week the volunteers at our GreyhoundHomer branch sadly had no option but to move the 20 retired racing greyhounds in the care of the branch from kennels on the Ockendon training complex to new, temporary accommodation in Wickford.

“Thanks to the wonderful efforts of all the volunteers involved, the greyhounds are being well looked after until they can be placed in loving homes.”

GreyhoundHomer houses between 150 and 200 greyhounds a year. Currently there are a range of ages and sexes looking for new homes.

Mr Laurie added: “Retired greyhounds really do make wonderful pets. They are gentle, loving and quite lazy animals that adapt quickly to family life.”

GreyhoundHomer, which is one of the Retired Greyhound Trust’s 70 regional branches, was set up in 2006 and has rehoused more than 800 dogs since then.

If you are interested in helping by adopting a retired greyhound, or can support the branch in another way, contact Pat Philpot on 01708 551 689 or visit www.greyhoundhomer.co.uk.