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It all started with an unexpected boat cruise on the Brisbane River, but for Gold Coast couple Liz and Kim Barnes, a life dedicated to animal rescue really began with a single, tiny, orphaned bat pup.
"We learned an awful lot about flying foxes, and how many babies, or pups as they call them, need rescuing," Liz recalls. "It got us hooked. We joined the group, got our wildlife carer licences, and started rescuing orphaned baby flying foxes."
They rehabilitated about 40 young foxes, many whose parents had been killed on electricity wires, and saw them released back into the wild.
At the same time, the couple were fostering dogs for the RSPCA. "At first, we took any dogs that needed to live in a home for a while, then the cruelty case dogs came, where the RSPCA would go into a puppy farm," Liz says. "We would have them while the RSPCA was taking the farmers to court. Once the court case had gone through, they would be adopted."
Later came the seeing-eye puppies. The couple raised them until they were ready for training, though a few that didn’t make the cut stayed with them for good. "We had three or four of those," Liz says.
They rehabilitated about 40 young foxes, many whose parents had been killed on electricity wires, and saw them released back into the wild.
At the same time, the couple were fostering dogs for the RSPCA. "At first, we took any dogs that needed to live in a home for a while, then the cruelty case dogs came, where the RSPCA would go into a puppy farm," Liz says. "We would have them while the RSPCA was taking the farmers to court. Once the court case had gone through, they would be adopted."
Later came the seeing-eye puppies. The couple raised them until they were ready for training, though a few that didn’t make the cut stayed with them for good. "We had three or four of those," Liz says.
From Fostering Dogs to Falling for Greyhounds
About 14 years ago, when the couple retired to Tamborine Mountain, Liz had a momentous meeting.
"I went to the vet clinic just up the road and started chatting to a vet nurse, and she introduced me to Greyhounds and the joy of owning them — and the rest is history," Liz says, despite the fact they'd decided on "no more dogs at that stage."
Since then, Liz and Kim have nurtured about 20 Greyhounds into new homes, as well as keeping three 'foster fails' of their own.
"The latest little girl is Maggie Moo, a black and white cow hound, and she loves eating grass," Liz says. "Toby is a big black, quiet, gentle, Zen boy. Coco is the matriarch of the lot—Miss Bossy Boots. She's in charge, and if they seem to be stepping out of line or having fun, she will tell them off in no uncertain terms."
Friends of the Hound Inc. joke that Liz and Kim are “banned” from adopting any more because they’re too valuable as foster carers.
"I’m 77 and Kim is 78, and we live in a small cottage, so four dogs is probably enough for now," Liz laughs.
Why So Many Need Homes
For Liz, fostering is rewarding, but she wishes it wasn’t so necessary.
"So many Greyhounds need a home because their racing life is short, only three or four years if they don’t get injured before that," she says. "There are always dogs waiting."
Injury and death on the track are common. Independent monitoring shows thousands of Greyhounds are hurt each year, and dozens die. On top of that, overbreeding by the racing industry means that many pups never make it to the track at all.
"They call them ‘wastage’ — imagine calling a living creature that," Liz says, shaking her head. "That’s what breaks your heart."
Regular "Sniffaris"
Despite their tough start in life, Liz says Greyhounds are some of the easiest and quirkiest companions you could ask for.
"They're good dogs. They're just friendly, they just walk," Liz says."
There’s a guy who does cartoons of Greyhounds [Richard Skipworth] who called it a sniffari—you just wander, and they sniff. As Liz laughs, 'The males pee, and then the female pees on top of it. And by the time the four pees are done, 10 minutes has gone past."
"Greyhounds are known to be couch potatoes, so they're sleeping 18 hours a day. Half an hour walk in the morning and half an hour in the evening is more than enough, and it keeps us moving too."
"Don’t expect to go on a marathon, because it won't happen. They're low maintenance. They don't shed much, they don't smell much compared to other dogs. They're good for older people, because you don't have to bend down to pat them. They're right there beside you. They're quirky, they're funny. They make you laugh every day."
A Quiet Call to Action
Liz says when she’s out walking, people are often surprised to learn that Greyhound racing still exists in Australia.
"It shocks them—they think it’s already gone, like it has in other countries," she says. "But here, the government is still supporting it with prize money and new tracks. Meanwhile, rescue groups are scrambling to pick up the pieces."
That’s why she encourages anyone who’s curious to get involved—whether that’s fostering, adopting, volunteering, or simply spreading the word.
"You don’t have to do what we’ve done and make it your whole life," Liz says with a smile. "But if you can give even one Greyhound a chance, it’ll change your life as much as it changes theirs. Please give it a go, because there are so many out there needing adoption."
How You Can Help
- Adopt – Greyhounds make wonderful companions. Rescue groups will help match a dog to your lifestyle.
- Foster – Not ready to commit? Try fostering. Most groups cover food and vet care—you just provide love and time.
- Volunteer – Use your skills to help your local rescue group, from transport to admin to dog-walking.
- Donate or fundraise – Every dollar helps cover food, vet bills, and rehoming costs.
- Speak up – Write to your MP or local paper, or simply spread the word about adoption. Your voice makes a difference.
Find your nearest Greyhound rescue group here: greyhoundcoalition.com/links-to-greyhound-rescue-groups/
By Sue O, The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds for Australian Dog Lover, September 2025
The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) is a passionate community dedicated to a single cause: ending the exploitation of greyhounds in the racing industry. They believe in a world where every greyhound finds a loving home. By informing the public and advocating for change, they give a voice to the voiceless.
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