An ex-racing Greyhound who captured hearts with his nervous nature has successfully transitioned from track life to becoming a cherished family pet, thanks to dedicated support from Dogs Trust Cardiff and a celebrity friendship.
From Racing Track to Rehoming Centre
Nervous Neville, a three-year-old Greyhound who arrived at Dogs Trust Cardiff in September 2025, had never experienced domestic life before entering the charity's care. Having spent his early years solely as a racing dog, Neville faced significant challenges adjusting to ordinary home environments.
The Greyhound's particular anxieties about household features - especially stairs - earned him his memorable nickname. Kim Davies, Manager of Dogs Trust Cardiff, explained: "As an ex-racing Greyhound, Neville had never been allowed to be a pet, or to experience the home comforts we are all so familiar with, so his worries around the big, wide world weren't surprising to see."
Celebrity Support and Breakthrough Progress
Neville's journey gained national attention when it featured on Monday's episode of the television series Pete Wicks: For Dogs' Sake. The programme highlighted how celebrity dog lover Pete Wicks and Dogs Trust Welfare Advisor Charlie worked together to help Neville build positive associations with his new surroundings.
Remarkably, it wasn't food or toys that facilitated Neville's breakthrough, but rather his natural affection for people. This bond helped him gradually overcome even his most significant fears, including the staircase anxiety that had initially defined his experience.
Finding Forever in Gloucester
With his social nature shining through and his confidence growing steadily, Neville soon attracted the perfect adopters. Meg and Joe from Gloucester welcomed him into their home in November 2025, providing the loving environment he needed to fully blossom.
"Neville has well and truly settled into home life and definitely thinks he's in charge," said his new owner Meg. "He's the biggest softie, absolutely loves attention, and although he still has a somewhat nervous nature, he loves to play with his toys, and gets very excited when the doorbell goes."
The couple addressed Neville's stair concerns directly: "We were unsure of how he would cope with the stairs in our flat at first, but with plenty of training and encouragement, that fear is long gone. In the two months we've had him, Neville has learned lots of commands, including sit, wait and lie down."
Dispelling Greyhound Myths
Kim Davies used Neville's success story to challenge common misconceptions about Greyhounds as pets: "Greyhounds make wonderful family pets, and Neville is a great advert for that. Despite the common misconceptions that they need lots of exercise, most Greyhounds in our care tend to like short bursts of activity and regular walks, before curling up and snoozing away the day on the sofa."
Meg confirmed this observation, noting: "He spends most of his time cuddled up on the sofa with us, and we honestly couldn't be happier. We're unbelievably proud of how far Neville has come."
Wider Context: The Future of Greyhound Racing
This heartwarming rehoming story emerges as the Welsh Government progresses the Greyhound Racing (Wales) bill through the Senedd, aiming to bring Greyhound racing to an end in Wales. A coalition of animal welfare charities - including Dogs Trust, RSPCA, Blue Cross, Hope Rescue and Greyhound Rescue Wales, collectively known as the Cut the Chase Coalition - has expressed longstanding concerns about welfare standards within the racing industry.
The coalition highlights multiple issues including dangerous track conditions that can cause severe injuries, inadequate kennelling and transport standards, health problems such as dental disease, and what they describe as disjointed and ineffective regulation within the sector.
Dogs Trust and its coalition partners are calling for transparency regarding industry practices and the enforcement of regulatory standards, advocating for an end to Greyhound racing as soon as possible.
Looking for Your Own Canine Companion?
For those inspired by Neville's story, Dogs Trust Cardiff remains open to the public five days a week without appointment requirements. Visitors can meet dogs looking for homes, receive adoption advice, or begin the application process. All episodes of Pete Wicks: For Dogs' Sake, including Neville's feature episode, are available to stream for free on U&W and Channel 4.
Kim Davies concluded: "We're so happy to see Nervous Neville settling into his forever home, having overcome his fears, showing off his lovable personality, and even brushing shoulders with a celeb. His progress has been fantastic, and we're so glad this pooch has found a comfortable, loving home."
