In October 2022, the Charity was delighted to appoint Shirley E Penrose-Hansell as the new Patron of the Italian Greyhound Rescue Charity. An original founder Trustee of the Italian Greyhound Rescue Charity in 2004 and Rescue Co-ordinator for 10 years.

Shirley was also Rescue Co-ordinator for the IG Club’s rescue before it was merged with the Charity.

Shirley took a keen interest in showing her ‘Shirnevina’ IGs, never a prolific breeder, but she had great success with all of her beautiful dogs and has over the years put back far more than she has taken, being a breed club committee member and devoted so much time with the 125 IGs she rehomed assisted by her late husband Neville. It was following his stroke that Shirley resigned from many of her activities to care for him for twelve years.

Shirley remains keenly interested in the breed, although she has retired from showing, and is passionate that all IGs have a happy and healthy life. Peggy-Sue, her rescued IG, celebrated her 14th birthday recently and Poppy her other IG share their home with Shirley.