Dancing With the Stars judge Todd McKenney is Greyhounds As Pets NSW Adoption Day ambassador | RB
Dancing With the Stars judge Todd McKenney is gearing up for the series return with Schapelle Corby but his “kids” couldn’t care less.
Dancing With the Stars kicks off on Channel 7 on Sunday night but there are two fans who “could not give a rats”.
As one of the show’s original judges Todd McKenney gears up for the series return with controversial wildcard contestant Schapelle Corby competing alongside the likes of Bec Hewitt, Jamie Durie and Tom Williams, he is adamant his two biggest fans will not be tuning in.
That is because they are his beloved greyhounds, eight-year-old Nancye Hayes – named after his good friend and theatre veteran – and Joey, 15, will be spread across his four-seater couch at home fast asleep.
“They’re just like kids, my two couldn’t give a rats what I do,” McKenney said.
The multi-talented performer and host has adopted four greyhounds since 2009 and credits Sonia Kruger – who will co-host DWTS with Daryl Somers – for introducing him to the breed he calls “the world’s fastest couch potatoes”.
He said as his then co-host on radio station Mix 106.5FM, Kruger arranged for a greyhound to visit the station after both of his dogs passed away. McKenney adopted a rehabilitated greyhound named Chrissie the next day.
“When I first started adopting greyhounds, they were muzzled by law and people walking by would pick up their kids scared of them,” McKenney said. “Now, no muzzles and adoption awareness programs have made a huge difference to people’s perceptions of them.
“They fit in with my lifestyle perfectly. I don’t have time for a dog that needs two hours of exercise every morning and afternoon. Actually, sometimes my two are so lazy I will drive them to the park and they won’t even get out of the car.
“They sleep 95 per cent of the day but when they do decide to run, they stop traffic with how impressive they look.”
McKenney is leading the Greyhound rehoming charge again this year the official National Adoption Day Ambassador for a fourth year.
Greyhounds As Pets NSW rehomed 1337 greyhounds in 2019-2020, a record figure and an 84 per cent increase on the previous year.
For people who want to meet their prospective pets and learn more, National Greyhound Adoption Day is taking place on April 18 at Moore Park’s Entertainment Quarter.
