Why adopt a greyhound?

• Unlike a shelter dog, your greyhound has a known background and history.
• Your dog will be matched to your family's needs by knowledgeable people—important if you have children or other pets.
• They are quiet dogs, don't shed much, and are usually good around other dogs and considerate children.
• They are quiet in the house, and can be extremely affectionate.
• They are usually healthy dogs, hip dysplasia is very rare, and they can live up to 14 years or so.

Why not?

• Greyhounds aren't the right dog for everyone.
• Puppies are rarely available—most dogs are two to five years old at the time they stop racing and enter the adoption process.
• Your greyhound can never be allowed off leash except in a fenced area. A dog running 40-m.p.h. can be out of sight in seconds.
• They are large dogs, ranging from 45 to 90 pounds (females are generally smaller than males).
• Few are watchdogs, most bark only rarely.
• Some can be unreliable and will chase cats and other small pets.

• Find the phone number or address of an adoption agency near where you live.
• Call them. Ask them to send you information on adopting a dog and an adoption application. Ask if the agency has any events coming up (Meet&Greets, picnics, parades, or other events where you can see a variety of greyhounds and talk with the people who adopted them).
• Do a little research to determine if a greyhound is the right type of dog for you. There are a few excellent resources available (see end of page).
• After you receive the information from your agency, look it over carefully and call with any questions you might have. Some agencies can provide an in-house interview where a volunteer will visit your home and bring their greyhound. This allows you to ask questions face to face and see how a greyhound will fit into your home.
• Send in your completed application (most agencies look for one or two personal references and the name of your veterinarian). They'll also ask if you have small children, a fenced yard, a cat or other small pets, and what you're daily schedule is. Don't be intimidated if the adoption agency asks you a lot of personal questions. They are doing their best to evaluate your needs and wants as a dog owner and to prevent what is known as "bouncing," or moving a dog from home to home to find its permanent family. Let them know if you'd be willing to take an older or special-needs dog (one that may require preventative medication or a special diet).
• The agency will process your application and check all your references. Assuming that all is in order, they will start the selection process to match your needs with the dogs they have available. A request for a specific sex/color/personality combination will take longer than a request for "find a good dog for me—color or sex doesn't matter." Some agencies won't let you specify anything other than sex, some will ask you for a color preference. (Just remember that good dogs don't come in bad colors.)
• Once they have a match, they'll call you. Some agencies deliver dogs, some request that you pick them up. Most agencies ask for a donation to help defray the cost of screening applicants and transporting the dogs from the track.

How long does it usually take?

• Anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. It depends on the agency, what you are looking for, which dogs are available, and how many people it takes to process your application. Most agencies are run by volunteer staff only, so keep in mind that personal commitments can sometimes interfere with your application.

• Not all agencies are created equal. Some place a large volume of dogs, some only a few. Talk to other people who have adopted a greyhound in your area and ask them about their experience with various agencies.
• The better agencies do careful screening of potential homes before placing a dog. Most require you to keep in touch annually on the status of your dog, notify them if you move, and require you to return the dog to them if you are unable to keep it for any reason.
• Some place dogs directly from the track into your home, some keep dogs in volunteer homes for evaluation before placing them. Most agencies will test the dogs to see if they are safe around a cat or small dog.
• All reputable agencies will require you to spay/neuter your dog, some alter all dogs before placement, and some will ask for a deposit that is refunded when proof of surgery is sent in.
• Almost all agencies will require you to pay an adoption fee. Most are usually between $100-300. There is usually an additional fee for spaying/neutering of your pet. You will usually get a new collar, leash, flea treatment, worming medication, bumper stickers, etc., and information on how to transition your dog from a track life to his new home. It varies widely by group.

Frequently asked questions:

• Male vs. female? A personal choice, and the sex of any dogs currently in the household should be considered first. Males are generally larger than females, but both sexes are affectionate, trainable, and loving. Since your dog will have to be altered, most negative behavior will be eliminated. Males are usually more available and younger, as some females are bred after failing at the track.
• Are all greyhounds gray? Not at all. Gray (also called "blue") is a rare coloration. Greyhounds come in almost every color of the canine spectrum—red, black, white, pied (or spotted), brindle (or tiger-striped), tan, fawn, etc. Go to a greyhound event to see the variety!
• Do I really have to keep my dog on a leash at all times? Yes. Absolutely. Greyhounds are one of the fastest creatures on the planet, and they've been bred for centuries to hone their skill at sighting on and then chasing rabbits, hare, and small animals. They are not trained to run--they do it naturally. If your dog got loose and started chasing a deer, your odds of getting him back are not very good. If you love your dog and want to keep him alive, keep him leashed.
• There's more than one adoption agency that serves my area, how do I pick one? Research. Ask for information and applications from all of them and talk with people who obtained their dogs from each group. Look for an agency who will be there for you when you need information or help, or that you would feel comfortable volunteering for. Don't shop for the "best deal," go with the group that feels right for you.
• Can I breed or show my dog? You cannot breed your dog. Most agencies require that your dog be altered (spayed/neutered). With the number of dogs killed each year, there's never a need for additional greyhounds to be bred in private homes. Altered dogs can't be shown in conformation classes. However, you can show your dog in obedience trials or participate in lure coursing and other events.
• Greyhounds are always shown with muzzles. Are they mean? No. Nothing could be further from the truth. They are usually calm, sweet animals, but they are (on average) a $5,000 investment for the racing community. The muzzles are worn to protect the dogs from doing injury to each other when they are turned out en-masse or become excited during a race.
• Do they require a lot of exercise? Not really. They enjoy a brisk walk or a good run in a fenced area, but around the house they're usually 40-m.p.h. couch potatoes. Like most sighthound breeds, they are quiet and relatively inactive when indoors.
• Are they housebroken when you get them? No, unless you get a dog that has already been in a home. They are crate-trained at the track, and very clean dogs in general. Housebreaking usually takes only a few days (remember—these are adult dogs, they have greater bladder control, and are smarter than a young puppy).
• Are they abused at the track? Although most greyhounds are not abused (unfortunately there are exceptions), many suffer from some degree of neglect. Many dogs entering adoption programs have intestinal worms, need dental cleaning, and are underweight. The condition your dog arrives in depends on his age, which track he came from, who his trainer was, and the time of year you adopted him. Many tracks are seasonal, and the year-end closing creates a lot of homeless dogs.
• I want a puppy. Are any ever available? It's an exceptional rarity when they are, and they usually go to qualified adopters only. However, adult dogs have many distinct advantages over puppies. They have better bladder control (you don't have to get up every few hours for the first few months). They are safely past the teething phase (while many greyhounds enjoy chewing on things, adults are not as compulsive as young pups). Adults are also less active and better behaved than most puppies. By the time you get them, they've also had basic training—they are used to being handled and will walk quietly on a leash.
• I want a dog, but I'm not sure a greyhound is right for me. What are my other options? Read all the information you can find about choosing the right dog for you. If you still don't think a greyhound would fit into your life; you've got three choices.

1. Visit your local animal shelter and talk with the staff about the dogs they have available. You'll have to pay a modest adoption fee ($30-80) and agree to spay/neuter your pet. Unfortunately, you can never be quite sure what you are getting. The cute lab mix might have been someone's treasured pet that got left behind after a divorce, or he could be dangerously aggressive with children. The staff that works around the dogs every day can best help you decide.

2. If you have a breed in mind and want a puppy, talk to a breeder. You may have to wait a while for your pup, but odds are in your favor that if you do your homework, you will get a quality puppy that has been screened for health problems and will have a lifetime guarantee against hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and other genetic disorders. Do NOT buy a puppy from a store. No matter what they say, conscientious breeders NEVER allow their puppies to be sold there. In a store, you will pay considerably more for the puppy up front (usually $500-1,500), and even more further down the line when he develops medical and behavioral problems. If that isn't enough to persuade you, read some articles about the conditions they're raised under and the horror stories about puppies that died within weeks of purchase.

3. If you have a specific breed in mind and prefer an adolescent or adult dog, contact the national breed club (addresses are available from the AKC) and ask them who the local breed rescue coordinator is. Breed rescue shares some similarity with both greyhound adoption programs and animal shelters. Most breed rescue programs accept only purebred dogs of their breed. The dogs are carefully evaluated by people knowledgeable about the specific breed and matched and re-homed with potential adopters. Dogs suffering from a terminal illness or severe behavioral problems are humanely destroyed. You get a better idea of the dog's background than you get from the average shelter, and more work goes into making a lasting match. Dogs often enter breed rescue as a by-product of divorce, relocation, or impulse buys that are past the "cute" stage and were dumped in a shelter. With popular breeds there is usually a surplus of dogs; for rare breeds, there's sometimes a waiting list. As in greyhound adoption, there is usually an adoption fee (around $100-300) to help defray costs.

• Volunteer. Most greyhound adoption agencies are run solely by people who want to help the dogs find new, permanent homes. Call your local agency and ask them what you can do to help out. Offer to address envelopes, bathe or walk a dog, or call to check references of potential adopters.
• Sponsor a Meet&Greet where you work, or ask local merchants to do so.
• Put up posters in your area (or photocopy this pamphlet and give it to people who have mentioned that they'd like to know more about greyhound adoption).
• Ask your local adoption agency if they are supporting any legislation that protects the dogs/monitors the racing conditions under which they live. Then write a letter. In 1996, 4,000 dogs that would have been killed after a track closed were sent to adoption agencies along the east coast and re-homed. This was due to a barrage of letters sent to the state governor pleading for the dogs lives. You can make a difference.
• If you have the space for a dog now, but don't feel up to a permanent commitment yet, ask your local group about fostering. You take a dog into your house for temporary care (usually one to three weeks) until a permanent home can be found. Many agencies have no kennel facilities, so fostering can truly save a life.

Resources for more information

Adopting The Racing Greyhound by Cynthia Branigan (paperback, about $12) Considered one of the best resources for the new owner, this book starts with the history of the greyhound breed and covers the adoption process and bringing your new greyhound home. Many adoption agencies consider this required reading.

Greyhounds by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D. (paperback, about $7) A good overview of the breed with many color pictures and some information on the adoption process. Recommended as a general resource.

The Complete Book Of Greyhounds edited by Julia Barnes (hardcover, about $30) A more historical overview with information on breeding, racing, and showing greyhounds. Only one chapter on adopting ex-racers, and most of that info is taken directly from Branigan's book. A nice addition to the library, but read the other two first.

Care Of The Racing Greyhound by Linda Blythe, James Gannon, and A. Morrie Craig (paperback $40—available from the National Greyhound Association in Abilene, KS) A detailed medical resource for the greyhound owner. Nice to have around as a reference book, but a great deal of it is applicable only to the racing/veterinary community.

Many adoption agencies have pages on the World-Wide Web; just enter greyhound adoption into your browser to find a list of sites.

For general news and information, check out Bruce Skinner's e-zine "A Breed Apart"

The Greyhound-List is a great way to talk to other greyhound owners and ask questions pre- and post-adoption. Go to the Complete List of Dog-Related E-Mail Lists and read the subscrition information under "Greyhound."