Greyhound Adoption Program

How do I place my Greyhound into the Adoption Program?

Fill out the application form and email it to us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Alternatively you can leave your details on our answering machine (02 9452 3446).

We will get back to you as quickly as we can.

If your Greyhound fits our criteria, GAP will place your dog on our waiting list.

Is Your Greyhound Cat-tolerant?

If you believe your Greyhound is cat-tolerant - and you wish to have it placed in a loving family home via the Greyhound Adoption Program - then you could be in luck!

GAP (NSW) has quite a waiting list of people who are cat owners, wishing to adopt Greyhounds. This means that cat-tolerant Greyhounds are urgently required!

To facilitate the selection of Greyhounds, whom their owners/trainers believe to be suitable, we have established a "cat testing" procedure, whereby your Greyhound can be assessed for its potential to live successfully with a cat.

Should your Greyhound be successful in this screening, we will be able to fast-track it through our waiting list and into our foster care program. Please be aware, however, that this does not mean you will be able to leave your dog with us on the day of the test.

So, if you think your Greyhound is a winner in the cat-tolerance stakes then please get in touch with us ASAP by phoning 02 9452 3446. We look forward to hearing from you!

Is there a limit on how many dogs I can place on the waiting list?

Yes. To be fair to all owners of racing Greyhounds, we limit the number placed on our list by any one owner to one or two dogs at any time.

How long is the waiting time once my Greyhound goes onto the list?

This will vary, but is generally a number of weeks or months. We always have more Greyhounds available to us than (temporary) foster homes or permanent homes. We do not have our own kennel facilities. As a consequence, we are only able to hold a small number of dogs at any one time and are unable to take dogs in at short notice.

As we usually have a lot more dogs on our list than bitches, the waiting time is much longer for the males. We will do our best to take in those Greyhounds that have been on the waiting list longest, but this will depend upon our needs at the time - for example, we usually try to have a mixture of ages and sexes in foster care. We do not select dogs based on colour.

When is the best time to put my dog on the GAP waiting list?

Because of the unavoidable time delay, we would encourage owners / owner-trainers to put their Greyhound on the waiting list before the dog retires from the track.

What if my Greyhound is on the GAP waiting list and I change my mind?

No problems. If you find an alternative home for the dog before GAP can take it in, or if you decide to keep it for breeding, etc., we would appreciate a call to let us know this Greyhound is no longer available. We'll take it off our list.

Will GAP take on any Greyhound?

We would like to be able to rehome every retired Greyhound in NSW and the ACT. Unfortunately this is not possible because of the sheer numbers involved, and because not all Greyhounds would make suitable pets.

We will generally accept dogs over twelve months and up to five years of age. We require each dog to be physically sound and without medical problems that would lead to ongoing veterinary costs for the adoptive owner. All Greyhounds must possess an even temperament and be sociable in the presence of other dog breeds. The majority of Greyhounds rehomed by us will go to family homes in suburban or inner city areas, often with other pets, and must be able to walk with their owners around the local streets and parks without difficulty. If your Greyhound wants to chase and grab everything that moves, it is unlikely to pass our assessment - please do not waste your and our time by referring dogs of unsuitable temperament.

What happens when my Greyhound is ready to be taken in by GAP?

When GAP is able to offer a place in the Program, we will contact you and arrange for you to deliver the dog to us. Racing owners in country areas must be able to transport the dog to us in Sydney. We ask for a number of items to accompany the dog: a well fitting wire muzzle, their registration papers, weight card and signed yellow transfer form if applicable (or "puppy papers" for unregistered dogs) and a monetary donation (currently $80) towards their veterinary expenses.

On arrival, your dog will undergo a general health check and then be placed in at least one (or more usually two or three) foster homes for assessment as to their suitability as a pet. The Greyhound is introduced to general household activities and its behavior around people, especially children, and other animals is assessed. If we judge your Greyhound to be unsuitable for rehoming, it will be returned to you.

Dogs that satisfy our assessment process are then desexed, microchipped, heartworm tested, vaccinated and wormed before being matched with a person or family applying to adopt a Greyhound as a pet.

How does GAP "de-program" Greyhounds so they will no longer chase?

Unfortunately the perception that we can de-program these dogs from wanting to chase moving objects is not true. We are not magicians. We cannot overcome thousands of years of breed history and months or years of race training in a few short weeks in foster care.

However, there is a huge range of chasing instincts (or prey drive) within the Greyhound breed. For example, some Greyhounds are terrified of cats at first. Others want to rip them apart. It is our job, on acquiring a new dog, to assess whereabouts in this range the dog lies. Cat-friendly Greyhounds are generally very easy for us to rehome. A Greyhound that is not safe around small animals must be placed in a home with no other pets, and very responsible owners - those homes are not always easy to come by.

What can I do to assist my Greyhound's transition from racing dog to family pet?

There are a number of things you can do to ease your Greyhound's transition into a pet lifestyle before it is taken in by GAP. These might include:

• Get the dog used to spending time loose in the back yard - pet homes do not generally have kennels and runs.
• Take him or her out on street walks to different places - to the park; past the local school or shopping centre; beside busy roads, etc.
• Bring him or her into the house for short periods.
• Introduce him or her to stairs and slippery floor surfaces like tiles, linoleum or polished floor boards.
• Introduce him or her to other animals under controlled circumstances - other dog breeds, horses, caged birds, poultry etc.

Once my former racing Greyhound is rehomed, can I make contact with its adoptive owners?

Because of privacy legislation, we can only pass on other people's contact details if they have given permission for us to do so.

Many, but not all, adoptive families are curious about their Greyhound's former life and success (or otherwise) on the track. If you are happy to have contact with your Greyhound's new owners, and if they wish to, we will provide your contact details to the adoptive family, so they can get in touch.