FAQ - Adoption Process
Q: Is there a form I can fill out to get started?
A: Yes! We have an adoption application form that you fill out to
give us information about you and your life situation. This is he
first step toward adopting a Greyhound. You can download the
application and return it to us or you can now fill out our online
application. Please see our
adoption
documents page for more information.
Q: I filled out the application, now what??
A: After reviewing all the information on the adoption
questionnaire, one of our specially trained Volunteer Placement
Representatives will contact you and you will have the opportunity
to ask any questions that you may have about owning a Greyhound. At
the same time, our Greyhound Pet Adoption Northwest Volunteer Placement Representative
gets to know you and what kind of dog you are looking for.
Read the
full Adoption Process
Q: I really liked one of the dogs I saw on your site. Can you
make sure I get that one?
A: The list of available dogs shown on this site is updated
regularly but it is possible that the dog you saw may have already
been adopted. Dogs are placed in the homes that we feel best meet
their needs and the needs of the adopters. There is also a sequence
to the applications and placements so a dog that you like may be
selected by someone who placed their application before you. Don't
worry, Greyhounds come in many sizes and colors but they all have
great personalities. We have many dogs entering our program each
month and we will work to find the right dog for you.
Q: Who should adopt a Greyhound?
A: While we believe that a Greyhound is not the
right dog for everyone, we also truly believe that there is a home
suitable for all of the retiring Greyhounds. Our job is to
find these homes through a careful adoption process, and especially through
accurate information being given to the general public. We want our
Greyhounds adopted by people who want to understand and love the
breed and their unique characteristics, not because they feel sorry
for them. Our experience has shown us that sympathy adoptions are
not usually life-long homes for the Greyhounds. Many people who
adopt because they pity these animals expect them to be forever
grateful and are not as flexible or forgiving when the dogs don't
live up to their expectations.
Q: What should I expect when I bring a Greyhound into my
home?
A: Greyhounds that have spent their entire lives at the
racetrack have never experienced things like stairs, glass doors,
slick or shiny floors, and mirrors. Our foster home program is
designed to give the racing Greyhounds a transition from racing life
to home/pet life. The foster home will introduce them to these new
objects. Most Greyhounds adapt quickly, but patience and
understanding is important with Greyhounds. Coming to your home from
a foster home is another big change for the Greyhound and you will
need to reinforce what it learned in foster care. Your new dog will
get to know your house, yard and all the people and other animals
pretty quickly and you need to help them by being there as they
explore. You will teach them what is acceptable and what is not.
Greyhounds want to please their people so positive reinforcement and
a gentle correction are usually all that is needed.
It's also important to establish a routine as quickly as possible.
Greyhounds, like any other dog, appreciate a regular routine and
takes comfort in knowing what to expect. Get on a feeding schedule
(twice per day is best, once in the morning and once in the evening)
and establish a regular wake/sleep schedule each morning and each
evening. Whatever your lifestyle, Greyhounds will adapt to your
schedule and be quite happy. They will likely make the transition
within a matter of days or weeks. Every dog is different, so the
adaptation time will vary.
Q: Can I adopt/buy a Greyhound puppy?
A: Racing Greyhounds are breed specifically for
racing ad are not usually sold as pets. They cost between $1,500 and
$2,000 as puppies and most racers will not sell them because they
are part of their business. It’s like trying to buy any professional
athlete, you can do it but it's expensive. AKC, or show Greyhounds
are available but they are very different than racing Greyhounds.
AKC dogs are bred for looks, not for racing. The personality of a
racing Greyhound is partially from its genetics and partially from
its experiences as a puppy in the racing business.
Occasionally, we will get a puppy that can't race for some reason or
was not bred with proper documentation so it cannot race. We even
get pregnant females sometimes and the puppies that come from those
dogs need homes. Greyhound puppies are extremely energetic, like any
puppy but more so. They are sprinters with powerful muscles so even
as puppies; they are a lot to handle. When you adopt a retired
racer, even a young dog, they have already been raised and trained
for most things. Their personality is established and because their
experiences as racing dogs are so consistent, their personalities
tend to be consistent. A puppy is an unknown personality and
depending how good you are at raising a dog, it may end up very
different as an adult than the retired racers you know.