Adoption Info

IS A RETIRED RACING GREYHOUND THE RIGHT BREED FOR ME?

Retired racing Greyhounds are a very unique breed due to their early life experiences. They’re born on farms, where they live with their littermates and with other litters of Greyhound puppies for a full year. Although they interact with people, they are primarily socialized by the dogs around them and they learn to how to live as part of a pack.

When they start training to race, and again when they get to the track, they live in kennels with 50-70 other greyhounds. There are trainers and kennel hands that come and go throughout the day, but even when the people leave, the dogs have one another. They are surrounded by other greyhounds 24/7 for every day of their lives until adoption group volunteers pick them up when they retire.

Their early life experiences make them more prone to separation anxiety than other dog breeds. While some can adapt to living as an only dog with retirees or with families where at least one person works from home, they will not thrive in a home where their adopters have no other dogs and work full time away from home. They’re often described as “couch potatoes” that sleep 16-18 hours per day, yet a retired racing Greyhound won’t be happy being left home five days a week for eight hours a day with no canine companionship and a 30 minute walk mid-day. Greyhounds are a wonderful breed but they’re not a good fit for everyone.

Before you apply to adopt a retired racing greyhound, please understand racing greyhounds do not need rescuing. When they retire, racing greyhounds are ready to be adopted and settle in to their forever homes. Please respect these highly trained athletes for their accomplishments and do not refer to them as rescues.

As of July 2023, some of our available retired racers are from Australia. So far, it seems there is little difference in temperament/personality between Aussie and US greyhounds. GPAD’s adoption fee is $575 whether you adopt a US greyhound or one that roos with an Australian accent!

*****NOTE: It has come to our attention that some people have submitted an application but it never arrived in the GPAD inbox. Please follow-up your application submission with an email to Sandi at gpadelaware@gmail.com so she can send you the application as a Word document if your online application gets lost in cyberspace . Thank you.

Name *

Co-applicant

Email *

Phone

Address *

City *

State *

Zip *

Applicant Occupation

Applicant Employer

Co-Applicant Occupation

Co-Applicant Employer

1:) Why do you want a pet greyhound?

2:) How did you hear about our organization?

3:) Do you have any preference to age or sex?

4:) If so, what are they?

5:) What pets have you had in the past 10 years and what happened to them?

6:) Do you presently have any pets in the home? If yes, what kind of pets are they and what are their ages and genders?

7:) Number of people living in the household and hours at home:

8:) Number of children and ages:

if you have children under age 6, would you be willing to purchase and read "Living with Kids and Dogs....Without Losing Your Mind" by Colleen Pelar before adopting from GPAD?

9:) If you have never had a greyhound, are you willing to purchase Lee Livingood's "Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies" or Cynthia Branigan's "Adopting the Racing Greyhound"?

10:) Who will be the primary caretaker of the greyhound?

11:) Are you willing to spend the time and effort required to properly acclimate the Greyhound to its new home?

12:) What experience do you have with dog training?

13:) Are you aware that a large dog can cost at least $1,000.00 per year for basic care?

14:) How often do you travel?

What dog care arrangements will be made when you travel?

15:) Do you anticipate any major life changes in your household in the next year (such as new job, schedule change, retirement, moving, new baby?) Please specify:

16:) Describe the area in which you live:

17:) Dwelling type:

18:) Do you own your own home?

19:) If no, do you have written permission from your landlordor does your lease permit a dog over fifty pounds?

Landlord's name and phone number:

20:) Do you have a completely fenced yard?

If "Yes" what is the size of the completely fenced area? height of fence at lowest point?

21:) Is there a completely fenced-in area nearby where you can exercise the greyhound once or twice a week? Describe size and area:

22:) Are you aware of the importance and reasons for keeping a greyhound on a leash or in a completely fenced area?

23:) Are you willing and able to take a greyhound outside at least four times a day to relieve itself?

24:) Are you aware that a greyhound needs to be kept in the house?

Where will the greyhound stay during the day? and at night?

25:) Will your greyhound need to climb stairs in your home? If so, how many?

26:) Do you promise to keep a sighthound collar bearing the GPAD ID tag on your greyhound at all times AND notify GPAD if the greyhound should become lost or stolen?

27:) If, for ANY REASON, you are unable to keep the greyhound, do you agree to notify and return it to GPAD and NOT place it in a Shelter/Pound or give him/her to anyone else without written consent from the GPAD President?

28:) Do you agree to GPAD volunteer(s) visiting your home, if requested?

29:) Do you agree to buying or renting a crate for the greyhound, especially during its adjustment period?

References: We will need the Names, Addresses and Phone Numbers of THREE references. Please do not list any family members as references. 1. Neighbor: (Please list someone who lives close to you and is familiar with your current pets (if any) and family. (NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE)

2. Friend - Please list someone whom you have known for a while and is familiar with any previous pets you have owned (if any). (NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE)

3. Current Veterinarian (NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE)

If you do not currently have pets, you may list the name of your previous veterinarian if your previous pets were patients of his/hers within the last 2 years. If you have not had a veterinarian within the last 2 years, please list another friend or neighbor in the space above who knows you well. If I/We are approved for greyhound placement, I agree that I will keep this greyhound exclusively as a pet. I accept full responsibility for his/her care, releasing the previous owner as well as Greyhound Pet Adoptions of Delaware - GPAD and its representatives from any future liability concerning this greyhound. All GPAD greyhounds have been spayed or neutered prior to placement. A total fee of $575.00 is required at the time of placement. Please be sure that all the areas are completed as any incomplete applications will be delayed.