Greyhounds are often referred to as "40 mph couch potatoes" because they are happy to spend their days lounging around the house. They are known for their calm and gentle nature, making them a great fit for families with children.
In the United States alone, there are over 70,000 greyhounds in need of adoption every year. This is a staggering number, and it highlights the importance of greyhound adoption.
Greyhounds are typically retired from racing between the ages of 2 and 5, and they often have no idea how to behave in a home environment. They require patience, love, and gentle training to adjust to their new lives.
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Greyhound Adoption
There are numerous adoption groups dedicated to saving greyhounds, with organizations like Forever Hounds Trust in England and Greytful Hearts Greyhound Rescue in Pennsylvania, USA, doing incredible work.
You can find a greyhound companion through online platforms such as Petfinder.com and National Greyhound Adoption Program.
Greyhound Friends for Life, Greyhound Rescue of Idaho, and Greyhound Rescue of New England are just a few of the many rescue groups working tirelessly to find forever homes for these beautiful dogs.
If you're interested in adopting a greyhound, consider reaching out to organizations like Golden State Greyhound Adoption, Michigan Greyhound Connection, or New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program.
Some adoption groups, such as Greyhound Rescue of Idaho and Greyhound Rescue of New England, have a strong online presence and can be contacted directly through their websites.
Greyhounds Unlimited, Greyhound Gang, and Adopta un Galgo are just a few of the many organizations working to save greyhounds worldwide.
If you're located in the UK, consider reaching out to organizations like Celia Cross Greyhound Trust, Clarks Farm Greyhound Rescue, or Greyhound Rescue North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
In the US, organizations like Greyhound Adoption Center, Greyhound Friends, and Fast Friends Greyhound Adoption are dedicated to finding forever homes for greyhounds.
Greyhound Rescue Australia, Greyhound Rescue Belgium, and Greyhounds Rescue Belgium are just a few of the many international organizations working to save greyhounds.
In the US, organizations like Greyhound Rescue of Idaho, Greyhound Rescue of New England, and Greyhound Rescue of South Yorkshire have a strong online presence and can be contacted directly.
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If you're interested in adopting a greyhound, consider reaching out to organizations like Greyhound Friends, Greyhound Rescue of Idaho, or Greyhound Rescue of New England.
Some adoption groups, such as Greyhound Rescue of Idaho and Greyhound Rescue of New England, have a strong focus on rehabilitation and rehoming greyhounds.
Organizations like Greyhound Rescue of Idaho, Greyhound Rescue of New England, and Greyhound Rescue of South Yorkshire offer a range of services to support greyhound adoption.
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Greyhound Temperament and Needs
Greyhounds are known for being quiet, calm, and well-mannered indoors, making them a great fit for families who want a low-maintenance pet. They're also good with other dogs and pets if raised with them.
One thing to keep in mind is that Greyhounds can be reserved with strangers and may be timid at times. This is especially true if they're not socialized properly from an early age.
Despite their independent nature, Greyhounds are eager to please those they trust and are easily housetrained. This makes them a great choice for first-time dog owners or those who want a pet that's easy to care for.
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Here are some key characteristics to consider when adopting a Greyhound:
- Adult Greyhounds stand between 23 and 30 inches at the shoulder and weigh 50 to 85 pounds.
- They are easily housetrained and shed only slightly.
- Greyhounds are generally quiet, barking rarely.
As a sprinter, Greyhounds need daily exercise, but it's not the same as an endurance runner. They love to run and chase outdoors, so make sure to provide them with a safe space to do so.
Temperament
Greyhounds are known for being quiet, calm, and well-mannered indoors. They're a great fit for families who want a laid-back companion.
One of the most appealing aspects of Greyhounds is their easy-going nature. They get along well with other dogs and pets if socialized from an early age.
However, outdoors can be a different story. Greyhounds have a strong prey drive and may chase small animals that cross their path.
They're also quite reserved around strangers and can be sensitive to new situations. This makes them a great choice for families who want a dog that's a bit more low-key.
In terms of training, Greyhounds are intelligent and eager to please. They're easily housetrained and don't require a lot of exercise to stay happy and healthy.
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Here are some key facts to keep in mind when considering a Greyhound as a pet:
- They're relatively small in size, standing between 23 and 30 inches tall at the shoulder.
- Greyhounds weigh between 50 and 85 pounds, making them a great choice for families with smaller living spaces.
- They shed very little and rarely bark, making them a great choice for families who live in apartments or have noise restrictions.
- Greyhounds require regular walks, just like any other dog, but they don't need a lot of exercise to stay happy and healthy.
Upkeep
Greyhounds need daily exercise, but they're sprinters, not endurance runners. They love to run and chase outdoors, and can easily run into danger at great speed unless exercised in a safe area.
Give your Greyhound a chance to run in a safe location, or provide longer walks on leash. This will help them get the physical activity they need to stay happy and healthy.
Greyhounds relish creature comforts and must have soft bedding and warmth. A comfortable place to rest is essential for their well-being.
The coat of a Greyhound is extremely easy to care for, needing only occasional brushing to remove dead hair. This makes them a great choice for busy owners who don't have a lot of time for grooming.
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Health
Greyhounds are generally a healthy breed, but like all living beings, they can be prone to certain health issues.
Osteosarcoma is a major concern in Greyhounds, and it's essential to be aware of the signs and symptoms to catch it early.
Esophageal achalasia and gastric torsion are also minor concerns that can affect Greyhounds.
Here are some health issues that can occasionally be seen in Greyhounds:
- SAS (Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis)
- DCM (Dilated Cardiomyopathy)
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
Cardiac tests are a good idea to ensure your Greyhound's heart is healthy.
Greyhounds have an average life span of 10-13 years, which is relatively long compared to other breeds.
However, their sensitive nature makes them prone to injuries, especially to the toes, hock, and muscles, which can be common in retired racing dogs.
Honorary
Honorary greyhounds are a special group of dogs that can be adopted through GALT.
The non-refundable adoption fee for honorary greyhounds is $125 unless otherwise noted.
You'll need to check with GALT to see if there are any additional fees or requirements for adopting an honorary greyhound.
Adoptable Greyhounds
Adoptable Greyhounds are typically between 18 months and four years old, as seen in the program run by MoKan Greyhound Adoption.
You can find an adoption program in your area through the website www.adopt-a-greyhound.org.
Some adoption groups, such as Forever Hounds Trust in England and Greyhound Rescue of Idaho, are dedicated to saving greyhounds.
MoKan Greyhound Adoption only adopts within a two hour drive of Kansas City, but they're covering more of Kansas due to the closing of the Wichita adoption program.
If you're looking to adopt a greyhound, you can consider reaching out to groups like Greytful Hearts Greyhound Rescue in Pennsylvania or American Greyhound in Indiana.
Sources
- Greyhound Winner’s Circle Adoption Center (mardigrascasinowv.com)
- NGA Endorsed Responsible Adoption Groups (ngagreyhounds.com)
- National Greyhound Adoption Program (ngap.org)
- Rescueme.org (rescueme.org)
- Galgo Podenco Support (galgopodencosupport.org)
- Golden State Greyhound Adoption (goldengreyhounds.com)
- Greyhound Friends for Life (greyhoundfriendsforlife.org)
- Operation Greyhound (operationgreyhound.com)
- Galgo Rescue International Network (GRIN) (galgorescue.org)
- GREAT (great-greyhound.org)
- Greyhound Rescue of Idaho (greyhoundrescueofidaho.org)
- Greyhound Friends (greyhound.org)
- Greyhound Rescue of New England (greyhoundrescuene.org)
- Michigan Greyhound Connection (michgreys.com)
- MotorCity Greyhound Rescue (motorcitygreyhoundrescue.org)
- Minnesota Greyhound Rescue (minnesotagreyhoundrescue.org)
- Grateful Greyhounds (gratefulgreys.com)
- New Jersey Greyhound Adoption Program (facebook.com)
- Kindred Spirits Greyhound Adoption (ksdadopt.com)
- Homes for Hounds (homes4hounds.com)
- Greyhound Rescue Austin (greyhoundrescueaustin.com)
- Greyhounds Unlimited (greyhoundsunlimited.org)
- Greyhound Gang (greyhoundgang.org)
- Future4Podencos (facebook.com)
- Adopta un Galgo (adoptaungalgoenargentina.com)
- Proyecto Galgo Argentina (facebook.com)
- Amazing Greys (amazinggreys.com.au)
- Animals-In-Need-Brisbane (animals-in-need-brisbane.com.au)
- Busselton Greyhound Awareness (facebook.com)
- Every Greyhound (egreyhound.com.au)
- Free the Hounds (freethehounds.com.au)
- Friends of the Hound (friendsofthehound.org.au)
- Greyhound Adoptions WA (greyhoundadoptionswa.com.au)
- Greyhound Rescue Australia (greyhoundrescue.com.au)
- Greyhound Safety Net (greyhoundsafetynet.org)
- GreyhoundAngels of Western Australia (facebook.com)
- Greyt Greys Rescue (greytgreys.org)
- Gumtree Greys (gumtreegreys.com.au)
- Homeward Bound Hounds (facebook.com)
- Rescued Greyhounds NSW Central Coast (facebook.com)
- SA Greyhound Adoption (facebook.com)
- Greyhounds in Nood Belgium (greyhoundsinnood.be)
- Greyhounds Rescue Belgium (greyhoundsrescue.be)
- Adopt-A-Greyhound of Central Canada (adopt-a-greyhound.com)
- Fundación Galgos Chile (galgos.cl)
- Galgos de la Estrella (galgos-de-la-estrella.cz)
- Association for Galgos in Need (galgosos.dk)
- Adopt a Greyhound (Branch of Retired Greyhound Trust) (adoptagreyhound.co.uk)
- Bristol Dog Action Welfare Group (dawg.org.uk)
- Castledon Greyhound Rescue (castledongreyhoundrescue.co.uk)
- Celia Cross Greyhound Trust (celiacross.org.uk)
- Clarks Farm Greyhound Rescue (Branch of Retired Greyhound Trust) (clarksfarmgreyhounds.org.uk)
- Croftview Rehoming Kennels (rgtcroftview.co.uk)
- Erin Hounds (erinhounds.co.uk)
- Evesham Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue (lurcher.org.uk)
- Forever Hounds Trust (foreverhoundstrust.org)
- G.R.A.C.E. (grace-greyhoundrescue.co.uk)
- Greyhound Gap (greyhoundgap.org.uk)
- Greyhound Rescue North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire (greyhoundrescue.org.uk)
- Greyhound Rescue Shropshire & Borders (greyhoundtrustshropshireandborders.org.uk)
- Greyhounds in Need (greyhoundsinneed.com)
- Hampshire Greyhound Rescue (hantsgreyrescue.co.uk)
- Hectors Greyhound Rescue (hectorsgreyhoundrescue.org)
- Kerry Greyhounds UK (kerrygreyhounds.co.uk)
- Makants Greyhound Rescue NW (makants.uk)
- Norfolk Greyhound Rescue (norfolkgreyhoundrescue.co.uk)
- Northern Greyhound Rescue (northerngreyhoundrescue.org.uk)
- Retired Greyhound Trust (retiredgreyhounds.co.uk)
- Tia Rescue (tia-rescue.org)
- Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare (facebook.com)
- Association Aide Aux Levriers Martyrs (levriers-martyrs.com)
- Galgos Ethique Europe (over-blog.org)
- Levriers en Detresse (levriers-en-detresse.org)
- Greyhound Forever (greyhoundforever.de)
- Greyhound Protection International e.V. (greyhoundprotection.de)
- Greyhounds Need Friends (greyhounds-need-friends.org)
- ProGreyhound (progreyhound.de)
- Cara Rescue Dogs (cararescuedogs.com)
- Deel Animal Rescue (facebook.com)
- Dog Rescue Ireland (dogrescueireland.com)
- Galway SPCA (gspca.ie)
- Great Hounds in Need (greathounds.eu)
- Greyhound Rescue Association Ireland (greyhoundrescueassociationireland.com)
- Homes for Unwanted Greyhounds (homesforunwantedgreyhounds.ie)
- Ireland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ispca.ie)
- Limerick Animal Welfare (limerickanimalwelfare.ie)
- PAWS Animal Rescue (paws.ie)
- Star Rescue (starrescue.ie)
- The Haven Rescue (facebook.com)
- SOS Levrieri (soslevrieri.it)
- Greyhound Rescue Holland (greyhoundsrescue.nl)
- Southern Cross Greyhound Adoptions (facebook.com)
- Dumfriesshire and Cumbria Greyhound Rescue (dcgr.org.uk)
- Greyhound Rescue Fife (greyhoundrescuefife.com)
- RoyalHeart Greyhound Rescue (royalheartgreyhoundrescue.com)
- Scottish Borders Retired Greyhound Trust (greyhoundtrust.org.uk)
- Scottish Greyhound Sanctuary (scottishgreyhoundsanctuary.com)
- Greyhound Welfare SA (facebook.com)
- Galgo Rescue International Network (galgorescue.org)
- Galgos 112 (galgos112.es)
- Galgos del Sol (galgosdelsol.org)
- Hundar Utan Hem (Dogs Without a Home) (hundarutanhem.se)
- Almost Home Dog Rescue (almosthomedogrescue.dog)
- Greyhound Rescue Wales (greyhoundrescuewales.co.uk)
- Hope Rescue (hoperescue.org.uk)
- Retired Greyhound racers take it easy in the Big Easy (nola.com)
- Nearly 200 greyhounds rescued after Tijuana dog racing track closes (fox5sandiego.com)
- Family Adopts Outdoor Greyhound, His Constant Smile Says It All (iheartdogs.com)
- Operation Greyhound rescuing dogs from closing Mexican track (fox5sandiego.com)
- The community spirit behind fostering greyhounds (australiandoglover.com)
- Animal House: FEATHER: A Second-Chance Champion (residentnews.net)
- 'Tenants who have pets often stay' - greyhound rehomers (rnz.co.nz)
- $20,000 a dog: dodgy greyhound industry rehoming can’t keep up with overbreeding (crikey.com.au)
- Finding greyhounds at a place down under (coastalpoint.com)
- Ready Pet GO! Greyhound Adoption of Ohio visits 3News (wkyc.com)
- Evesham Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue's plea for donations (eveshamjournal.co.uk)
- Dogged determination: as U.S. tracks close, greyhound rescue sets sights on retired racers overseas (wkyc.com)
- Southern Arizona Greyhound Adoption is helping dogs go from the track to a forever home (kold.com)
- Instagram (instagram.com)
- Shop The GreytStore (greytstore.org)
- Donate to GALT (greytstore.org)
- Greyhound Dog & Puppy Breed and Adoption Info (petfinder.com)
- www.adopt-a-greyhound.org (adopt-a-greyhound.org)
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