The GAP SA Prison Program is an integral part of many of our greyhound’s transition from life in a kennel environment to that as a pet in a home. Our prison program prepares the greyhounds for their new lives as pets prior to entering adoptive homes.

The Prison Pet Partnership was first established in 2013 at the Adelaide Women’s Prison where Greyhound Racing SA approached the Corrections Department about the idea of inmates training our retired greyhounds. A custom designed facility was then built with a capacity for 8 greyhounds as well as a full training program created for inmates to become full-time paid handlers. The handlers complete the program under the supervision and guidance of the Program Coordinator training the greyhounds with basic obedience and dog socialisation. In addition to this, there were weekly walking groups with volunteers to allow exposure to different environments, sounds and smells outside of the prison environment. Due to the success of this prison program, it was expanded and in 2017 another facility and program evolved at Mobilong Prison in Murray Bridge with capacity for 16 greyhounds. To date, this is the largest program of its kind in the world.

Formerly, greyhounds that participated in the prison program went into foster care afterwards to achieve their green collar before being adopted out. However, in the past two years, GAP have altered the program so greyhounds can undergo their green-collar assessment within the prison, with their handlers now able to partake in this important graduation. They are then adopted directly from the prison program which have proven very successful. It is even quite desirable and popular to adoptive families due to the level of training these dogs have undertaken. In 2017, a documentary called ‘Prisoners and Pups’ by Shalom Almond was filmed within the Women’s Prison and highlighted the profound mutual benefits of the program to both greyhound and inmate. Additionally, early in 2022, Miriam Margolyes filmed an episode of her series ‘Australia Unmasked’ in Mobilong Prison which portrayed a similar story for the incarcerated men.

Prison Program graduated greyhounds have skills with general obedience including general commands such as sit, wait, on your mat, as well as learning good manners and lead training.

For more information please contact GAP on 8243 7124 or to view available Prison Program Graduates, please browse the link.