How do I place my greyhound into GAP SA?

Please contact the GAP SA office on 8243 7124 and we will provide details of your nearest first point assessor. Once your greyhound has been assessed and is successful, the assessor will provide you with a signed assessment form. Please complete the GAP SA Placement Form and return it to the GAP SA office along with the signed assessment form, registration or naming forms and the placement fee.

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

This will vary depending on the availability of foster and forever homes, however GRSA is committed to reducing time on the waiting list as a primary objective. Significant reduction has already been achieved based on recent investment and initiatives.

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

This is not an issue. If you find an alternative home for the greyhound before they enter the GAP SA program or you decide to keep them, please contact the office so we can remove them from the waiting list. Please ensure the appropriate notification forms are completed and submitted to GRSA.

Will GAP SA take on any greyhound?

Provided you have a greyhound with a sound temperament that you believe will genuinely make a great pet we will endeavour to accommodate your request. All greyhounds should possess an even temperament (ie. not aggressive or extremely timid) and be sociable in the presence of other dogs.

The majority of dogs rehomed by GAP SA 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 local streets and parks without difficulty. Every greyhound we adopt should be safe around small, fluffy dogs (eg. Maltese Terriers, Pomeranians) by the time it is ready for adoption.

This may require some investment of time by trainers and owners to work on the socialisation of the greyhound.

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

When GAP SA is able to offer your dog a place in the program, we will contact you to arrange for you to deliver the dog to us. You must be able to transport the greyhound to Greyhound Racing SA, Angle Park.  On occasions, we might request that you drop the dog at another location. We also require the dog’s registration papers and weight card (if applicable). When handing the dog over to GAP SA we will ask you to sign transfer of ownership papers. You are also required to complete paperwork for GRSA advising them of the dog’s retirement. Please make sure you are aware of GRSA’s requirements in this respect. This can also be given to the GAP SA representative at the time of handover.

We may ask that you transport the dog to a vet of our choosing for desexing, vaccination, to be microchipped and have its teeth cleaned. GAP SA will cover the costs associated with this treatment.  Once the dog is fully recovered we will arrange a time for you to bring the dog to our offices at Angle Park. 

On arrival, your dog will begin its new life in a temporary foster home. The foster home will teach your greyhound how to live in a home with a family and other pets.  They will learn basic obedience, skills and manners to prepare it for life as a pet.

What will it cost me to have my greyhound rehomed through GAP SA?

A nominal fee of $60 per greyhound applies to trainers/owners entering a greyhound into the program

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 SA. These might include:

• Get the dog used to spending time loose in the back yard - pet homes do not generally have kennels and runs.
• Teach the dog to walk nicely on a lead by your side.
• Introduce him or her to new people and particularly children under supervision.
• Take him or her out on street walks to the park or shopping centre, or beside busy roads, etc.
• Bring him or her into the house for short periods of time.
• Introduce him or her to stairs and slippery floor surfaces like tiles, linoleum or polished floorboards.
• Introduce him or her to other animals, under controlled circumstances – cats, other dog breeds, horses, caged birds, poultry etc.
• Decrease his exercise requirements. Most adoptive homes will not get up at 4.30am to walk the greyhound, so start getting the greyhound ready for this.
• Sometimes greyhounds can lose weight due to stress when changes to their environment occur. If your dog is currently maintaining race weight try to increase their weight by 0.5-1kg to help the foster family manage the dogs ideal weight. 

Once rehomed, can I make contact with my former racing greyhounds new owners?

An update will be provided to trainers (if requested) following the adoption of their greyhound.

Because of privacy legislation, we can only pass on the adopters details if they give us permission to do so. If you are happy for the adopter to contact you, please let us know and we can pass on your details. 

If you require further information please contact GAP SA on 8243 7124.

Image credit: Danielle Chidlow - 0406 426 433 - www.danichidlow.com