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500th Greyhound Graduates through Dhurringile’s Pet Prison Partnership

The Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) and Corrections Victoria are celebrating the 500th greyhound to complete foster care through the Pet Prison Partnership at HM Dhurringile Prison.

The program, which commenced in 2007, has gone from strength to strength over the past 12 years and is currently implemented in two minimum security Victorian prisons – Dhurringile and Tarrengower.

The Pet Prison Partnership allows inmates to get involved in socialising greyhounds in order to get them ready for adoption. This includes getting the greyhound familiar with stairs, walking on lead and getting comfortable on the couch.

Greyhound Racing Victoria’s Rehoming Manager Sean Stanton said that the program has been a rewarding and effective initiative.

“Foster care is an integral part of the GAP adoption process with hundreds of our greyhounds going out to foster care each year,” Mr Stanton said.

“We usually have around four greyhounds in the prison at any one time, with each greyhound completing 4 weeks in foster care.

“The program has gone from strength to strength and it is great to see how passionate both the inmates and staff are in helping get these greyhounds ready for adoption. It is not only the dogs who benefit from the foster care process as the inmates also thrive on the opportunity to have a four-legged companion.”

Virginia – the 500th greyhound – has excelled in her time in foster care, just like in her racing career. Racing as Virginia Rose, she had 53 starts including 10 wins throughout her career and she is now ready to retire to the couch of her new adoptive family.

Being part of the GAP Foster Care Team is a rewarding experience and is a great way to get to know and understand greyhounds as pets. To find out more about the GAP Foster Care Program please visit https://gap.grv.org.au/volunteering/foster-care/.

CAPTION (above photo): Sean Stanton, Cecilia Lane, Shirley Lane (mother/ adopter), Sean Murphy (Operations Manager HM Dhurringile Prison), Brett McMerrin (Assistant Commissioner, Custodial Services at Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria) and Virginia the greyhound.

ARCHIVED VIDEO: ‘Every Greyhound Has a Story’ – Prison Pet Partnership