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Entering Your Greyhound into GAP

Rehoming of all adoptable greyhounds is a key goal for GRV. This is reflected in the racing rules and the Victorian Government’s Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds which require owners to make genuine efforts to rehome retired greyhounds. The most common method for greyhounds to be rehomed is through friends, family and contacts of owners, trainers and other participants in the industry. To assist owners to rehome their greyhounds, GRV is continuing to expand and enhance the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) as an important, but not the only, pathway to rehoming greyhounds.

Pre-entry assessment

To be accepted into GAP, greyhounds must pass a short behaviour assessment (pre-entry assessment or GAPPEA). GAPPEA sessions are generally conducted twice a week at eight venues around Victoria (see locations below) and are usually scheduled for up to 3-4 months in advance. To book a GAPPEA for your greyhound please contact Racing Services by emailing gapbooking@grv.org.au or phoning 03 8329 1100 with your preferred assessment location.

If all appointments at your preferred assessment location are fully booked, your greyhound will be placed onto a waiting list (if it is eligible as per below), and when new appointments become available at that location, greyhounds will be allocated slots with the earliest bookings allocated first.

Changes to GAP bookings

From 1 October 2023, only greyhounds that are both desexed and no longer racing will be able to be placed onto the GAP pre-entry assessment (GAPPEA) waiting list. This is to ensure that only greyhounds that are ready for a GAP assessment are on the waiting list and will provide participants with more certainty when it comes to estimating their likely assessment date.

In late November 2023, any greyhound that is not desexed and/or is still racing (i.e. is located with a Trainer) will be removed from the GAPPEA waiting list.

Desexing: GRV must receive the desexing certificate. Please do not rely on your veterinarian to forward the desexing certificate to GRV.

To apply for funding for desexing and dental treatment click here.

Some veterinary clinics have waiting lists for desexing, so GRV suggests you book in early. For a list of veterinary clinics click here or for assistance please contact welfare on 03 8329 1100 or welfare@grv.org.au.

Please note the above changes only apply to the waiting list (i.e. where the greyhound has no allocated assessment date). Those greyhounds already with an allocated assessment date will not be affected, although desexing is still mandatory prior to their assessment.

From October 2023, the GAP transfer of ownership form will be replaced by an online form – more information will be included in the email when you book your greyhound onto the GAPPEA waiting list from October onwards.

Desexing certificates can be emailed to welfare@grv.org.au. GRV’s Desexing and Dental Scheme (information at https://greyhoundcare.grv.org.au/rehoming/desexing-and-dental-scheme/) will cover the entire cost of both desexing and dental treatment in most cases.

Preparation for GAPPEA

Participants can greatly assist GAP by having their greyhounds as “adoption ready” as possible before GAPPEA, which will also maximise the chances of the greyhound passing the assessment:

  1. ensuring greyhounds are used to being around small dogs and other people; and
  2. ensuring medical issues are resolved; for example, a greyhound with a repaired fracture must be sound enough to run around and cannot be lame (if in doubt please contact GRV in advance).

What do I do if my greyhound is on the waiting list for a GAP pre-entry assessment?

  • Preparation: You can use the waiting time to further prepare your greyhound for rehoming. Ongoing handling and socialisation will increase the chances of the greyhound passing the assessment.
  • Alternatives: You can try contacting other rehoming groups but be aware they also currently have long waiting lists.
  • PetCheck: GRV is offering PetCheck behaviour assessments to greyhounds on the waiting list (very similar to a GAPPEA except GAP will not take the greyhound on the day if it passes). This will be useful to provide some certainty about the greyhound’s behaviour and, if you are opting to rehome the greyhound privately, to help you better place the greyhound in the right home. If you would like to have a PetCheck for your greyhound, please ring GAP on 03 5799 0166 to discuss. The plan is to offer appointments at the end of the GAPPEA sessions and at the end of the assessment you will receive documentation on your greyhound’s assessment. To be eligible, your greyhound will need to be vaccinated as per the requirements for GAP.

How GAP’s pre-entry assessment tests work

How do I book a GAPPEA slot?

  • To book your greyhound in for a GAPPEA, please email Racing Services on gapbooking@grv.org.au or phone 03 8329 1100.
  • Sessions are run at: Ballarat; Bendigo; Cranbourne; Seymour (GAP); Geelong; Sale; Sandown and Warrnambool.
  • There are up to 16 spaces available per session. If the sessions are fully booked, your greyhound will be placed on the waiting list.
  • To be eligible for a GAPPEA your greyhound must not have been trained, trialled or raced for at least 28 days (preferably at least two months) prior to the testing day.
  • From 1 October 2023, allgreyhounds must be desexed and no longer racing to be placed onto the GAPPEA waiting listRacing Services will check that FastTrack has your greyhound meeting both of these criteria.
  • Your greyhound must also be fully vaccinated, at least 10 days prior to the testing day, according to the requirements below:
    • C3 vaccination (Parvovirus, Distemper and Hepatitiswithin the last 2½ years(or within 1 year if the last C3 was given earlier than 12 months of age); and
    • Kennel Cough vaccination (both Bordetella and Parainfluenzawithin the last 6 months where the Bordetella component is given as an intra-nasal or oral* vaccine. * Note that while the intra-nasal kennel Cough vaccine protects against both Bordetella and Parainfluenza, the oral vaccine only protects against Bordetella. Therefore, if using the oral vaccine, the Parainfluenza vaccine will have to have been given by separate injection (either on its own or as part of a C4 vaccine).
  • Only three greyhounds per connection can be booked in per pre-assessment session.
  • There is no entry fee for greyhounds into GAP.
  • Participants must provide a good quality, well-fitted wire muzzle when entering a greyhound into GAP.

Two important points:

  • A GAPPEA appointment is allocated to the nominated greyhound, not the participant, so if the greyhound is withdrawn, the participant cannot substitute another greyhound into that slot.
  • If you are considering booking a particular greyhound into a GAPPEA session but you are not sure, it is better to get it booked in, as you can always cancel later if you don’t need the appointment.

Participant re-homing tips