General Foster Carer
Foster care is a rewarding way to help greyhounds begin their journey towards finding a forever home. It’s a short term commitment and you’ll receive all the essentials and support you need from GAP.
It can be a very daunting time for a Greyhound when they first enter retirement life and many of the dogs which come into our care need some extra help in a home environment before they’re ready for their fur-ever homes. This is where our Foster Care team come in! We have a dedicated group of volunteers all over the state who regularly foster a greyhound in their home for a few weeks, helping to Fill the GAP between racing and pet life.
Please note: We require volunteers to be at least 18 years old.
What’s required?
GAP provide food, muzzle, snuggly coat, martingale collar, and lead. Carers provide a cosy bed for sleeping, and some toys to play with (even empty soft drink bottles or cardboard boxes). Volunteers need to agree and sign our Volunteer and Foster Care Agreements, which are available to view and download on the application page.
We prefer carers to have at least a small outside space, with secure fencing, and a shaded area. Some carers in apartments are appropriate if someone is home during the day to toilet the dog. Otherwise, it is not necessary to be home all day to be a foster carer.
Other points to note:
- Foster Care assignments are generally for a period of four weeks. GAP provide food, muzzle, martingale collar, snuggly coat, and lead. Carers provide a cosy bed for sleeping, and some toys to play with (even empty soft drink bottles or cardboard boxes).
- General foster carers will foster a range of dogs from those needing a break from kennels to dogs needing some additional behaviour work with other dogs or within the home.
- Volunteers need to agree and sign our Volunteer and Foster Care Agreements, which are available to view and download on the application page.
- We prefer carers to have at least a small outside space, with secure fencing, and a shaded area. Some carers in apartments are appropriate if someone is home during the day to toilet the dog. Otherwise, it is not necessary to be home all day to be a foster carer.
- We require a variety of family situations for different foster dogs – carers with children of different ages; carers with cats; carers with other dogs of different sexes and breeds; and plenty of carers with no other pets or children. We match each dog to the most appropriate care home.
- Carers are asked to provide 1-2 short walks a day of up to 20 minutes, preferably in an area where dogs of other breeds (with leads on) can be observed by the Greyhound at a distance, then gradually closer if the dog behaves calmly. Some basic grooming and dog massage or cuddles, and practice on stairs, is always appreciated.
- Every Greyhound is completely different – it’s not unusual for some foster dogs to seem a bit aloof or unsocial at first. Remember – this is all new to them: stairs, laminate floors, carpets, other pets, and kids. Once they adjust their personalities will start to emerge!
- Foster dogs must always be muzzled and on leash when off your private property.
- We ask that our carers be available to foster at least two dogs per year.
- Applicants to be a carer must have access to a car at all times. Either personally owned or the family car.
Why Foster
Fostering a greyhound is a rewarding experience that helps newly retired greyhounds adjust to family life and families adjust to being pet owners. If you’re unsure whether a greyhound is the right fit for you, fostering is the perfect way to find out!
Foster Caring can sometimes be a challenge but it is also hugely rewarding, especially when you find out a dog you have fostered has been adopted into their new family!
At GAP, we know how to treasure our volunteers. We hold fun, free events throughout the year for all our volunteers!
Meet our dogs ready for adoption
All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.
Name
0 Years Old
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla.
Name
0 Years Old
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla.
Name
0 Years Old
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla.
Name
0 Years Old
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla.
Name
0 Years Old
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla.
Name
0 Years Old
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla.
Puddles
Caper
Kennard
Vix
Ammonite
Summer ARP
Summer is a sweet and gentle little girl whose quiet charm is impossible to resist. Calm, polite, and sensible, she moves through the world with a soft grace that perfectly matches her pretty looks. She’s a little introverted by nature — not shy exactly, just thoughtful — and has a warmth and personability about her that draws people in without her ever needing to ask for attention. She is simply, and wonderfully, herself. She would thrive in a calm, loving home where she can take life at her own sweet pace, and whoever is lucky enough to adopt her will find a truly special little companion. Summer may suit living with or without a canine pal of any size and children aged 5 years and older. Due to her calm demeanour she may suit living in an apartment.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
Buddy ARP
Buddy is the kind of dog who enters a room and instantly makes it brighter — a big, handsome, boofy boy with a personality to match his size. Friendly, outgoing, and brimming with confidence, he approaches life with boundless enthusiasm and a happiness that is utterly contagious. Excitable and boisterous, Buddy is not what you’d call a wallflower — standing still is simply not in his vocabulary — but his joy is so genuine and so exuberant that it’s impossible not to smile in his presence. Throw in a tasty treat or a favourite toy and you’ll have one very happy boy on your hands.
Buddy is a dog who needs space to match his enormous energy and even bigger personality, so a home with a backyard is a must — somewhere he can zoom, bound, and burn off that glorious enthusiasm of his. He will thrive with an active family who can match his zest for life and keep him engaged, stimulated, and loved. In return, Buddy will bring laughter, liveliness, and a whole lot of heart to whoever is lucky enough to call him theirs. Buddy may suit living with or without a canine likeminded friend of similar size and children aged 10 years and older.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and not other dogs currently in our care.
Mia ARP
Mia is a sweet and gentle soul who, despite the anxiety she carries, faces the world with a quiet determination and a willingness to try that is truly heartwarming. Calm and polite, she is the kind of girl who will never impose herself, always erring on the softer, more submissive side — but underneath that gentle exterior is a friendly, personable little dog who genuinely wants to connect. She may need a little extra time and reassurance to find her confidence, but every small step she takes is a reminder of just how hard she is trying.
A patient, understanding home is where Mia will truly begin to flourish. She would do well with children aged 10 and older — those who are calm and kind and will give her the space to settle at her own pace. In the right environment, with gentle routines and plenty of quiet encouragement, Mia has every chance of blossoming into a deeply loving and devoted companion. She deserves someone who will champion her, and in return, she will give everything she has. She may also suit living as an only dog but may thrive best in a home with a confident canine companion of similar size to help bring out her confidence.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We have behavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting this particular dog, and not other dogs currently in our care.
Astra ARP
Astra is a sweet girl. She is friendly, confident and affectionate. She may suit living with small, medium or large dogs and may suit living with kids 5+.
This dog is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). ARP dogs are kept with their racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they are brought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adopting this dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you will be adopting them. As such, you will not be able to meet any other dogs, as you otherwise would be able to.
