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.
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Berlin
Tiddles
Roxie ARP
Boofa
Croc ARP
Meet Croc! He is enthusiastic and happy about everything and anything! He takes everything in his stride and will happily fit in to most homes. Croc may suit living with or without a canine pal of any size or breed and children aged 10 years and older. Sorry no apartments for his active boy.
Croc 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 no other dogs currently in our care.
Chandler ARP
Meet Chandler, no he isn't like the Chandler from friends, he is quite the oposite really. He is an introvert and enjoys the quiet life. He finds new people and new environments a bit scary and takes a hot minute to warm up to people, then he becomes friendly and personable. Chandler may suit living with or without a canine friend of any size or breed and children aged 10 years and older, he may find the smallest children too scary. A quiet home will be best for this Chandler.
Chandler 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 wil be adopting this particular dog, and no other dogs currently in our care.
Cait ARP
This is Cait, she is a mature lady in more ways than one- she will be turning 9 years old in May, she has a cute grey face, and she acts like a lovely older lady. She is very sweet, calm and quiet, when she chooses her person, she looks lovingly into their eyes. Due to her friendly nature, she may suit many home types from dogs of any size or breed, to children aged 5 years or older and may even be OK with living with the elderly. She may also be OK to live in an apartment.
Cait 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 no other dogs currently in our care.
Dancer
Dizzy ARP
Meet Dizzy, she is quite the introvert and can be cautious and anxious of new people and environments. She will require a quiet home and understanding owner to give her time and patience to guide her into pet life and help find her inner confidence. Once she warms up to you, she is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside, just look at those gorgeous eyes, once she trusts you she is very sweet and personable. Dizzy may suit living with or without a canine friend of any size or breed and may do best in a home with older children aged 10 years and above as he may little people a bit scary.
Dizzy is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). We havebehavioural and health assessed this lovely dog, and they will remain withtheir racing owners until they find an adoptive home, at which point they arebrought back into GAP. This means that should you be interested in adoptingthis dog, we are bringing the dog into GAP on the understanding that you willbe adopting this particular dog, and no other dogs currently in our care.
Kensi ARP
Beautiful Kensi is quite big for a female greyhound; she weighs well over 30kg! Don't let her size deter you, she is as sweet and friendly as they come, and we even think she may be OK to live with children as young as 5 years old. She may also be OK to live with or without a canine brother of any size and breed.
Kensi 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 no other dogs currently in our care.