Medical Foster Carer

Medical foster carers provide a little extra TLC to greyhounds recovering from surgery, injury, or illness. It’s a gentle, rewarding role that helps these dogs heal comfortably in a home environment instead of a kennel.
What’s required?
Medical Foster Care assignments vary in timing and could range from two weeks to six weeks or required time of recovery. GAP provide food, muzzle, martingale collar, snuggly coat, and lead. If your medical foster requires medication or specific items (like a crate), these items will also be provided. Carers provide a cosy bed for sleeping, and some toys to play with (even empty soft drink bottles or cardboard boxes).
Other points to note
- Volunteers need to agree and sign our Volunteer and Foster Care Agreements, which are available to view and download on the application page.
- Provide all immediate needs of a Greyhound under your care including general care such as feeding, walking (if appropriate), socialising, grooming and training
- Provide and be comfortable to do specific medical care as per the greyhound’s care plan (training provided). Tasks could include but are not limited to:
- Bandage of tail
- Bandage of foot/toes
- Treat basic wounds/cleaning and giving medication
- Administer medications orally
- Subcutaneous injections (optional)
- Fill in medical treatment chart
- Record vital signs (optional)
- Able to medicate eyes and ears
- Be willing to potentially make trips using your own transport to our vets either in Seymour or Albert Park to monitor greyhound’s recovery. Sometimes these can be as regular as once a week. The vet costs incurred at Albert Park will be covered by GAP.
- Collect and return Greyhounds to our kennel locations (Seymour, or Tullamarine) using your own transport, or at scheduled collection times at Sandown Greyhound Racing Clubs. Pick up and drop offs are always by prearrangement.
- Attend initial volunteer induction, specific medical first aid training and any scheduled training sessions either with or without your greyhound, as part of your training plan
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.
Gracie was Pluto

Luigi

Willow ARP
We promise she has ears! Willow is a sweet little girl that can be a little unsure in new environments and will need a quiet and understanding new home to let her settle in. Once she is comfortable, we are sure a cheeky and playful little pup will emerge. Due to this, a home with a backyard and older children if any may be a better fit for her. She may even like the company of another male canine companion to help show her the world, as long as they are calm and respectful whilst she is adjusting. We think the best is yet to come with dear Willow and will make someone super pleased to have her in their life.
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.

Rocky

Nero

Marley ARP
Are you looking for a mature greyhound who may be happy to live with a smaller dog? Marley might be your lady! She is super sweet, friendly, and outgoing, and has all the love to give. Marley may be happiest in a home with children 10 years and over and might suit living with full time workers.
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.

Poppy ARP
This is Poppy! Poppy is only a young girl, but we are happy to say that she has had some experience into pet life and she is toilet trained. Poppy can be a bit of an introvert and is not a big fan of people or dogs crowding her or in her face. She is friendly though to people that she trusts and knows.
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.

Craig

