Medical Foster Carer

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!