From Track to Home: Part 2: Settling In at GAP – Health, Care & Getting to Know Them
In Part 1 of this series, we looked at what retirement means for a racing greyhound and why it’s the first step on the road to adoption.
In Part 2, we’re taking you behind the scenes at GAP, to show you exactly what happens once a greyhound comes into our care, from their very first health check through to the personality profile you’ll eventually read on our website.
Arrival and initial health checks
The moment a greyhound arrives at GAP, our focus is on making sure they’re happy, healthy, and comfortable. Every dog receives a full veterinary health check, which includes a general physical examination, dental check, and assessment of their overall body condition. Greyhounds are also vaccinated, microchipped, wormed, and desexed (if this hasn’t already happened) as part of our standard process before they’re made available for adoption. Because racing greyhounds can occasionally carry old injuries from their athletic careers, things like a previous hock injury, for example – our team also looks closely at mobility and movement, noting anything an adopter should be aware of down the track. This is also when we identify if a dog might benefit from things like joint supplements or ongoing vet monitoring in their new home.
Getting to know who they really are
Once the health basics are taken care of, the real work of getting to know each individual dog begins. Every greyhound has their own personality, and our team spends time observing each dog to understand their energy levels, temperament, and quirks – are they a confident, treat-loving extrovert, or a quieter soul who prefers to watch the world go by from a comfy bed? We pay close attention to how each dog responds to everyday situations: how they react to other dogs, whether they show any interest in cats or small animals, how they cope with children, and whether they seem suited to apartment living or need a backyard to stretch their legs in. Some greyhounds also take part in our Behavioural Rehabilitation Program, where they receive extra training and support to help them feel confident and settled before heading into a home.
The role of foster care
For many greyhounds, this stage of the journey includes their very first experience of life inside a home, thanks to GAP’s wonderful network of foster carers. Foster homes give our team invaluable insight into how a dog behaves in a genuine domestic environment – things that are hard to observe in a kennel setting, like how they settle at night, how they respond to household noises, or how they get on with resident pets. Foster carers play an enormous role in shaping the detailed, honest profiles you see on our website. When you read about a dog being “crate trained,” “confident on stairs,” or having “a playful, puppyish energy,” that’s often information that’s come directly from time spent in foster care.
Why we do it this way
All of this – the health checks, the behavioural observations, the time in foster care – exists for one reason: so that when you read a GAP dog profile, you’re getting an honest, detailed picture of who that dog really is, not just a generic description. It’s also how we’re able to make thoughtful matches between dogs and adopters, which is exactly what we’ll cover in Part 3 of this series.
Previously: Part 1 – Retirement: A Well-Earned Next Chapter | Next: Part 3 – Finding Their Perfect Match: Welcome Home
Meet our dogs ready for adoption
All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.
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Lad
Elzar
Denzel ARP
Denzel is a big, handsome greyhound with striking white markings and a quiet, gentle nature. While he can be a little reserved when meeting new people, it doesn't take long for his friendly and personable side to shine through. An independent boy, Denzel is happy doing his own thing and would be well suited to a home where he can relax and enjoy life at his own pace. He may be suitable to live as an only dog, or with a medium to large canine companion. Denzel may also be suitable to live with children aged 5 years and over.
This greyhound is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). Through this program, greyhounds stay with their current owners while they wait to find their perfect forever home. If you're interested in adopting this dog, we'll arrange for them to come into GAP specifically for you to meet and complete the adoption process. Since the dog is being brought into the program based on your interest, we ask that applicants be reasonably confident this is the greyhound they'd like to welcome into their family. Unlike our standard adoption process, you won't be able to meet multiple dogs at the same time however our team will share lots of information about this greyhound to help you determine if they're the perfect match for your family.
Patches
Thomas ARP
Issy
Judge George
Suzie ARP
Looking for a social butterfly that loves attention, always happy and favourite thing in the whole world is bum scratches? Then Suzie is your girl! This fun, adorable lady is looking for her forever home and we can’t wait for her to find it. We think she may sui living with children 5 and over and with or without another male canine companion of any size. She may even suit living with full-timeworkers!
This greyhound is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). Through this program, greyhounds stay with their current owners while they wait to find their perfect forever home.
If you're interested in adopting this dog, we'll arrange for them to come into GAP specifically for you to meet and complete the adoption process. Since the dog is being brought into the program based on your interest, we ask that applicants be reasonably confident this is the greyhound they'd like to welcome into their family. Unlike our standard adoption process, you won't be able to meet multiple dogs at the same time however our team will share lots of information about this greyhound to help you determine if they're the perfect match for your family.
Yogi ARP
Yogi is a friendly, outgoing greyhound with a happy wagging tail and a love for people. Confident, affectionate and full of enthusiasm, he's always ready to make new friends and be part of the action. Yogi may be suitable to live as an only dog or with a medium to large canine companion. He may also be suitable to live with children aged 10 years and over.
This greyhound is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). Throughthis program, greyhounds stay with their current owners while they wait to findtheir perfect forever home. If you're interested in adopting this dog, we'llarrange for them to come into GAP specifically for you to meet and complete theadoption process. Since the dog is being brought into the program based on yourinterest, we ask that applicants be reasonably confident this is the greyhoundthey'd like to welcome into their family. Unlike our standard adoption process,you won't be able to meet multiple dogs at the same time however our team willshare lots of information about this greyhound to help you determine if they'rethe perfect match for your family.
Oreo ARP
Everyone loves a sweet treat, and this sweet treat is one you will love more and more everyday. Oreo is an extremely polite, gentle and easy girl to have around and she is lovely to walk on lead. We think she may suit living with or without another medium or larger canine friend and children 5 and over. She may also suit full time workers.
This greyhound is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). Through this program, greyhounds stay with their current owners while they wait to find their perfect forever home.
If you're interested in adopting this dog, we'll arrange for them to come into GAP specifically for you to meet and complete the adoption process. Since the dog is being brought into the program based on your interest, we ask that applicants be reasonably confident this is the greyhound they'd like to welcome into their family. Unlike our standard adoption process, you won't be able to meet multiple dogs at the same time however our team will share lots of information about this greyhound to help you determine if they're the perfect match for your family.