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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Didi Hill ARP
Didi Hill is a beautiful girl, inside and out. She is an introvert and can be a little shy with new people and new dogs, but with time and patience, we believe her inner confidence will shine through. She has the cutest ears and will make your heart melt. Didi Hill may suit living with or without a calm/respectful canine brother of any size and children aged 10 years+. She may do best in a home with a quiet neighbourhood.
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.
Floyd
Scooby
Rhubarb Ruby ARP
Like her name, Rhubarb Ruby is equal parts sweet and full of character. This little girl is friendly, affectionate and always happy to make new friends. With her puppyish personality and enthusiastic approach to life, Ruby brings plenty of fun wherever she goes. Ruby loves treats, enjoys being around people and has a wonderfully sweet and personable nature. Her happy, excitable energy is guaranteed to keep you smiling. Ruby may be suited to live as an only pet or may suit living with medium or large dogs. Ruby may be suitable to live with children 5 and over. Rhubarb Ruby has a deformed jaw and will need regular 6 monthly teeth check ups.
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.
Linda ARP
Linda is a stunning girl she is friendly, confident and outgoing. She loves being involved in everything around her and isn't shy about making new friends. Playful and active, Linda enjoys stretching her legs with the occasional burst of zoomies before settling down for some company and affection.
She may suit living as an only dog or with a calm, polite small, medium or large canine companion. Linda may also be suitable for a home with children aged 10 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.
Quinny
Chance
Hercules
Heidi ARP
Heidi is a beautiful girl with a gentle and affectionate nature. Quiet, calm and wonderfully polite, she takes life in her stride and loves making friends with everyone she meets. Sweet and personable, Heidi is a lovely companion who will happily fit into a relaxed home.
Heidi could live as an only dog or could suit living with a medium to large canine friend, and she may be suitable to live with dog-savvy 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.
