Below you will find the answer to many questions you may have about the regional GAP program including how to place a dog on our program.
Will Regional GAP take on any greyhound?
Regional GAP is a club based program for financial club members as it is run through your local club with full club support and involvement. Provided you have a greyhound with a sound temperament that you believe will genuinely make a great pet, we will endeavor to accommodate your request. All greyhounds placed through us should possess an even temperament (ie. not aggressive or extremely timid) and be sociable in the presence of other dogs or people.
The best train of thought is, are you comfortable handing that dog over to the lady at the supermarket to live at her home and for her to take it out for a walk (with the correct work put in by yourself prior)? If not, then we can look at other options for you so just let us know as we are here to help your dog.
The majority of dogs rehomed by Regional GAP will go to family homes in suburbia, often with other pets, and must be able to walk with their owners around local streets and parks without difficulty. Every greyhound we adopt should be safe around small, fluffy dogs (eg. Maltese Terriers, Pomeranians) by the time it is ready for adoption in the event they see one walking down the street.
This may require some investment of time by trainers and owners to work on the socialisation of the greyhound. We do have retired couple homes and single homes apply however they usually have grandchildren coming over and other dogs visiting so the more socialisation they have, the quicker they are to rehome.
What happens when my greyhound is accepted?
We ask that you book the dog into the vet you chose in your application for desexing, vaccination, and have its teeth cleaned. You will be copied into an email to the vets authorising this procedure allowing you to book the dog in. GRNSW will cover the costs associated with this treatment. Please notify us when you have made this appointment.
Once the dog is fully recovered from their procedure (approx 2 weeks) we will be in contact to discuss the next step with the dog. This may include filling in a document of a self-assessment or waiting until we can assess the dog. Any dogs placed on the Regional GAP program may be requested to be booked in for a center based assessment so we are looking for dogs for our program that will pass that assessment.
If space is available in a foster home, they will teach your greyhound how to live in a home with a family and other pets. They will also learn basic obedience, skills and manners to prepare it for life as a pet however foster homes are hard to find so a lot of this work may need to be done by yourself – again, the better prepared your dog is in everyday situations the quicker the rehoming process is.
What if I am not a club member?
Greyhounds for non financial member can still be booked into the next GAP assessment day in your area. Please contact GAP directly to make this booking at gap@grnsw.com.au or go to the web page at www.gapnsw.com.au
What can I do to assist my greyhound’s transition from racing dog to the family pet?
There are a number of things you can do to ease your greyhound’s transition into a pet lifestyle while you wait for a home or foster placement. These might include:
-Get the dog used to spending time lose in the backyard – pet homes do not generally have kennels and runs.
-Teach the dog to walk nicely on a lead by your side.
-Introduce him or her to new people and particularly children under supervision.
-Take him or her out on street walks to the park or shopping centre, or beside busy roads, etc.
-Bring him or her into the house for short periods of time.
-Introduce him or her to stairs and slippery floor surfaces like tiles, linoleum or polished floorboards.
-Introduce him or her to other animals, under controlled circumstances – cats, other dog breeds, horses, caged birds, poultry etc.
-Decrease his exercise requirements. Most adoptive homes will not get up at 4.30am to walk the greyhound, so start getting the greyhound ready for this.
-Sometimes greyhounds can lose weight due to stress when changes to their environment occur. If your dog is currently maintaining race weight try to increase their weight by 0.5-1kg to help the foster family manage the dog’s ideal weight.
What’s my part in the rehoming process?
Regional GAP is different to a GAP centers such as Western Sydney/Wyee as we don’t take the dog from you, and you are involved in all aspects of the dog’s placement and adoption. You will get to see the application for the dog and we will have you contact the prospective home to have a chat to see if you feel it’s the right home for that dog. In Regional GAP we assist you in rehoming your own dog.
If you’re happy with the application, we ask you to arrange a time to meet the new home in a neutral location away from your home (the tracks can be used for this if needed) and ask that you contact your GAP Co-Ordinator with the meeting time and place. You will also be the point of call for the new family if they have any issues /questions once the dog is placed as you know the dog better than anyone.
You will need to create an easy to manage diet for their new home that suits your dog to ensure they don’t lose weight in their new life. A general rule of thumb would be kibble based with a bit of meat as well as the new homes are used to easy dog feeding routines, not complex ones.
How long is the waiting time once my greyhound goes onto the program?
This will vary depending on the right forever homes based on dogs needs. The more work put in by you beforehand will make the rehoming significantly quicker. Homes can take a few weeks to a few months depending on the dog needs and applications coming in and full pet ready dogs are rehomed very quick.
Got a question?
If you have any questions please call you GAP Regional Co-Ordinator or talk to the manager at your local track.
To place a dog on the program.
Our system is easy and all online. The more information you can supply in your application will help to speed up the rehoming process for your dog. There is never a thing as too much information in the application.
Have your dog’s race card on hand and you can apply below.