Greyhound Adoption Program

Have you ever thought about fostering or adopting a greyhound? The Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) is a non-profit organisation who dedicates their time and effort to rehome both retired and non-racing greyhounds.

Greyhounds are affectionate, gentle animals who thrive on human companionship. Sometimes public perception is that greyhounds are aggressive animals and they love to chase. In reality, while racing greyhounds do love to chase, after they have retired they become couch potatoes and the ideal house pet.

Once a greyhound retires from racing they are firstly assessed for temperament. After being deemed suitable they are placed in foster homes for up to 8 weeks to acclimatise to life as a pet. No special qualifications are needed to become a foster carer – just a little love, a lot of patience and a fenced yard. After their foster period they're ready to find their loving forever homes.

The sister of one of our nurses recently adopted a greyhound named Jack from GAP. She was meant to just be “fostering” him but fell madly in love and couldn't part ways. Jack is now a very spoiled member of the family as you can see in the photo (top). Our vet Lara also has a greyhound named Jet who loves to smile and pose for photos (bottom).

For more information check out the GAP website

What to do if your pet starts to feel the heat

Our pets can’t sweat all over their bodies like humans can. They rely on panting to get rid of the hot air and only produce a small amount of sweat through their footpads. This makes them extremely susceptible to heat exhaustion in hot and humid conditions.

Heat exhaustion can be particularly dangerous and even fatal so it’s important to be able to recognise the signs and know what to do.

Watch out for:

•     Excessive panting
•     Exaggerated and noisy panting
•     Lethargy
•     Drooling
•     Weakness or collapse
•     Vomiting

What to do if you suspect heat exhaustion:

•     Bring your pet to us immediately (or seek emergency veterinary care)
•     On your way here you can cool your pet by applying wet towels to hairless parts of your pet’s body (groins or paws)
•     Place your pet in front of the air conditioner or a fan while you are in the car.

If you are ever worried about your pet in the heat call us for advice