Greyhound Rescue finds loving forever homes for greyhounds no longer wanted by the racing industry. We interviewed Luisa, who adopted greyhound Ringo in December 2020, about her adoption experience.
What is your hound’s name?
We had the absolute pleasure of adopting Ringo (formerly known as Nomad).
Describe your hound and their unique personality.
At over 40kg, he is one solid animal, but he is also the kindest, happiest dog that just loves car rides, to be out and about, and getting pats from as many people as possible. He is stubborn, cheeky, funny, a food thief, a lounge hog, and squeaky toy lover.
What’s their favourite thing to do?
Ringo’s favourite thing to do would definitely be going for his morning walk, closely followed by sleeping on the lounge all day.
How have they fit in to your family?
He has slotted into our little family like he was meant to be here. We absolutely adore him and can’t imagine life without him. He is a very routine oriented dog, as are most animals, and remembers when everything should happen every day, however, if something doesn’t go as planned he just takes it in his stride. He loves being with us, but copes really well on his own
Are there any funny anecdotes or stories you’d like to share about your hound?
A funny little anecdote would be the day that Ringo vocalised for the first time when we asked him if he was hungry and wanted his dinner! This was about 4 months into his adoption. It’s now a daily thing – when we ask him if he’s hungry, he pricks his ears then barks and wags his tail. He gets so excited! It makes us giggle every time.
What advice would you give someone thinking about adopting a greyhound?
I would recommend adopting a greyhound to anyone! They truly are the best animals to have around. They are so gentle, loving, quirky, and funny. They teach you patience, awareness and respect every day, and constantly make you smile. They’re not just a pet, they are a companion in life.
The first month is tough for everyone, as there has to be a settling in period for both animal and humans. This time is spent getting to know one another, being patient, trying new things slowly, and in Ringo’s case we had to spend the first week teaching him how to use stairs as he had never seen them before! We approached everything very gently and slowly and the most important thing I found was to have boundaries and a routine right from the beginning. This provided him with security and comfort.
Why would you recommend adopting from Greyhound Rescue?
Greyhound Rescue are so passionate about finding the perfect home for all of these beautiful animals, and they work tirelessly to care for them and achieve this for each and every hound. The adoption application is very detailed and involved which is so good, as your chance of being matched to the perfect hound is so high.
The support you get from Greyhound Rescue is amazing too, and every volunteer goes above and beyond to help or give advice to any new adoptee. They have everything you need for your new hound and I couldn’t recommend them more highly.
Read more about our adoption process here. Wish you could adopt but can’t right now? Why not become a sponsor!