About Greyhounds

This is a little trickier. There will be many greyhounds that will never be able to live with a cat, chickens, or pocket pet. We usually have a long waiting list for hounds that will fit these criteria, so it is best to pop in your application form. At times we will refer to other ethical rescue groups who may be able to assist you.

Yes and no! Greyhounds are considered a “low maintenance” dog and will often snooze the day away while you are at work, however if you are away from home for longer than 8 hours we advise that you have a dog walker, friend, or neighbour come to visit and break up the day for your hound. If your hound won’t have access to a backyard then 6-7 hours is the maximum recommended. Greyhounds that will be alone for longer stretches may benefit from having a canine companion, so consider adopting two!

In most Local Government Areas in NSW, greyhounds are allowed off-leash in designated off-leash areas, just like any other dog. You’ll need to double check with your council area. Greyhounds will need to wear a muzzle in off-leash areas regardless of whether they are on leash or off, unless they have a GreenHound exemption. As greyhounds are sighthounds they experience “tunnel vision” when they see something to chase and may run out into traffic or become disoriented and lost. For the safety of your hound they should only be allowed off-leash in a securely fenced area.

A majority of the hounds that come through Greyhound Rescue are surrendered to us by their owners and trainers after they are finished racing. Occasionally we save hounds from pounds and other shelters if they are at risk of being euthanised.

Generally greyhounds are a very healthy breed as they have been bred for their physical strengths. Some common (though still rare) afflictions that affect greyhounds include an eye condition called pannus and a disease of the nails called SLO. Being large-breed dogs they are also more prone to osteosarcomas and bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus). Greyhounds who have raced may also be more prone to arthritis.

There are many ways that you can help! Consider becoming a Help A Hound sponsor, volunteering at our kennels, Bringing your team in for a corporate volunteering experience and make sure you follow us on Facebook and Instagram and sign up to our newsletter. You can also get some great stuff in our shop with profits going to support our efforts.

Thanks for considering fostering or adoption! You can read more about our adoption process here and fill in our application form.

If you’re interested in adopting or fostering, the first step is to fill in an application form on our website. From there, a Greyhound Rescue volunteer will come to your home and meet with your family to discuss greyhound adoption/foster care and your needs and expectations. The next step is for our experienced team to look at which available hounds would be the best match for your family. Once there is a suitable hound or hounds for you we will invite your family to come to our Rescue Centre just south of Sydney for a “meet and greet” and, if you’re happy, you can bring your new hound home for a three-week trial period.

Our kennels aren’t open to the public and we don’t do “walk-in” adoptions. Instead, we match our adoptions on a case-by-case basis to ensure a good match between hound and family. You can read more about our adoption process here. If you’ve seen a greyhound that you are especially interested in you can note that on your form and we will certainly consider that dog for you!

The dogs that we place in foster are typically those that need some extra care, and foster carers should be prepared to take on hounds with higher needs. We require carers who are willing and able to work with hounds that may be timid, have medical issues, or need further training in how they relate to other people and dogs. Greyhound Rescue will provide support through the foster process and access to our dog trainer to help with specific issues.

We have no set time on foster placements and a foster carer should be prepared to have the hound until the right forever home is available. The average time for a dog in foster care is 3–6 months. Greyhound Rescue will cover all necessary vet bills, flea/tick/worming treatment, and the first bag of food. We ask that foster carers provide loving care and some basic training under the guidance of our Foster Coordinators.

Your greyhound will come with a leash, martingale collar, and muzzle. In cooler weather, greyhounds will need to wear a coat for warmth. Many greyhounds will enjoy playing with toys, and of course you will need appropriate food for your hound. There is a selection of coats, toys, worm/flea treatments, and food available for sale at our kennels for your convenience.
Your greyhound will need a soft bed or two and an outdoor sheltered space. You should have a water bowl available to your greyhound at all times, and if you have multiple dogs we recommend having more than one water bowl. Your hound will also need a bowl for food. Some greyhounds do prefer to eat from an elevated bowl, however this is personal preference. You should seek out a vet in your area and also make sure that you know the location and phone number of your nearest emergency vet.

We will provide you with plenty of information on settling in your new hound and there is lots of information on our blog. How long it will take depends on the hound. What is most important is that you allow your new greyhound the time and the space to come to know their new world and to build a relationship of trust with you.

Our adoption fee is $495 and includes desexing, vaccination; microchipping; and all hounds are flea, worm and heartworm treated. This fee also includes our Starter Kit which contains a collar, leash, muzzle and loads of other goodies to help you get your new hound settled into the family.

Greyhounds in NSW and the ACT no longer have to wear a muzzle in public when being walked on-leash, provided that they are lifetime-registered on the Companion Animal Register. While a greyhound is in foster care or on trial adoption they will need to wear a muzzle outside of the home at all times. Greyhounds are not allowed unmuzzled in off-leash areas unless they have a GreenHound exemption. Greyhound Rescue recommends that your new hound continues to wear a muzzle when out and about until they have adjusted to pet life.

If you expect your dog to be in the yard off-leash then you will need a fenced yard with a minimum height of 1.5m. As greyhounds are sighthounds they experience “tunnel vision” when they see something to chase and may run out into traffic or become disoriented and lost. For the safety of your hound they should only be allowed off-leash in a securely fenced area.

Greyhounds should always be fed two meals a day to reduce the risk of bloat. At Greyhound Rescue we feed SavourLife kibble and Raw & Fresh raw diet. Both of these Australian-owned companies donate generously to Greyhound Rescue.

Your greyhound may need to learn how to play with toys as they may not have had the opportunity in their previous life. We have a selection of tried-and-tested toys available in our online shop and at our kennels, and you’ll come to learn the types of toys that your hound prefers.

“Sleep Startle” is a condition that can affect greyhounds due to their previous life, and does need to be managed carefully. Most have been used to sleeping in a space with no other dogs or people and will not have been disturbed while sleeping. Read our post for more information.

Most greyhounds have had little to no experience of the “real world”. We advise that you give your greyhound time to build a relationship of trust with you before exposing them to too many new experiences, as it can quickly become overwhelming for them. Read our blog post on why you should wait for walkies.

Our view is that, as long as there is greyhound racing in NSW, the government should hold the industry 100% accountable for the welfare of these beautiful animals.

That said, Greyhound Rescue was formed with the purpose of taking discarded and unwanted greyhounds, rehabilitating them and finding them homes where they can live happy and safe lives with humans who will lovingly care for them. All the resources of our organisation and the time and effort of our wonderful volunteers is spent in this pursuit.

The decision to euthanise a greyhound is an extremely rare and emotional event at Greyhound Rescue and is never taken lightly. Every reasonable attempt will be made by Greyhound Rescue to treat and/or rehabilitate. We do not place a time limit on how long a greyhound can remain at our kennels, nor do we discriminate based on age, sex or colour. The following circumstances may result in humane euthanasia of a greyhound: terminal medical condition, irremediable suffering, significant and likely risk to people, legislative requirement.

 Our facility is located in the rural fringe of Sydney, an easy hour’s drive from the CBD. If you’re interested in volunteering you can find out more here. If you’re unable to volunteer, there are plenty of other ways to help.

 If you have a greyhound that needs to be surrendered you can contact us here. Be aware that we do have a waiting list of hounds waiting to come in to our care.