James' dog Harold is the fawn one in the photos. These dogs are all retired racers and the photos were taken when they went for a run on the coursing track in Park Orchards, in Melbourne.
Harold is James' fourth greyhound, he has had two racers and two retired racers from the Greyhound Adoption Program.
The Greyhound Adoption Program, or GAP, is an initiative of Greyhound Racing Victoria dedicated to finding homes for greyhounds that are no longer suitable for racing. While many greyhounds become available for adoption each year, misconceptions about these dogs deter people from owning them as pets. Due to the fact that they are of the sight hound family and aroused by the passion of chase, people mistakenly make the assumption that greyhounds are aggressive. Also, in the past greyhounds were required by law to wear a muzzle in public, creating the perception that they are hostile. It is one of our main goals to change the negative image so many people have of greyhounds, and through a more positive reputation, hope to increase the publics desire to care for these wonderful dogs after their racing careers have finished. Each greyhound is kept by GAP for a period of six to eight weeks in order to expose them to as many different experiences as possible (eg. Cats, children, small animals etc).
All our dogs are thoroughly temperament tested, and we will always take the dog back if your situation changes at any time. GAP greyhounds are desexed, microchipped, wormed, vaccinated and heartworm tested; an adoption fee exists only to attempt to recover some of these costs. More importantly, these dogs can give as much, if not more, affection than they receive. Similar programs have been highly successful in the USA and UK. It is our hope that GAP can improve the image of these beautiful hounds and find loving homes that will bring happiness to both owners and dogs.
GAP attends many events during the year that volunteers are welcome to assist at. We have an annual Gathering of the Greyhounds at Christmas time which is always a popular event with around 250 greyhounds and 500 people usually attending.
GAP publishes a monthly newsletter, and staff are always available to answer queries about your dog. Whether you are thinking about the possibility of adopting a retired racing greyhound or have made the decision to offer a home to one, we have compiled this information to help you and your family understand some of the experiences that a greyhound faces before being retired. Also included is important information regarding health care, specific breed facts and hints which will make integration of your new dog into the family home easier for all concerned.
If you are interested in adopting a retired racing dog, click on the link below on the right hand side of the page to visit the Greyhound Adoption Program.
Click on the photos on the right side of the page to enlarge them.
