When a racing greyhound no longer “makes the grade”, it is time for retirement. GLOHW works closely with greyhound adoption groups in the U.S. to find the right “forever home” for every greyhound that we bring into our organization. In order to do this, we do not “warehouse” dogs. Your greyhound will be selected specifically for you based on a profile that is created uniquely for you and your family by members of GLOHW’s Adoption Committee. The profile is based on information from your adoption application and from your home visit. In this way, the best match   possible is made between adopter and greyhound. All newly arrived track dogs spend approximately two weeks in foster care in order to ensure that they do indeed match the profile for the adoptive family. While in foster care, the dogs begin to learn the basics of living in a home.

Occasionally, GLOHW is contacted regarding re-homing or rescuing a greyhound in need. As with adoptions of newly retired track dogs, re-home or rescue dogs are evaluated by an experienced greyhound foster family in order to determine what type of home would best suit the dog’s needs.

Here are the steps in GLOHW’s adoption process:

• Please download an adoption application. If you are not a current member of GLOHW, you will also need to complete a membership application. You can either fill out the applications electronically and email to glohw@glohw.com, or send it by regular mail to the address on the form. To download files click the application tab at the top of the webpage.
• Once your application is received, it will be assigned to two members of GLOHW’s Adoption Committee. They will contact you to arrange a convenient time to come for a home visit. Please be patient! You will be contacted as soon as possible, but we are all volunteers with other commitments to family, pets, and jobs.
• During your home visit, you will have an opportunity to interact with a greyhound and ask questions about the breed and adoption.
• Once you and your family are approved, your case workers will develop a profile of the desired traits for “your” greyhound. This profile is sent to our contacts at the adoption kennels and race tracks in the United States.
• New dogs arrive based either on scheduled shipments (GURs) from our contacts down south, or when the wait list is sufficient to warrant a trip south for GLOHW volunteers.
• Your new family member will be placed in foster care for approximately two weeks. This allows us to assess the dog, and gives the dog time to recover from its trip. During this time, arrangements can be made for you to meet.
• All dogs being adopted are delivered to their new family. Your case workers will review general greyhound care needs and a detailed assessment of your dog from the foster family, as well as providing you with veterinary documentation.
• Post-adoption support is always available. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have and encourage families to stay in touch.