The Work of Greyhound Rescues

Greyhound rescue groups exist all over the world and can be found at the main greyhound rescue site Adopt A Greyhound. A simple Google search on “Greyhound Rescue” will bring up pages of results. These organizations are staffed and funded by volunteers who love animals and do not want to see these beautiful creatures destroyed after a short and often painful life of being used as racing dogs.

The greyhound rescue group that you select will have you fill out an application to ensure that a greyhound is the right dog for you and that you are the right person for a greyhound. Every rescue group maintains strict rules about how you must treat the dog you adopt, and these rules appear to be universal from one group to the next and one country to the next. Make sure you do your research and are aware of all these requirements before adopting a greyhound.

Depending on how long the dog has been with their greyhound rescue group, they will have learned some basic socialization and obedience skills and they will be housebroken.
Greyhound rescue volunteers house and care for the dogs in their home. This is essential because these racing dogs have never been in a home house break if needed and get an idea if they will be good with small children and other pets such cats. By having this familiarity with the personality of the greyhound, they can make sure that there is a good match between human and dog.

Greyhounds are an ancient breed that was revered by the Ancient Egyptians and Celts. They are sweet, intelligent and sensitive creatures and make wonderful pets. You could be saving a life by adopting one, since in the United States thousands of greyhounds are killed every year because they cannot run fast enough to win races and make money for their owners. Regulations in the UK and other countries on treatment of retired greyhounds are stronger than in the U.S. But greyhound rescue groups exist around the world because these retired runners need a family to love them.

Greyhound rescues are devoted to saving these lovely animals and give of their time and finances to make sure the cast off racers have a chance at a good life. The rescue group will charge an adoption fee to help defray the cost of the medical bills they have incurred making sure the dog is healthy and ready for adoption. Greyhound rescues house dogs from ages 2 to 5, and with good care a greyhound can have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.

Some greyhound rescues are adamantly opposed to greyhound racing and others have a more neutral stand, so you can expect a variety of opinions on that front. But one thing is common among the greyhound rescue groups is that is they want to make sure they are giving their dog to the best home possible.