Greyhound Adoption Program

Entering your Greyhound into GAP

Rehoming greyhounds is a key goal for everyone involved in the sport of greyhound racing. This is reflected in the racing rules and the Victorian Government’s Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds which requires owners to make genuine efforts to rehome retired greyhounds. Greyhounds are mostly rehomed through friends, family and contacts of our participants. To assist owners to rehome their greyhounds, GRV is continuing to expand and enhance the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) as an important, but not the only, pathway to rehoming greyhounds.

GAP has two programs available to participants, depending on the greyhound’s history, behaviour and participant preferences.  The available programs are Intake and Assisted Rehoming (ARP) and more information is available on each below. Each program has a waiting list, and greyhounds may be entered into both programs, providing they meet the eligibility criteria for each.  A greyhound’s position on the waiting list for either program is not affected by the other program and a greyhound will automatically be removed from both waiting lists if it is successful through either program.

All greyhounds entering GAP must be desexed, have had dental care and must meet GAP’s minimum vaccination requirements – more information on vaccination requirements below.

GAP Vaccination Requirements

To maintain excellent health, safety and wellbeing of all greyhounds, GAP has strict vaccination requirements for greyhounds entering the program.

Greyhounds entering GAP are required to have a C5 vaccination, including an Oral or Intranasal Kennel Cough component, within 6 months of entry into GAP.  Below is a summary of vaccination combinations that will ensure your greyhound meets the GAP vaccination criteria, based on their individual vaccine regimes.

GAP vaccination requirements summary table

Preparation for GAP

As per the Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds, owners are required to prepare their greyhound to be ‘adoption ready’ prior to GAP Intake by ensuring the greyhound:

• has had a wind-down period of at least 28 days without any training, trialling or racing activities;
• is well trained walking on a leash and is used to being around small dogs and other people;
• has been exposed to different environments, floor surfaces and travelling arrangements and;
• has basic pet skills such as not jumping up on people, being toilet trained, staying calm when washed or groomed and coming when called.

Owners are also required to ensure that any medical issues are resolved; for example, a greyhound with a repaired fracture must be sound enough to run around and cannot be lame – if in doubt please contact GRV in advance at [email protected]

To be eligible for our GAP programs, a greyhound must also:

• be desexed, have had dental care, and the certificates received by GRV and;

• no longer be racing (have an activity status other than training)

If a greyhound is not desexed, GRV’s Desexing and Dental Scheme will cover the entire cost of both desexing and dental treatment in most cases. Click here for information about the scheme or, to apply for funding for desexing and dental treatment  click here.
Some veterinary clinics have waiting lists for desexing, so GRV recommends that you book your desexing appointment early.

Owners are advised not to rely on their Veterinarian to forward desexing or vaccination certificates to GRV. These can be emailed by the Owner to [email protected]

Transfer of Ownership

The owner of all greyhounds accepted into GAP is required to complete a transfer of ownership to GAP.  The transfer of ownership form will be provided to the owner once a GAP appointment has been allocated to their greyhound and transfer of ownership to GAP will only occur once the greyhound has been accepted into GAP’s care.

GAP Intake

The GAP Intake program admits greyhounds into GAP’s kennels in preparation for adoption as a pet into a family home.  Once a greyhound is accepted via GAP Intake, the greyhound will undergo additional observation, behavioural and temperament assessments before being made available for adoption to members of the public looking for a furry companion. GAP will match the greyhound to the most suitable home.

GAP Intake appointments occur at GRV’s GAP facility in Seymour. Greyhounds must be medically sound and will undergo a health check by a Veterinarian at the time of their intake appointment, prior to being accepted into GAP.

Entering your Greyhound into the Intake Program

To add a greyhound to the waiting list for the GAP Intake program, the Owner must complete the online GAP Intake and Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP) Expression of Interest Form – CLICK HERE to complete the form now.

GAP Intake Appointments

When an intake appointment becomes available, a greyhound will be allocated a date and time, and the Owner will be notified via email.

Once a Greyhound is allocated an intake appointment, their vaccination status may need to be updated to meet GAP’s vaccination requirements. Please refer to the GAP vaccination requirements summary table above.

A maximum of 3 greyhounds per participant will be allocated into any intake session and the Owner must provide a good quality, well-fitting wire muzzle with the greyhound.

Upon arrival at their appointment, a greyhound will undertake a health assessment to ensure the greyhound is medically sound and acceptable for GAP Intake. If a greyhound passes the health assessment, it will be accepted into GAP’s kennels and transfer of ownership to GAP will be completed.

If the greyhound fails the health assessment, it will return home with the participant and no change of ownership will be recorded. Greyhounds may be added back to the Intake waiting list.

GAP Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP)

The Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP) allows GAP to advertise and match a greyhound to the most suitable home, while the greyhound remains in the participant’s care. Adopters looking for a pet greyhound will see photos and biographies of greyhounds in the ARP on GAP’s website and can apply to GAP to adopt these greyhounds.

This program aims to expediate greyhound adoptions, directly from the participant’s care.

At times, GAP kennels may be full or close to capacity, but this does not mean that all the greyhounds are available or suitable for adoption. The ARP allows GAP time to continue to work with other greyhounds that need a little extra behavioural help whilst continuing to adopt available greyhounds into loving homes.

Entering your Greyhound into the ARP

To add a greyhound to the waiting list for the ARP, the Owner must complete the online GAP Intake and Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP) Expression of Interest Form – CLICK HERE to complete the form now. If you have multiple greyhounds, please submit an expression of interest for each greyhound, then email your order of preference to [email protected]

ARP eligibility criteria

• The greyhound must be desexed, have had dental care, and have a current C5 vaccination (compliant with GAP vaccine requirements) at the time of the ARP appointment, and the certificates received by GRV
• The participant must be prepared to take the greyhound home after the first assessment, and the greyhound is to remain in the participants care until there is an adoption appointment; or the greyhound’s place on the regular GAP Intake waiting list is reached, whatever comes first;
• If the greyhound requires further health care after the first assessment, the participant must be willing to undertake this as directed
• If at the adoption appointment the potential adopter does not wish to adopt the greyhound, the participant must be prepared to take the greyhound back and either collect the greyhound or have someone collect the greyhound within four days of being notified that the adoption did not take place

If a greyhound is not desexed, GRV’s Desexing and Dental Scheme will cover the entire cost of both desexing and dental treatment in most cases. Click here for information about the scheme or, to apply for funding for desexing and dental treatment  click here.
Some veterinary clinics have waiting lists for desexing, so GRV recommends that you book your desexing appointment early.

Owners are advised not to rely on their Veterinarian to forward desexing or vaccination certificates to GRV. These can be emailed by the Owner to [email protected]

ARP Appointments

When an ARP appointment becomes available, a greyhound will be allocated a date and time, and the Owner will be notified via email.

Once a Greyhound is allocated an ARP appointment, their vaccination status may need to be updated to meet GAP’s vaccination requirements. Please refer to the GAP vaccination requirements summary table above.

ARP appointments are 60-90 minutes, and the participant must remain at the GAP kennels for the entire length of the appointment. Greyhounds must be clean and presentable as those that are accepted into the program, will have a photoshoot as a part of their appointment.

A maximum of 3 greyhounds per participant will be allocated into any ARP session.

Upon arrival at their appointment, a greyhound will undertake two assessments whilst the participant waits. If a greyhound fails either assessment, the greyhound will not be accepted into the ARP and will be ineligible for the ARP waiting list. The greyhound may be eligible for the GAP Intake program – please refer to the above for more information about GAP Intake.

• Behavioural Assessment

GAP staff will assess the behaviour of the greyhound in a controlled environment to see how the greyhound interacts with staff and GAP helper dogs. We want to see positive interactions from the greyhound. You can continue to prepare your greyhound for adoption with ongoing handling and socialisation whilst waiting for a suitable adoptive home.

• Health Check

The Vet will perform a nose to tail clinical exam of the greyhound to detect any underlying medical conditions. This will include but not be limited to a temperature, heartrate and respiratory check; a check of eyes, ears and mouth; and a full musculoskeletal exam.
It is important that greyhounds are in optimum health, and this is a requirement for ARP.

If the greyhound passes both assessments and is accepted into the ARP, GAP staff will photograph the greyhound and compile notes on their temperament for the greyhound’s biography for GAP’s website.

The greyhound will then return home with the participant and will remain in their care until GAP has sourced a suitable adoptive home. During this period, GAP will advertise the greyhound with the aim of matching the greyhound to a suitable home.  Adopters can apply directly to GAP to adopt any of the ARP greyhounds advertised by GAP – GAP’s priority is to place the right dog in the right home.

Once GAP has a potential home for the greyhound, the participant will be required to deliver the greyhound to either of GAP’s kennels, in Seymour or Tullamarine, seven days prior to the adoption date. A final health check and behavioural assessment will occur for the greyhound who will remain in GAP’s care until the adoption appointment takes place.

Throughout this process, up until the time the greyhound is adopted, the dog will remain in the participant’s ownership and transfer of ownership to GAP will only take place just prior to adoption.

INTRODUCING GAP’S NEW PILOT PROGRAM – ADOPTION PLUS

Commencing February 2026, GAP has been piloting the Adoption Plus program. This program is a hybrid of Intake and ARP and includes a $2000 entry fee. This initiative is designed to give owners of eligible greyhounds an additional pathway into GAP, helping greyhounds find homes faster while maintaining our high standards.

The Adoption Plus Program is tailored to healthy, adoption ready greyhounds with sound physical health and a suitable temperament. To be successful in this program, this greyhound must be adoption ready – this means the greyhound must be comfortable in and around a house environment and be comfortable and relaxed around new people and dogs of other breeds, particularly small breeds.

Key Details:

• Eligibility Criteria: Adoption ready with a suitable temperament, healthy and medically sound, desexed, GAP compliant C5 vaccination
• Assessments: Behaviour and Medical (similar to ARP)
• Entry Fee: $2,000 (payable once an appointment is confirmed, along with document requirements). Refundable less $250 administration fee if cancelled, or if the greyhound is deemed ineligible
• Additional Program: Operates separately to Intake and ARP – eligible greyhounds can be on multiple waiting lists and other waiting list positions will not be affected.

The waiting list for Adoption Plus is available now – CLICK HERE to add your greyhound to the waiting list – more information will be emailed to you.

Please email your enquiries to [email protected]

Entering your Greyhound into Adoption Plus

To add a greyhound to the waiting list for Adoption Plus, the Owner must complete the online GAP Adoption Plus Expression of Interest Form – CLICK HERE to complete the form now. If you have multiple greyhounds, please submit an expression of interest for each greyhound, then email your order of preference to [email protected]

Adoption Plus eligibility criteria

• The greyhound must be desexed, have had dental care, and have a current C5 vaccination (compliant with GAP vaccine requirements) at the time of the Adoption Plus appointment, and the certificates received by GRV
• The greyhound must be in sound physical health with no history or serious injuries
• The greyhound must be fully prepared for life as a pet and be adoption ready – this means the greyhound must be comfortable in and around a house environment and, be comfortable and relaxed around new people and dogs of other breeds, particularly small breeds.

Adoption Plus Appointments

When an Adoption Plus appointment becomes available, a greyhound will be allocated a date and time, and the Owner will be notified via email.

Once a Greyhound is allocated an Adoption Plus appointment, their vaccination status may need to be updated to meet GAP’s vaccination requirements. Please refer to the GAP vaccination requirements summary table above. The Owner will also be required to complete an Adoption Plus Agreement which will be sent at the time an appointment becomes available.

Once the greyhound’s documents have been received and confirmed, the Owner will be requested to pay the $2000 entry fee using a credit card over the phone – once the entry fee payment is completed, the appointment will be confirmed.

Adoption Plus appointments are 45-60 minutes, and the participant must remain at the GAP kennels for the entire length of the appointment. Greyhounds must be clean and presentable.

Upon arrival at their appointment, a greyhound will undertake two assessments whilst the participant waits.

• Behavioural Assessment

GAP staff will assess the behaviour of the greyhound in a controlled environment to see how the greyhound interacts with staff and GAP helper dogs. We want to see positive interactions from the greyhound. You can continue to prepare your greyhound for adoption with ongoing handling and socialisation whilst waiting for a suitable adoptive home.

• Health Check

The Vet will perform a nose to tail clinical exam of the greyhound to detect any underlying medical conditions. This will include but not be limited to a temperature, heartrate and respiratory check; a check of eyes, ears and mouth; and a full musculoskeletal exam.
It is important that greyhounds are in optimum health, and this is a requirement for Adoption Plus.

If the greyhound passes both assessments and is accepted into the Adoption Plus program, the greyhound will remain at GAP at that time.

If a greyhound fails either assessment, the greyhound will be deemed ineligible for the Adoption Plus program. The entry fee will be refunded (less $250 administration fee) to the Owner via EFT, usually within 7 days of the failed assessment. Greyhounds that fail Adoption Plus may be eligible for the GAP Intake program – please refer to the above for more information about GAP Intake.

What to do whilst your greyhound is on the GAP Waiting lists

Preparation: you can use the waiting time to further prepare your greyhound for rehoming with ongoing handling and socialisation.

Alternatives: Contact other greyhound rehoming groups to be added to their waiting lists and seek third party pet owners amongst your family, friends and community networks.

PetCheck: GRV is offering PetCheck behaviour assessments to greyhounds on the waiting list. This will be useful to provide some certainty about the greyhound’s behaviour and, if you are opting to rehome the greyhound privately, to help you better place the greyhound in the right home. If you would like to have a PetCheck for your greyhound, please ring GAP on 03 5799 0166 to discuss. To be eligible your greyhound will need to be vaccinated as per the requirements for GAP.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the GAP Intake or Assisted Rehoming Programs, please email [email protected]