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April is Adopt a Greyhound Month, the perfect time to consider taking home one of these adorable animals.
The popularity of Greyhounds as pets has boomed in recent years. People fall in love with the breed’s gentle nature, goofy mannerisms, and relaxed and low-maintenance care needs, which make them ideal additions to almost any family home.
Despite evidence that most Australians do not support Greyhound racing or want their tax dollars funding it, the industry continues to leave many retired or injured dogs in desperate need of loving, rehabilitative rehoming.
Greyhounds are rehomed in several ways. Some trainers keep their dogs as pets or for breeding, although many just end up spending their lives in industrial kennels with no stimulation and little exercise.
Some owners give their dogs away (often for free) via Gumtree, or other online sites or they are just dumped (see Buddy’s story here). Gumtree adoptions often do not end well, which is why the RSPCA condemns this practice.
Greyhounds as Pets (GAP) is the racing industry-funded program which often falls short when it comes to rehoming and rehabilitation. They will euthanise dogs they consider too much effort to rehabilitate.
Most of the burden for rehoming Greyhounds falls on unfunded charities and community groups, who do not euthanise dogs, and go out of their way to try and match dogs with the most suitable owners.
Love at first sighthound: radio presenter Abby Hopkins on her love for rescue Greyhounds
Abby Hopkins, a radio personality, who did a three-year stint as breakfast announcer for Nowra’s 94.9 Radio FM & 2ST and is now Brand Experience Lead at Southern Cross Austereo, shares her joyful and rewarding experience in giving these gentle giants a loving ‘furever’ home with her partner Mitchell Squires.
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| Abby Hopkins with Greyhound Lucy |
“Initially, it was Mitchell who had the Greyhound knowledge and love. I never ever imagined having a big dog,” Hopkins recalled.
“But I will never have another dog other than a Greyhound now.”
Abby and Mitchell fondly recall their first Greyhound, Amanda, claiming it was love at first sight. At the time, there was less public awareness of the neglectful conditions many racing dogs endured, and Greyhounds were still relatively unpopular as pets.
Abby recounted picking up Amanda and being heartbroken at the conditions on the farm where she lived. She was a breeding mum who had been isolated from all the other dogs.
Abby and Mitchell only had a short time with Amanda due to underlying health issues, but they were thrilled to be able to give her a comfortable and loving home for as long as they did.
“She was so independent, but exactly what we wanted in a senior dog. She accepted all our cuddles and kisses. We showered her with clothes and toys. She learned and loved pet life very quickly,” said Abby.
Fostering: the perfect middle ground for potential adoptees
Abby encourages would-be Greyhound parents to consider fostering to familiarise themselves with the breed.
Abby recounted picking up Amanda and being heartbroken at the conditions on the farm where she lived. She was a breeding mum who had been isolated from all the other dogs.
“We just knew we had chosen right,” said Abby.
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| (Left) Foster Greyhound Fish with Abby in the car; (Right) Mitchell with adopted Greyhound Lucy |
Abby and Mitchell only had a short time with Amanda due to underlying health issues, but they were thrilled to be able to give her a comfortable and loving home for as long as they did.
“She was so independent, but exactly what we wanted in a senior dog. She accepted all our cuddles and kisses. We showered her with clothes and toys. She learned and loved pet life very quickly,” said Abby.
Fostering: the perfect middle ground for potential adoptees
Abby encourages would-be Greyhound parents to consider fostering to familiarise themselves with the breed.
“It is such a rewarding experience and the best way to have a dog in your life and set them up for the greatest life they can have,” she said.“It has always been sad to see our foster go, but we know we have done everything we can for them, and they are off to have the greatest life ever.
And there is just a continual revolving door of Greyhounds needing homes, whether that is fostering or adopting, so it is so important that if you can and are available to foster, that you do it.”
Approximately 10,000 Greyhounds are bred and named annually in Australia. This knowingly creates a surplus of dogs to ensure enough fast dogs for racing are available. Slower dogs are discarded, neglected or killed and the racing industry refers to these as ‘initial wastage’. Significant ongoing ‘wastage’ exists when racing dogs are retired, injured, die on the race track, or are discarded for not performing as well as expected.
“It is a sad industry; which is not nice to these beautiful creatures,” said Abby.
“The fact these dogs continue to come back and love humans just shows how forgiving they are and how forgiving we should be.”
“All Greyhounds deserve to be pets and not athletes. They can run in their free time of their own free will. They deserve to be on your lounge, being the greatest (laziest) pet they can be.”
Greyhound trainers are the biggest puppy farmers in Australia
The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) newly released white paper National Greyhound Breeding calls for independent regulators to limit Greyhound breeding, relieving some of the burden on community rehoming groups.
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| CPG spokesperson Kylie Field Photo Credit Andrew Swinsworth |
The report reveals that the national dog racing industry is the largest puppy farming enterprise in Australia. Four times more dogs are produced than can be rehomed.
“Despite these systemic failures, our state governments do nothing. Almost all government inquiries held into the dog racing industry have said breeding limits are needed, but it’s never been done,” said Ms Kylie Field, CPG spokesperson.
“Meanwhile, state governments around Australia continue to fund an industry which has no breeding guard rails in place.”
CPG wants to see an end to taxpayer funding of Greyhound racing, as well as the implementation of whole of life tracking to prevent unnecessary euthanasia.
It says no more new Greyhound racing tracks, also usually supported by government funding, should be built in Australia.
If you’re not able to adopt or foster a beautiful Greyhound, but you’d still like to help, put pressure on politicians to stop overbreeding in the Greyhound industry. Use CPG’s template or write your own message to racing ministers.
Finding a Greyhound rescue near you
It says no more new Greyhound racing tracks, also usually supported by government funding, should be built in Australia.
If you’re not able to adopt or foster a beautiful Greyhound, but you’d still like to help, put pressure on politicians to stop overbreeding in the Greyhound industry. Use CPG’s template or write your own message to racing ministers.
Finding a Greyhound rescue near you
If you’re considering welcoming a beautiful, loving, lazy hound into your home, start by connecting with a few Greyhound rescue groups in your area. These organisations, run by hardworking and passionate volunteers, can give you an idea of what to expect and start the process of finding the perfect match for you, your living situation, and your family.
Many people are surprised to learn that living in an apartment is no issue for Greyhounds, as long as they can go out for a wee and have a comfy place to sleep.
“They are so lazy,” said Abby. “Granted, we often have the older hounds at our home, but as foster carers their ‘couch potato’ style is the norm.
One or two walks a day, and then rest is best. They are truly low-maintenance dogs, suited for many different lifestyles and homes.”
written by Emma Lennon and Sue Osborne, CPG Volunteers, March 2025 for Australian Dog Lover
About Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds
Learn more by visiting the website: greyhoundcoalition.com
- Do you have your own happy story of adopting a Greyhound? In an industry characterised by cruelty and neglect, it is important to highlight that Greyhounds sometimes get their ‘happily ever after.’
- CPG is very keen to hear your tale of hope. Please email your story and images to info@greyhoundcoalition.com.
or @coalitionprotectgreyhounds on Instagram
Addendum:
Greyhounds As Pets NSW report a drop of 28% in the number of pups being bred in the past 2 years: 3,198 (2023-24), 3,756 (2022-23) and 4,450 (2021-22).
GAP NSW also states that the organisation last year assisted in rehoming 2,794 Greyhounds (2023-24), a 570% increase since 2018.
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