The Adoption Process

Why should you adopt your greyhound from GAP Tas? There are many sources from which you could obtain a Greyhound apart from GAP Tas - directly from its breeder or trainer, "giveaway" ads in the newspapers, from the RSPCA or other welfare groups, from local council pounds etc. What are the advantages or disadvantages of acquiring your future companion from such other sources? We advise that you do some research before taking the plunge and adopting the first dog whose photo takes your fancy. Some of the reasons we think you should adopt a GAP Tas Greyhound include: Our members have many years of experience in Greyhounds as pets, so we can answer almost any question you can come up with! All our dogs spend several weeks in foster homes, so they are quite used to the routines of family life, unlike those Greyhounds adopted straight from a kennel environment. Our dogs' personalities and behaviour are all individually assessed whilst in foster care, so we can more closely match a dog to the needs of prospective adopters. Because almost all our Greyhounds come directly from their breeder or racing owner, we have good background on their individual traits or habits, and any medical problems or injuries (if any) they might have had. By obtaining our dogs from their racing owners, we are supporting those industry members who have a more responsible attitude to rehoming their (often much loved) charges. Our Greyhounds are all assessed for their behaviour around other dog breeds, including small dogs, and only those dogs we believe to be sociable in the community are rehomed. Our dogs are all fully vetted (including desexing, vaccination, dental examination, flea treatment worming etc) before being rehomed. Our adoption fee of $190 is far less than you would pay for these services yourself. The Greyhound Adoption Program Tasmania Inc. is the only organisation in Tasmania authorised to issue the special GAP collar, part of our campaign to change the archaic muzzling laws. We provide ongoing advice and support (including behavioural and veterinary advice) to all our adopters, for the lifetime of their Greyhound. It is our firm policy that if an adopter of a GAP Tas Greyhound is no longer able to care for their dog, GAP Tas will take the dog back without hesitation. GAP Tas is an incorporated association with the Tasmanian Department of Justice, Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading and has the endorsement of Greyhound Racing Tasmania - we are not a fly-by-night outfit with no accountability. We encourage social contact and networking between all our Greyhound adopters through our newsletter and numerous social events throughout the year. Greyhounds entering the program initially have their ownership transferred to the Greyhound Adoption Program Tasmania Inc. The racing owners are made aware that the dogs will be assessed as to their suitability as a pet / companion animal. In the case that the dog is deemed as unsuitable at the end of its training it will be returned to its owner or euthanased. When a greyhound first enters the Greyhound Adoption Program Tasmania Inc. the racing owner needs to fill out the Transfer of Ownership to Greyhound Adoption Program Tasmania Inc. and Consent to perform euthanasia forms as well as supply the greyhound with the $100 fee and a good fitting wire racing muzzle. The racing owner will also fill in a form that indicates that the greyhound in question has left their kennels and is no longer in their care. At this point the greyhound can go to a foster family. Foster families enter into a Foster Agreement and sign the agreement stating that they will abide by all of the conditions during this period of time. Greyhounds enter Foster Care to have their temperament tested and begin their re-training to learn to become great house pets. While the greyhound is with the foster family they are required to complete Foster Evaluation reports at regular periods throughout the fostering time to provide an indication of the greyhound's progress, temperament and personality. Anyone interested in adopting a GAP Tas greyhound is asked to fill in an Application to Adopt form detailing their living conditions and any other factors that could affect the greyhound, any preferences and additional information about themselves. The questions asked in this document are designed to assist us in selecting the most suitable pet greyhound for each application. Once a suitable greyhound has been located, undergone the assessment, had the necessary vetting done and graduated from the program the adopters are informed that the greyhound has been successful and is ready to go home as a pet. When Adopters take their greyhound we would ask you to fill in a Road Test Contract and an Adoption Agreement contract and pay the fee of $190. This fee covers only the rates we are charged for the sterilisation, vaccinations and worming, and we supply a muzzle for the greyhound. The Road Test Contract provides Adopters with the opportunity to have a 4-week cooling off period during which they can take the dog home and assess their suitability to become part of their family. Should adopters encounter any problems at any point during this time, I am only too happy for them to call me so that I can help with advice or come and collect the greyhound if things aren't working out. My contact number is 0447 817 564. If things don't work out between Adopters and their greyhound, Greyhound Adoption Program Tasmania Inc. will happily take the dog back and provide a different greyhound until we find the right greyhound for them. Or if people decide a greyhound may not be the right dog for them we will refund $90 with the other $100 staying with Greyhound Adoption Program Tasmania Inc. to cover the costs incurred in travel and administration thus far. Should adopters wish to adopt a different greyhound at a later stage this $90 amount will be reduced from the cost of the next greyhound. After the four week cooling off period has expired the Adoption Agreement contract comes into to effect and the ownership of your greyhound is then officially transferred to the adopters as the new forever family. This contract lists the conditions of purchase stating that adopters will undertake to provide necessary suitable food, water, shelter and health care for the life of the greyhound; and to allow access for inspection by the Program Management (or its appointed delegate) at any time should this be requested. Also that they undertake that the animal will not be used for experimental or research purposes of any description and understand that the greyhound cannot be re-entered into the Greyhound Racing fraternity as a race dog. At this point Greyhound Adoption Program Tasmania Inc. will supply an Adoption notification form to the racing department of Racing Services Tasmania and then the details of the original racing owner and the details of the new adopting owners are updated and recorded on their racing information system. This is a great reference if ever a loose greyhound is found allowing it to be traced immediately and returned to it's rightful owners. We also encourage adoptive owners to register your pet greyhound with your local council within 30 days of the adoption as this is another requirement by law. Please also be aware that although we are trying to change the situation, the current dog act also requires greyhounds to be muzzled and on a lead when in public. We have been strongly lobbying for the Greyhounds who go through the training in the Greyhound Adoption Program Tasmania Inc. to be allowed to go un-muzzled in public as we believe the dogs have been temperament tested and are well socialised. If this change is made to the Dog Control Act, all registered GAP Tas greyhounds will be required to wear a collar identifying them as a GAP Tas greyhound and this will allow them to be exempt from wearing a muzzle in public. Similarly we feel that changing this law will go a long way to improving the image of the greyhounds as a breed. Should this change in the future I will certainly be in touch with all adoptive owners to let you know as soon as any changes occur.

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