An initiative of Greyhound Racing Victoria, GAP is dedicated to finding homes for those greyhounds unsuitable, or no longer suitable, for racing.

In the last seven years over 800 greyhounds have found loving homes as pets, and many thousands of people are
now aware that the greyhound is a wonderful family dog.

Each greyhound that enters GAP spends a period of time at the GAP kennels located in Seymour. Here they will learn basic obedience, be assessed with small animals, and be desexed.

After this they will be sent into a normal domestic environment where they will be cared for by a foster carer for a period of around four weeks. During this time they will be housetrained, encountering many new experiences such as children, television, stairs, vacuums, etc.

By Larissa Hubbard

On the 28th of April 1770 James Cook landed at Botany Bay and for the first time a greyhound stood on Australian soil.

Two greyhounds, a male and a female, were taken by Cook and Sir Joseph Banks on this historic voyage. The male
greyhound was later given to the King of Savu Island in the East Indies while the female Lady unfortunately died on the return voyage to England.

When the greyhound next appeared in Australia, it was as the companion of settlers and convicts. Greyhounds were required as hunting dogs and soon each ship of immigrants brought with it its quota of greyhounds.

Over time, as the struggle for survival became less intense, the settlers began to look to their greyhounds for sport – coursing soon taking firm root.

The first major coursing stake was held in 1873, with 32 greyhounds entered in the Australian Waterloo Cup. This was the birth of organized greyhound racing in this country.

So, for over 100 years, greyhounds have been the best kept secret in all of the dog world. Very few people were aware that the same dogs that pursued the lure with such determination were also quiet, well-mannered, affectionate animals with all the qualities required to make them an outstanding companion and pet.

The Greyhound Adoption Program, or GAP, was established in Victoria in 1996 to expose the secret by educating the public about the gentle nature of the greyhound.

All GAP greyhounds are thoroughly temperament tested, and although each adoption is undertaken with the expectation that the dog will remain with its new family for life, the program will always take back the dog if the new owners are unable to keep it.

GAP greyhounds are desexed, wormed, vaccinated and heartworm tested. As soon as GAP staff believe the greyhound has adjusted to life off the race track, it is matched with a suitable family and adopted out to a good home where it can spend the rest of its life doing what greyhounds do best – sleeping and adoring their new owners!

For more information about greyhounds as pets, or the Greyhound Adoption Program, please phone (03) 5799 2909 during business hours.