Fast Friends Greyhound Rescue Adoption Questions

The Adoption Fee

The adoption fee is $215 for each dog. This fee, which is non-refundable, can be adjusted based on special circumstances or if multiple dogs are adopted. We will discuss this with you as you work through the process. At a minimum, this fee will include:

         Transportation to Boonsboro from our suppliers and/or foster caregivers
         Spaying or Neutering
         All up-to-date immunizations
         All available veterinarian records
         Dental
         Worming
         Heartworm test
         Track records if available
         Ancestry if available
         Greyhound collar and lead
         Greyhound muzzle
         FFGR, Inc. Identification Tag and Number
         A Copy of Retired Racing Greyhounds
         for Dummies OR Adopting The Racing
         Greyhound
         Fast Friends Adopter's Guide
         Food to last through a period of transition
         AND Lots of Surprises (like toys, bones, treats etc.)

We also have greyhounds that are fostered longer term that may be a good choice for you. But the goal is to find the right greyhound for you. We want our adoptions to last the lifetime of the dog!!! We are flexible and try to accommodate all of our adopters and we work on a case-by-case basis. We do not advocate one way or another regarding how long a dog should be fostered, as we have found through experience that one way is not better than another when it comes to finding great homes for our greyhounds. We choose to work with each adopter (and greyhound) individually which means that we focus only on what you want and need.

You may not feel comfortable with the questions we ask, but keep in mind that we want to help you through the process, not challenge your ability to care for a dog. We want your success to be a testimony for greyhound adoption!!! The volunteers at Fast Friends Greyhound Rescue, Inc. are willing to support you throughout the life of your greyhound. We will gladly answer any questions you have along the way and address any concerns. Please feel free to call or email us at any time.

Once that you have made the decision to adopt a greyhound, you can fill out and submit our on-line Adoption Application. Please provide as much information as possible as it will help us find the right dog for you. We ask for comprehensive information, but we only want to make sure that you find the best match so neither you or the dog will be disappointed. We want our greyhounds to find life-long homes. We can usually comply with special requests such as gender, age, color, or personality, but the most important goal is to find your best fast friend.

All of the greyhounds that are listed on our Available Greyhounds web pages are listed as a courtesy to our suppliers. These dogs may no longer be available when you ask about one, or they may not be the greyhound that would best fit into your home and lifestyle after we have reviewed your application. We suggest that you choose one that you like, and if it is no longer available or not the right dog, we will try to find one like it that will be a good choice for you.

After we have reviewed your application and checked your information and references, we will check our available greyhounds either in our foster homes or through our contacts at the track kennels or midway kennel for the most suitable match. ALL of our greyhounds are fostered for at least a week before their adoption!

Greyhounds coming from our midway kennel (kennel away from the track) are already cat and small animal tested and can be guaranteed safe. These greyhounds spend lots of time with people and are evaluated as to personality, temperament, and they are tested to evaluate their interactions with children of all ages, etc. We can find the greyhound that will fit into your home based on the information that you list on your application. We prefer to find the dog that will fit into your life rather than to try to fit a dog that we already have into your home when it may not work out.

We have often been asked about how much it costs to have a greyhound. While we can't say exactly, we estimate that a single greyhound can cost up to $800 per year to provide food, preventative medications (for heartworm, fleas and ticks), scheduled vet care for immunizations, and toys, etc. This is typical of other large breeds of dogs. In addition, it is highly recommended that you have the following:

Crate: To make your life as well as your greyhound's life easier, it is important that you use a crate in the beginning. We require that all of our adopters have a crate ready for when they take their greyhound home. We recommend a wire dog crate (48" X 30" X 36"). Since they are used to being in a crate at the track, this will help them transition into your home (which should be done gradually). A greyhound will feel more secure in the crate until the period of adjustment is over.

Bedding: A large dog bed is great, but so is a used bedspread or heavy blanket. A greyhound likes to "nest" and find a comfortable spot. Whatever you use, it should be soft and comfortable - they are thin skinned and need the softer bed.

Martingale type collar: Because of their thicker necks and thinner heads, a greyhound cannot use a regular dog collar because it will pull off easily. You will be supplied with a proper collar from us, but you must remember to always use the typical greyhound collar. There are lots of places on-line or through Ebay where you can find great collars!

You have expressed an interest in adopting a retired racing greyhound. Your decision to adopt a new fast friend is a major step for you (and the dog) and it should not be taken lightly. If you have previous experience with dogs in your life, then you understand the commitment and responsibilities. However, there are some important aspects of greyhound adoption that you need to consider before taking the next step.

Greyhounds will come to you as adults. They have already been socialized at the track and that is their only life experience. They have spent virtually their entire lives around people and in the company other dogs, so it should not be a surprise if they suffer from separation anxiety if they are suddenly left alone. They aren't familiar with toys, small children, small pets other than dogs, stairs, and navigating through a house. They aren't familiar with walking on tile floors or other slick surfaces, and they have never been around mirrors or windows. Large open spaces may confuse them at first. Their whole world has consisted of the track, their turn-out pens, and their crates (for over 22 hours a day). Click here to learn about a greyhound's life.

Although they are crate and leash trained, they are not used to relieving themselves on a leash and they will surely have accidents in your house until they learn that it is like their crate. Since they have never had anything of their own, they may not know how to share at first. They also do not know that the food on your counter or in your trash can is not meant for them. They are not used to being awakened by touch and may react in a defensive way. They can be overwhelmed with too many people and too much attention at first as they have never had this experience.

The good news is that greyhounds are gentle and docile and creatures of habit. If you are truly committed to your new dog, you can easily get past the initial "settling in" period and find that you have one of the best companions you could ever hope for. Generally speaking, the up side to greyhound adoption is that they are highly socialized and they love people and other dogs. As puppies, they spend much more time with their mother and siblings and are given plenty of time to do "dog" things like run, chew, play, bark, sniff, etc. Because they have been trained at the track from the time they were puppies, they learn quickly if given the right amount of time and attention. They are used to small spaces (because of the time they have spent in their crates) and they don't need or take up a lot of room. Because of this, they actually require less space than other large-breed dogs. They have short coats and seldom shed and they lack the oils in their skin that create doggy odors. Unlike other large-breed dogs, greyhounds are not prone to hip dysplasia or other congenital diseases.

Most importantly, you must remember that the greyhound you adopt is being given a second chance at life and you are the person who will be responsible for this. If you remember how your greyhound used to live and are ready to make the commitment to give it a good home, you will be rewarded beyond your expectations.

One important part of our adoption process is conducting a home visit. This is so that we can put together a "family profile" for determining which type of greyhound would be most suitable for your lifestyle. We will want to meet your other pets, your children, and to find out if you will have children visiting your home, or if you will be taking your greyhound to places where it will be around small animals and children. This is important in the evaluation process. We will be asking lots of questions, but we want to be absolutely sure that we find the right greyhound (in terms of personality, age, sex) to fit your circumstances. While we try to look for what you would like, we will be honest about our recommendations for you.