Fostering greyhounds
A critical aspect of GPA's successful adoption of ex-racers is the foster program. Foster families open their homes
to a new foster dog, helping it to adjust to a life of retirement. Greyhounds
are very intelligent and learn very quickly, particularly when fostered by a
family who already has adopted a greyhound. The greyhounds teach each
other and adapt quickly to life as a family pet. The foster families volunteer
to share their lives with a greyhound for a short time and are rewarded with
more of those appreciative eyes.
Make a donation
As a non-profit corporation, we rely on donations to feed and house
retired racing greyhounds, and to cover the costs of emergency veterinary
care. Your donations of the following items are gratefully accepted: money,
dog food, crates (portable kennels that house a single dog), veterinary care,
advertising, printing and publishing. Click on the image at right to see a touching recent donation from one of our younger supporters!
Dog washes
When foster homes become available, dogs are brought either from the
track
or from the farm where they are housed on an interim basis, and are
prepared to enter a foster home. Each dog is physically checked, given all
its shots, and wormed. It is then tested and observed to determine its
tolerance to cats and small animals. It also receives its GPA name.
Last, but not least, each dog is bathed, has its nails clipped and its ears cleaned. Finally, the greyhounds meet their foster families. The greyhounds need those who can help during their first grooming. This is an opportunity to be among the first to give a newly retired racer a big hug (sometimes a wet one) and loving care, and share in the excitement of watching another beauty emerge.
Transportation
Even though they are known for getting around pretty quickly, the
greyhounds rely on us for their transportation. Transporting dogs from the
track, or to and from the farm, is done with volunteer's private vehicles that
accommodate four to five dogs.
In addition, during the greyhound's stay with a foster family, it is scheduled for spaying or neutering and teeth cleaning. Foster families cannot always transport the dogs to these appointments.
If you can provide transportation in any of these situations, please let us know. Each ride is an opportunity to give a little more reassurance to a greyhound friend who is entering a new world.
Home during the day
Events or errands often need to be accomplished during weekdays
when many of our volunteers are at work. Let us know if your schedule would
allow you to help with weekday events or errands. Many fun greyhound
surprises have popped up during the week!
Assembly/mailing of newsletter
Every other month GPA publishes a newsletter of the latest happenings
with
our grey guys. Of course a scoop on the latest news is available to those who
can help collate, staple, and stamp the newsletter.
Show and Tell
Telephone calling
We're interested in:
All of these activities are on-going and staffed by volunteers. If you'd like
to help, please print out, fill out, and mail the
Volunteer Form to the address indicated.
Support Greyhound Pets of America and save money, too. Action For
Animals MasterCard is the only credit card that earns money for animal
welfare organizations while saving money for you. Capital One Bank will
credit to our account 1/2 percent of every purchase you make with the card.
Transfer balances from your other credit cards or loans when you open your
account and they will credit 1/2 percent of that sum also! There is no annual
fee if you transfer a balance. The APR is 13.9 percent.
Call 1-800-367-7297, extension 286 to get further information. We
encourage you to join your greyhound friends in this simple way to support
the rescue of retired racers. Additionally, the next time you pull out your
MasterCard at the mall, instead of feeling guilty about spending the money,
you will know that you are donating to a very worthy cause. . . and maybe
even feel good enough about it to get BOTH of those pairs of shoes.
Apply today for your Action For Animals MasterCard--the only
credit card that earns money for the animal welfare organization of your
choice while saving money for you!
Annual membership fee: None, if you transfer at least one balance now;
otherwise $20. A fixed rate of 13.9% for purchases and balance transfers.
Cash advance APR: a fixed rate of 19.8%. Cash advance fee: 2% of the cash
advance amount, $2 minimum. The information about the cost of the card is
accurate as of 10/95. This information may have changed after that date. To
find out what may have changed, call 1-800-367-7297. The Action For
Animals MasterCard is issued through Capital One Bank. Capital One is a
service mark of Capital One Financial Corporation.
The Show and Tell events allow the greyhounds to help each other by
simply
being themselves in public and showing people who they are--they do the
Showing, we do the Telling! These two to three hour events are generally
held on weekends. The set up consists of pens for the greyhounds, a small
table with handouts about adopting a greyhound, and a sign or two. If you can
help with the organization or set up of a Show and Tell, please let us know.
If not, you can still help by bringing your greyhound(s) to Show and Tells in
your area, if even for a short time. The dogs are able to be "sales dogs" and
they also get the chance to socialize with each other.
We continually make telephone calls to remind people of upcoming
Show
and Tells, follow-up calls to foster parents or new adopters, or handling
requests for information from volunteers. This does not involve soliciting for
donations. If you enjoy talking on the phone and talking about greyhounds,
this job is for you.
The possibilities are unlimited and the greyhounds award all efforts, big
or small, with their loving appreciation.