Operating a Greyhound Adoption Program

Recently on the Greyhound Discussion List there has been a thread pertaining to how to successfully operate a greyhound adoption program. Of course, there are many opinions on how to accomplish this. I have only been active in my local organization - Greyhound Pets of America/Ok - for two and a half years, so I am basically still learning the ropes. Our group was started by one person over five years ago, and has grown to the point it is today - with over 50 active members. By following this thread on the greyhound list, I became aware of several concerns facing adoption organizations that behooves some research and thought.

Just to name a few of the subjects that came up:

Vet costs including what procedures to do on an incoming dog

How to decide what dogs to take into your program - the pretty, healthy ones or the special needs/hard to adopt ones?

What should be done about irresponsible breeders?

Application forms - how selective can groups afford to be?

Finances

Most of these subjects depend on the size and capabilities of the adoption group. For instance, a large group can do more in terms of vet procedures and types of dogs coming into their program than a smaller group. If a group has 10 foster homes, and they bring in 8 hard to adopt dogs, then only 2 foster homes will have a quick turnover. Therefore, their adoption rate is way down, plus their vet bills are rising. An older or ill dog may have additional medical problems, plus the group has the responsibility of keeping the dog current on shots, etc. On the other hand, a larger group may operate a kennel - thus allowing them to bring in many more dogs for adoption. A large group may also have better financial resources.

Another problem concerns breeders who do not care for their greys in a responsible manner. For example, a group deals with a breeder who repeatedly gives them injured dogs, ill dogs, dogs infested with fleas and ticks. What should they do? If they call the NGA and report him, he may stop calling them, deciding it is easier to put his dogs down than deal with them. If they continue taking dogs from him and saying nothing about the condition of his farm, then aren't they - the adoption group - behaving irresponsibly?

Then we come to the application process. What questions to ask - how strict should we be? How about the saying, "Any home is better than no home." How do you feel about that? Personally, I do not agree with this statement. I would rather see a dog put down humanely than see it live in a terrible home. But this statement is a controversial one! For the past several months I have been helping process the applications GPA receives from potential adopters. I have certainly learned quite a bit about people and what they expect from us! We have rejected several applications for different reasons in the past couple of months. People's reactions have been varied, but all have been on the "not happy" side! I think most adoption groups are extremely careful about the homes they place their greyhounds in, and personally I agree with this practice. People who complain about our strict adoption policies always tell us that at least they are offering to give one of our dogs a home; without them one more dog will be without a home. What they do not realize is we will find a home for that dog, and it will be a good home. In my opinion, people who complain about the rules we have simply do not need a greyhound!

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