Greyhound Adoption of Ohio
Our Featured Pets...
Track Name: Less Gravity, Call Name: Callie
From March 1997 until Sept. 11, 2006 he was the King of the Kennel.
Callie died without ever knowing a home.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Consider Adopting a Wonderful Senior Dog...
WELCOME TO GREYHOUND ADOPTION OF OHIO (GAO)!
Greyhound Adoption of Ohio is the largest (based on number of dogs placed) and oldest (based on incorporation date) greyhound adoption organization in the state of Ohio . At the time of our inception, in 1993, greyhounds were rarely seen in Ohio . Today, you'll see greyhounds nearly everywhere you go! The word is out! Greyhounds make WONDERFUL pets!
GAO receives dogs from numerous tracks around the country, but primarily from Florida , Wisconsin and Kansas . We generally have 25-30 dogs awaiting placement at any given time. Upon arrival at GAO, each dog is neutered, vaccinated, checked for parasites, heartworm tested, microchipped and has a complete dental cleaning. Anything else the future pet may need is done prior to placement. Occasionally, GAO will receive a dog with a fractured leg, an injury that is quite common in the world of greyhound racing. These dogs receive excellent care through Ohio State University 's orthopedic surgery center.
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If you're interested in adopting a former racing greyhound, please fill out the application on this site and forward it to us. You'll then be contacted to arrange your initial interview visit, to talk with us, view our video about greyhound adoption and to obtain some additional information. We ask anyone interested in adopting to read the book, Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies. This is, overall, a very good primer about adopting a greyhound. If you have children under the age of 8, we ask you to read Childproofing Your Dog, by Brian Kilcommons, in preparation for adoption. |
Our goal, at GAO, is to place our greyhounds with loving, committed families where they will live safe and secure for the rest of their lives. To that end, GAO offers support to help your dog transition into his or her new life and throughout the life of your pet.
GAO's adoption fee is $175. Greyhounds have never been alone and, while they can do fine as an only dog, if you have no other dogs at home, your new greyhound will be much happier if he or she has a friend.
If you can't adopt a greyhound, there are many ways you can help. You can make a monetary donation, donate an item for our e-bay auctions, sponsor a greyhound or lend your expertise in a variety of ways. For additional information, please contact the appropriate person on our Contact Us page.
We welcome you to the wonderful world of retired racing greyhounds! May it be as rewarding for you as it is for us!
With love for greyhounds,
Linda Perko
Greyhound Adoption of Ohio, Inc.
PLEASE HELP!
If anyone is inclined to help at the kennel, we're trying to organize people to come out once a month to do a turnout. With so many dogs to care for, the days never seem to end. Several people have offered to come over to do a particular "shift" once a month, so we thought we'd ask if anyone else is interested. It could be the same day each month or different days, depending on your schedule. Turnout times are generally about 7AM, 11AM, 3PM and 9PM. Of course, things come up and we understand if you sign up for a turnout and have to cancel. It just helps us to schedule ourselves if we know someone is coming to help.
Our Mission Statement:
Greyhound Adoption of Ohio Was established in January of 1993 to attempt to compensate the wonderful greyhound for the injustices bestowed upon them at the hands of the racing industry. We retrieve retired or rejected greyhounds from the racing kennels, bring them to the kennel, and prepare them for their new lives.
Upon arrival at GAO, each dog is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, de-wormed, heartworm-tested, receives a thorough dental cleaning, has a microchip implanted for permanent identification and has any other medical care he or she might need. Each dog is then evaluated to determine what type of home will be best for placement. Some of the factors considered include the activity level of each dog and family, whether there are children or other pets in the home, how long the family is away on a daily basis, and whether the family has a history of responsible pet ownership. We strive to ensure these gentle creatures are placed in homes where they will live safe and secure and be loved for the rest of their lives.
We believe, however, that adoption is but a "band-aid" on a very large wound. There can never be enough homes for all the dogs in need. For each greyhound that is placed, a dog somewhere will die because that home was taken. With an estimated 10-15 million unwanted animals abandoned or destroyed each year in this country, our goal, in addition to finding loving homes for these kind and gentle creatures, is to make the public aware of the enormity of the pet overpopulation problem and to encourage spaying and neutering of all pets.
For many in the racing industry, greyhounds are a disposable commodity, to be discarded when they are no longer able to provide a profit for their owners. We are aware that there are owners and trainers who do take good care of their charges and do everything possible to ensure that they go to responsible adoption organizations when their racing days are over. We endeavor to acknowledge and assist these individuals in their efforts. At Greyhound Adoption, we believe those responsible for the vast over breeding and blatant cruelty that takes place in the sport should be held accountable, and look forward to the day when there will be no need for organizations like ours
Adopting a friend:
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT WHEN YOU ADOPT FROM
GREYHOUND ADOPTION OF OHIO (GAO)
GAO is the largest greyhound adoption group in the state of Ohio and the first group to be incorporated in Ohio. We are a non-profit, tax-exempt organization under section 501 (C) 3 of the IRS code. Any donation made to GAO is tax deductible. Any money (or mileage) spent in helping the greyhounds of GAO is tax-deductible.
We are openly and vehemently opposed to dog racing. In no way do we purport that all, or even most, greyhounds involved in racing are abused or neglected, although abuse and neglect certainly do exist. We do believe, given the massive overpopulation of pets in this country, that adding 15,000 to 20,000 dogs annually to the pool of homeless pets is unconscionable. Therefore, we do not support greyhound racing, even if all greyhounds received optimal care and were placed in good homes after retirement (which is not the case).
THE ADOPTION PROCESS
You can call or email and ask us to send you an application. Also, you can apply on-line at www.greyhoundadoptionofoh.org. Don't forget to include the letter requested telling us why you think you would provide a good home for a greyhound.
Upon receipt of your application, an adoption representative will call you to set up an in-person interview. The purpose of this visit is to ascertain that a greyhound is, indeed, a good choice for your family. This in not an interrogation, but a reflection of our desire to make the best match for all concerned.
If all goes well, you may then arrange to visit the kennel in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Based on the interview and your family and lifestyle, we will have chosen the dogs in the kennel (usually 3 to 5) that would fit best with your family. Things we look at include:
1) Are there children in the family?
2) Do you have other pets?
3) How long would the dog be alone (some do better than others when alone).
4) Do you have a fenced yard, or will your dog be walked on a leash?
5) How much experience do you have with dogs?
You may then choose from those dogs that are best suited for your family and, if you are prepared, you may take your dog home at that time. We ask that you allow at least an hour for this visit (some take much longer). At GAO, there are five acres for you to walk and spend time with your potential new family member (weather permitting). With 20 to 30 dogs at the kennel at any given time, it is rare that we would not have a dog that will fit beautifully into your family when you come to choose!
ABOUT YOUR GREYHOUND
Prior to adoption, your greyhound will have:
been spayed or neutered
been updated on vaccinations (DHLP / Parvo and Rabies)
been tested for heartworm
been dewormed
had a complete dental cleaning and extractions, if necessary
been evaluated for temperament and behavior
had any other medical care needed
AFTER YOU ADOPT YOUR GREYHOUND, GAO WILL PROVIDE
Follow-up and assistance during the transition period and throughout the life of your greyhound
Fun events, gatherings and volunteer opportunities to participate in with your greyhound
Boarding at a nominal rate if you need to leave your greyhound in a kennel
Lifelong support and financial assistance in the case of emergency
Map to our shelter