About Greyhounds & the Golden State
Greyhound Adoption / Rescue Organization

Hello and welcome to the Wonderful World of Greyhounds! Not the greyhound bred for show: rather the greyhound bred for racing and therein lies the difference. Your greyhound is a member of one of the most ancient and prestigious breeds of purebred dogs known to man. This is one of the oldest and most noble breed of dog. Greyhounds can trace their ancestry back over 4,000 years to the time of ancient Egypt, Persia and Greece, and are in fact, the only breed of dog mentioned in the Bible (Proverbs 30:29-31). In ancient Egypt, greyhounds were mummified and buried along with their owners who had their tombs decorated with greyhound figures. The greyhound has appeared in art and literature throughout history. Greyhounds have long been associated with royalty, a favorite of nobility, from Pharaohs and Arabian sheiks to the Kings and Princes of Europe. For many years, only those of royal birth were permitted the honor of owning a greyhound.

The term greyhound may have been derived from the old English term "grei" meaning dog and "hundr" meaning hunter or "gre" meaning first rank among dogs or from Greekhound since the hound reached England through the Greeks.

The greyhound is a member of the sight-hound family; dogs bred to hunt by sight, unlike most breeds of dogs that hunt using their sense of smell. Your greyhound was bred for speed. They are, in fact, the fastest breed of dog, capable of sprinting easily over forty miles per hour. Your greyhound was bred and raised for one purpose -- to be a racer -- raised in an environment geared to optimize its strength and development.

Puppy-hood was spent on the "farm" with its littermates in long outdoor runs. After this state, your greyhound graduated to begin its training as a racer. After learning about chasing lures on the "farm", it graduated to the training track, and was schooled in breaking from a starting box and negotiating turns at full speed. Finally, it was schooled on the track and if it was able to run the course successfully and meet qualifying criteria, it began its career as a racer. Most racers start their career on their 2nd birthday and their career ends on their 5th birthday. Most wash out before then.

Unfortunately, not all greyhounds are superstars on the track and this is where organizations like ours become involved. If for any reason the greyhound does not earn its keep, they are destroyed. This is why we say Greyhounds Run For Their Life!! Organizations such as Golden State Greyhound Adoption exist to save these wonderful hounds.

Retired racing greyhounds have been tattooed in both ears. The tattoo in the right ear tells the age of the greyhound (month/year/# in litter). The tattoo in the left ear is the litter identification number assigned by the National Greyhound Association. Golden State Greyhound Adoption maintains a greyhound adopter data file on all of our greyhounds. Should your greyhound become lost or stolen, please contact us immediately. We also have available embroidered collars with your hounds name and phone number.

Off the racetrack, greyhounds are couch potatoes who rarely bark. Your greyhound is accustomed to a very regimented lifestyle. The schedule for feeding, for the dogs to relieve themselves and rest is very strict in a racing kennel. They spend most of the day sleeping and actually require less exercise than most dogs. They are very affectionate toward those they know and trust. Greyhounds have virtually no body fat, are very clean, and require very little grooming. They are usually between 25 and 29 ../inches tall, weigh 60 to 80 pounds and have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. It will take approximately 2-3 weeks for your hound to acclimate to its new environment. The greyhound is a housedog since they cannot tolerate temperature extremes. Greyhounds are "sight hounds" they can see 1/2 mile away and focus on the object they are pursuing. A car or truck approaching from either side of the dog will not be seen. This can mean an ugly and untimely death for the animal whose life you just recently saved. For this reason, it is imperative that you keep your greyhound on leash at all times when outdoors unless in an enclosed area.

Golden State Greyhound Adoption is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization. By educating the public on the plight of the retired racing greyhound, through our educational "Meet and Greets" at local farmers markets, pet stores, street events and other public venues in Northern California we find greyt homes for these loving companions.

Golden State Greyhound Adoption is solely dependent upon adoption fees and donations from individuals or support organizations to continue our mission. The non-refundable adoption fee is $275.00. This includes the following pre-adoption services:

• Spay or Neuter
• Health exam
• Vaccinations
• Dental exam/cleaning
• Worming
• Grooming
• Temperament profiling
• Transportation charges
• Tick titer testing
• Adoption follow-ups
• Telephone information and owners manual

Once you have been approved we will do our best to place a greyhound in your home that best matches your profile. The adoption staff is always available to answer questions or help you with any problems you might encounter. However, most greyhounds take to home life very quickly and are easy to live with.

For more information about adopting a greyhound through Golden State Greyhound Adoption, contact us by phone, mail or email:

US mail:
Golden State Greyhound Adoption
PMB 182
2977 Ygnacio Valley Road
Walnut Creek, CA.
94598-3535

Phone:
(925)-946-0426

Email:
4greyts@ca.astound.net

"Let Their Last Race Be Into Your Life"