#greyhoundadoption

[joanderp]

✨Happy New Year!✨ . . . . . #happynewyear #happynewyear2023 #greyhound #greyhounds #greyhound_feature #greyhoundsofinstagram #greyhoundadoption #greyhoundlife #greyhoundlove #greyhoundcorner #greyhoundcuteness #greyhoundsofmiami #greyhoundsofflorida #joanderp #weratedogs #weeklyfluff #longdoggos #longdoggosclub #canineepilepsy #canineepilepsyawareness #canineepilepsywarrior (at Miami, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm49pzvuyGI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[robert-the-greyhound]

~ Roberts Adoption Story ~

In January of 2019, I decided I was finally in a stable enough position to open my home to a dog. I had tried petsitting cats previously, but my micro-apartment in Cork City Centre wasn’t an ideal home for a cat, it just wasn’t fair on them. So, decided to look into welcoming a dog into my life! I had a look around a number of shelters and rescues in the area, but living in a tiny 54sqm home did limit my options, I knew breeds like a Border Collie or a Husky would struggle with the confined space, lack of a garden and up in the air work/college schedule. So I turned to Google. “Best breeds for apartment life”. And in the top ten every time was a Greyhound. At first I thought they meant the little Italian Greyhounds, but no, further research revealed that Greyhounds make GREYT apartment pets!

Despite the reams of research and posts online, the idea of a long legged Noodlehorse wandering around the apartment still didn’t sit right with me. I’d not had much of an experience with greyhounds, outside the idea of them as Racing Dogs. My Father grew up with Greyhounds, his uncle bred and trained them, and each litter would be split between the kids, each child given a pup to help raise. He had many fond stories of wandering the fields with his dog, but lots of sad ones too. One particularly heart breaking one was about his dog, who he called Pansy due to the white floral marking on her forehead. Pansy was a brindle bitch, and apparently a nifty little pocket rocket. My father put a lot of time and care into Pansy, raising her, walking her, keeping her fit and healthy, doting on her as only a boy and his dog might. His uncle however, didn’t let my father come with him to the track on account of the fact that the dog might recognise him on the sidelines whilst racing and stop, as had happened on other occasions with local dogs. So when pansy was loaded up into the back of the van to go racing, my father thought nothing of it, it was normal. She’d come back that evening, and if she’d been fast, there might be a few pence thrown his way. Until the one evening she didn’t come back. She’s been racing at the local Wexford track for long enough she’d proven herself worth racing at Shelbourne. She’d done well and was sold there and then. No goodbyes, no traceability in those days, just a quick sale and a profit. Outside of those stories, I had no real world knowledge about hounds so when a Greyhound specific rescue announced a meet and greet at a local pet shop, I jumped at the chance.

I remember rocking up to the pet shop and the first thing I spotted was this HUGE White and Brindle hound named Cooper. He was the biggest dog I’d seen in a long time, and I was immediately taken aback. He was very friendly, outgoing, a real goofball. He was gorgeous, but I couldn’t imagine how a hound and big and bubbly as him could possibly settle into my little apartment. The other hound that was there was a dainty little black bitch called Serena. I’d never seen such a nervous dog in my life. She was only three days out of trainer kennels and was not happy with being out and about in a busy pet shop. She kept shying towards the back of the store, and was clearly uncomfortable. She was a much more manageable size, but her nervous disposition would never have allowed her to settle in to city centre living. Just as I was about to leave, a little dejected, in walked another greyhound! A tiny little thing, with a stunning tiger striped brindle coat and an attitude to match! She was fierce! Brazen but not pushy. Bold, but not overwhelming. She was perfect! If I could have a copy of her in my apartment I’d be flying! I started the adoption process that day!

After a week, I was asked if I could have a homecheck done. I’d never had a home check before. All our dogs growing up were pups dumped on our countryside road, which was far enough from the major towns in the area to leave a dog without being recognised, but not too far that it was an inconvenience. Every February/March, the puppies would appear. I have a strong memory of my mother hoisting me up the steep hedgerow embankment after two flea ridden, underweight bernese mountain dog (or mixes of) puppies. All four houses on our countryside lane had the numbers for regional rescues on speed dial to help home these poor dogs, often leftovers from the Christmas market or thrown aside when the cute eight week old puppy chewed the wrong thing or pottied in the house. Because I’d only ever experienced the on the ground side of Rescue and not the paperwork side, I had no clue what to expect. I remember scrubbing the house from top to bottom, putting out the good table wear, getting a selection of pastries from a local bakery, going all out to be a good host! And then in rocked Cooper! The big bubbly boy from the meet and greet! He may have been big, but he slotted so nicely into the apartment, flipping down in the newly bought dog bed to chew on the newly acquired dog toys. His parents were lovely, and we flew through the home check procedure. A week later, funny enough whilst I was visiting my father, I got a call from the rescue kennels inviting me to come visit and meet some of the dogs! We had a chat about my lifestyle, my work hours, my college hours, all to try and get a feel for which dog might be a good fit. I asked after one of the dogs they had on their Facebook page, a handsome hound named Fergus, but was told he was too nervy for city traffic. They then asked if I had seen Robert. I had glanced at his profile, but the image was blurry and I couldn’t get a feel for him, but they said he might be a good match and it would be great to get him a home as he was being kennelled alone for some food issues. We picked a time and date and so the countdown began!

As I don’t drive, I begged a lift off a friend, who drove me from Cork to Kerry to meet some dogs! My friends stayed in the car, whilst I went inside to meet some of the hounds. The very first dog they brought out was this MASSIVE blonde boy, even bigger than Cooper! He really was huge, but he just plodded along so nicely on leash, licked my hand and leaned against my leg. It was love at first Sight(hound)! I took Roberts leash and we went for a short stroll in the driveway of the rescue, where I introduced him to my two eagerly waiting friends in the car. They too were blown back by his size. So we went back inside, and I was introduced to two other hounds, a large brindle female named Rooska and a tiny little black male named Small Talk. They were both so lovely but there was only one hound for me, the gentle giant in the corner; Robert!

I signed the adoption papers right there and we bundled Robert into the back seat of the car and were off! Off the back of some advice from the rescue we stopped on the way home at a Greyhound supply store to pick up a proper rain coat, a blue kennel kosy muzzle and a bag of Gain 20, the food he had been eating in rescue. I had been warned that he had issues with food, was a very slow picky eater, and that he had a sensitive system, so sticking with the same food was important to try and prevent any digestive complaints.

After getting back to Cork, we had a circus of a time getting Robert into the apartment. There are four steps leading up to the entrance of our apartment and Robert was VERY shaky about them. It dawned on me then that he may have never encountered stairs before. We took it slow and steady and made our way up those entrance steps at his pace. Thankfully our apartment complex has an elevator, so we didn't need to work up the three flights of stairs to our floor! Rob walked into the elevator no problem, but when it moved, he tensed. Turned into a literal statue that did not want to leave the lift when it finally reached our floor. Slow and steady, we got him out of the lift and into the atrium, where he promptly walked directly into the large glass window door. From the atrium, we made it to the balcony and then finally, into our apartment!

Once he was inside he seemed to settle a little. He spent a minute sniffing the hallway, then sniffing the kitchen, then sniffing the bedroom, then peeing on the floor! XD The rest of the evening went alot smoother. Robert found a spot in the bedroom between the bedframe and the wall where he squeezed into and lay down. I had been warned by the rescue that he might be a little "shut down" at first due to the stress of moving from kennel life to home life but I don't think it hit me until then. This beautiful, young dog was just so... unsure. At three years of age he had no experience of life outside of cold, concrete kennels and coursing fields. He didn't want to lie on the new bed, he didn't seem to know what to do with the new toys, he wouldn't take a treat, he wouldn't even look at me. He just squeezed into a safe spot and lay there, and that broke my heart. But Time heals all wounds, and we had many, many years ahead of us <3

[galtx]

GALTx eNews: 2020 Memberships Are Here! 

As we enter our 19th year, GALT looks back on our dedicated team of volunteers finding loving forever homes for over 3500 hounds and our expansion into Central Texas and New Mexico! Going forward into 2020, so much is changing in the racing world. In addition to greyhound racing ending in Florida in December 2020, Southland Greyhound Park in Arkansas has announced it will close at the end of 2022. West Virginia is contemplating ending the state subsidies for its tracks, which will likely cause their closing too. Because of these changes, we are already seeing high numbers of dogs coming in from farms - brood mamma's, middle age hounds, and those that are deemed not racing material.

Membership dues fund these incoming hounds throughout the year by assisting with the costs of medical care and boarding. We currently house an average of more than 25 hounds at our kennel and have a significant intake waiting list. GALT's costs for caring for the hounds and preparing them for adoption averages more than $1,000 a day and our costs continue to rise. We hope you will continue your support by becoming a member for 2020 or renewing your membership when it expires. Membership offers greyt benefits that vary depending on the level of membership support you choose, but all members receive a 10 percent discount in our GreytStore, including for event admissions and entry into quarterly raffles. Our third quarter raffle winners are pictured here with their prize. Click here to see your support level options and the benefits that come with each. Starting at only $50, we have a membership level for every budget! Please join us today to help the hounds!

[arothany]

Harps & Jacks first day at the beach #greyhound #greyhoundadoption #dogsofinstagram (at Hawker Beach) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6E4bNvA6-t/?igshid=9z7lb96f5t8p

[tkovisual]

This design is already taken but I'd love to do some more beautiful sighthounds this year! . . . #tattoodesign #greyhound #sighthound #flowertattoo #flowerdesign #rescuegreyhound #greyhoundadoption #dogs #dogsofinstagram #animaltattoo #animals #dogstagram #dogoftheday #doggy #doglovers #tattoosketch #lightwork #neotrad #neotradtattoo #visitvictoria #melbourneartists #melbourne #neotraditionaltattoo (at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByaChDdAXiF/?igshid=bhpxdbn6zen4

[grey2kusa]

Celebrate greyhound freedom by entering the GREY2K USA 2019 calendar contest! Send us your favorite photos here: grey2kusa.org/calendar

[joanderp]

You may have noticed that this couch is slightly in my way. Perhaps you may want to do something about it. 👀 | #Joanderp . . . . . #greyhound #greyt #joanderp #greyhoundsofinstagram #greyhoundlove #greyhoundrescue #greyhoundlife #greyhoundadoption #greyhoundcorner #greyhoundcuteness #greyhoundsofig #greyhounds #greyhoundsmakegreatpets #retiredracer #noodlehorse #needlenose #galgo #galgosofinstagram #ruffpost #weeklyfluff #iggysofinstagram #iggys #canineepilepsywarrior #canineepilepsy (at Miami, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf3zbW6O6oY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[fujoshioba]

Super Curly Tail!!! #greyhoundlove #greyhoundadoption https://www.instagram.com/p/CDbftayFx7WQsREgZ0lUg3TpnAuebOIlr9q-us0/?igshid=1upx3j7b45gzb

[robert-the-greyhound]

Kennel Coat and Condition; Tips and Tricks to a Healthy Houndie!

After bringing Robert home, I noticed a very stark difference between the soft, sleek coats of the hounds I had met at the meet and greet and his dry, dull and tufty coat. His coat was rough, and felt almost gritty in texture. At first, I thought he might just be a little grimy from living in kennels for so long, and so, I booked him to a local dog groomer for a good scrub. He came out of the Dog Spa smelling a million times better, but still plagued by a course, patchy coat. Underneath that coat, his sky was dry and flaky, and patches of skin, particularly around his elbows and hips were so thick and calloused they were more reminiscent of sandpaper than skin! I know from experience now that he was suffering what is commonly referred to as "Kennel Coat".

Kennel Coat is a phenomenon seen in Greyhounds and is often contributed to a combination of substandard living conditions and poor diet. Due to their lean, low fat body type, Greyhounds tend to feel the cold more so than other dog breeds. This means that hounds living in kennels, often with little more than shredded paper for bedding, tend to develop thicker, coarser coats in an attempt to stay warm. Off the back of the lack of body fat, any boney points on the hounds can quickly become pressure points when the dogs lie down on un-padded surfaces. This leads to the formation of what is colloquially known as "kennel sores", patches of hard, calloused skin, often seen on the elbows, hips and legs of Greyhounds.

In conjunction with the harsh living conditions, the poor diets of most Racing and Coursing Hounds, often an unbalanced mix of cheap, subsidized kibble, bakery left-overs and knackery meat plays havoc on both dental hygiene and skin health. Unbalanced diets without the proper ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 lead to medical conditions, from minor dry, flakey skin to more aggressive inflammatory issues with joints and skeletal health.

In Roberts case, years of systemic neglect had led to the development of this thick, dull, dead kennel coat, as well thick calloused areas of skin on areas such as his elbows. On top of that, he also suffers from a genetic condition present in many Greyhounds known as "Balding Thigh Syndrome", which is just as it sounds, a condition in which the hair on the thighs thins and falls off, often never to return. Not much is known about BTS, many hounds suffer some degree of fur loss during their time in the Racing or Coursing industries, but upon entering rescue life, most grow it back. For Robert, he never recovered the hair on his thighs but with a combination of a good diet rich in skin and coat boosting nutrients, a proper coat maintenance routine, and time and care in a warm, loving home with a soft bed and cozy PJs to stave off the winter chill, the rest of his coat shed off and was replaced by a sleek, shiny, soft one in time.

Diet:

Poor Diet plays a huge role in most issues when it comes to our pets, but can also be the greatest medicine when harnessed properly. Avoid any of cheap "Greyhound Feeds". They are often nothing more than by-product and flavorings, boosted with synthetic nutrients to make minimum nutrient guidelines, and often produced by brands that sponsor or support the industry. A decent quality kibble, made with real meat and/or meat meal (not by-product or unspecified protein meal), a relatively low inflammatory carb content (rice and maize are incredibly inflammatory in nature, which can worsen conditions such as arthritis), and low legume content (legumes such as peas or lentils are known taurine-blockers, and can cause issues with Dilated Cardio-Myopathy later down the line) is ideal. There is no one food that suits every greyhound, as every dog is unique, so you may need to experiment with different brands to find one that works well for your dog. Contacting a Canine Nutritionist can often be helpful if really struggling with diet. For Robert, the best food for him turned out to be a homemade Raw, Fresh Food Diet, due to his issues with processed kibble, however we have had fosters than did well on brands such as Go Native, Acana and Real Wilderness, to name a few. Once you have your base food sorted, you can add whole food "toppers" tailored to your dogs needs. Toppers should be limited to no more than 10-15% of your dogs total bowl volume so as not to unbalance the base food! Beware of upsetting balance and throwing off calories when adding toppers.

Some of our favourite skin and coat boosting whole foods include:

Porridge Oats. An easy to find, high fiber source of Thiamine, a nutrient that plays a key role in healthy skin function. Simply mix with warm water and stir through food.

Small, Oily Fish. Rich in omegas, small oily fish such as sprats, sardines, mackerel or anchovies make a phenomenal addition to your dogs bowl a few times a week. Other fish such as cod, trout, flounder, herring or whiting are also safe to feed, but don't boast the same benefit as the smaller fry. Best to avoid fish like Salmon or Tuna, or limit the serving to once a week or two, due to the bio-magnification of mercury and nutrients like vitamin D in these proteins.

Egg. A whole egg two or three times a week, cracked raw over kibble provides an almost perfect balance of essential amino acids that help regulate the function of kin.

Flaxseed, a rich source of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids as well as Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Feed as either a ground seed or oil (beware the calories and concentration when feeding oils!)

Chia seeds. Simply mix with water and watch them become a sticky skin-boosting jelly! Rich in omega 3 fatty acids, adding chia jelly to your dogs diet gives an extra fiber boost as well as promoting skin and coat renewal.

Apple Cider Vinegar, a teaspoon poured over food can help calm skin irritation and help soothe itchy skin, giving skin a chance to heal from the lifetime of abuse.

Seaweed. Seaweed is rich in chlorophyll and iodine which promote skin and coat health. As iodine can be overfed, best to air on the side of caution to avoid any thyroid issues later down the line.

Evening Primrose oil. Whilst often thought of just as a hormonal balancing supplement, Evening Primrose Oil also does wonders for skin and coat health due to its essential fatty acid content.

Coat Maintenance:

Once you shift that kennel coat, there's little to no brushing really required to keep your hounds coat in good nick. And unless they roll in something particularly foul on their evening strolls, they likely wont need many bath time adventures! Should you need to wash your hound, remember to pick up not just a shampoo but a conditioner. Greyhounds have a relatively low concentration of oils in their coat, which on one hand means less 'doggy odor' but on the other means they can be prone to dandruff, so conditioning the coat after shampooing can help prevent any snowflakes in summertime!

We went through alot of trial and error with brushes and grooming supplies, but have had great success with the following:

Deshedding Brush. The number one tool in your arsenal against a kennel coat is a good de-shedding brush. The brand furminator is often the most easily accessible, but does carry a relatively hefty price point, however you can often find knock-offs or alternatives at a more reasonable cost in most pet shops. The way these brushes work is they catch and remove any dead or compacted hair in the coat. They can be quite heavy on the coat however, and overuse can break or damage the remaining hair so best to utilize in short bursts once or twice a week.

Rubber mitt. A firm rubber brush is your daily use tool against shedding and kennel coats. They help gather up any loose hairs, gently removing them without the pulling action of the stronger deshedding blades. They also massage the skin, helping promote blood flow and distribution of natural oils in the coat. There are many, many different styles of rubber mitt. I've picked up a few different types, but personally found THIS one to be my favourite due to the serrated edge and honeycomb combo design that gathers and removes hair easily whilst the more clustered side smooths the coat.

Bristle Brush. In terms of shedding, a bristle brush doesn't do much to help remove the hair, however, it does help to distribute oils, smooth the coat, and remove any static. There's aren't a necessary purchase by far, but I like to have one on hand to help 'dust down' any stray, uncollected hairs after using other brushes to remove coat.

Finishing mitt. Like the bristle brush, this tool doesn't really do much for shedding, but does help add shine and condition to the new, healthy coat that grows in to replace the dead kennel coat. Essentially, think of it as polishing your pet!

For calloused areas of skin, moisturizer is key. Id personally skip the coconut oil in favor of a more targeted product such as honeycure or oatmeal balm. Coconut oil is often touted as a cure all, but the high calories and fats can reek havoc on the pancreas if consumed in large quantities and the smothering effect can trap bacteria on the skin, creating an ideal breeding ground.

Should your hound be one of the unlucky few, like Robert, to suffer from Balding Thigh for life, you will likely also need to invest in some doggy sunscreen (though some brands of children's sunscreen are dog safe!). Sunscreen for dogs might sound like a skit, but with no hair over that dark thigh meat, those sighthounds can sizzle! Those with thinning coats can also burn along the nose, ears and belly too, so slather up, especially if you have a sun bather!

With time, good food, good care and a warm, soft space to sleep, you'll find that dull dry coat just falls away. It can come out in clumps or patches, or seem to all fall off in one leaving a rather scraggly hound in its place but love heals all wounds and with the right care, you'll have a sleek, shiny sighthound in no time! Best of Luck!

[applekelly]

*Almost* 👅#tongueouttuesday - you know that tongue was just about to make an appearance! Miss you my sweet boy! 💔🐕🌈🐾 And those were my Grandmother’s hands behind him. Miss you too Grandma! 😘 . . . . . . #dukethegreyhound #duke #greystagram #greyhound #greyhoundsmakegreatpets #greyhoundlove #greys #dogstagram #greyhoundadoption #tot #imissyou #iloveyou (at Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAF10mTANpz/?igshid=1ssx1v52bnp2b

[casadeglielfi]

Rasta è un meraviglioso greyhound, nato nel 2013 che attualmente si trova in Spagna. E' un vero big Boy, dolce e coccolone, che non smette mai di ricercare attenzione e ama giocare. E' davvero molto buono e socievole e gentile nei modi, ma per le sue dimensioni meglio in una famiglia con figli grandi. Dimostra curiosità nei confronti dei gatti, anche se con i gatti incontrati non si è mai dimostrato aggressivo. Bravo anche con cani piccoli E' positivo alla leishmania, ma attualmente prende solo una pastiglia di allopurinolo da 300mg. Ha un bel manto e sta bene e merita una famiglia perché è in rifugio da davvero troppo tempo. Rasta è di una bontà unica... Cerca sempre il contatto quando ti vede... Anche se da bravo grey ama stare spaparanzato nel suo box. Per info scrivere a casadeglielfi.rescue@gmail.com #casadeglielfi #accoglienza #cura #amore #condivisione #greyhoundadoption #greyhoundsofinstagram #greyhoundlove #greyhoundrescue #spanishrescuedog #shelterdogsofinstagram #shelterdogsrock #rescuedoglove #rescuedogsofig #topdogsofinstagram #topdogphoto #adoptdontshop🐾 #🔥#🐾 #unconditionallove #uncaneperamico #sharethelove #foreverhomeneeded #followus #adoptagreyhound #CompanionAnimalForLife #shareme #nonsolopodenco https://www.instagram.com/p/B-M0PwgCV0Q/?igshid=oxyk5ba1w0hk

[sandyzeushera]

Zeus⚡️ hoy mi rey duerme conmigo... #galgo #galgos #galgosdecasa #galgolove #galgofeliz #greyhound #greyhoundmix #greyhoundsofig #greyhoundsmakegreatpets #greyhoundadoption #perros #perro #dog #bello #amigo #like4like #viernes #amor #migalgo (en Catalonia, Spain)

[mariannradi]

Naplemente // walking into the sunset . . #fogadjörökbe #agárfajtamentés #angolagár #fogadjörökbenevásárolj #adoptdontshop #greyhound #sighthound #suzycica #cicakutya #kanapékirálynő #greyhoundsofinstagram #greyhoundlife #greyhoundadoption #doglife #dogoftheday #doglovers #kutyagram #kutyaélet #greyhoundsmakegreatpets #sunset #dogwalking #naplemente (at Zugló) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTkbRjBIuNu/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikededmon]

Tara Jasek-Dedmon - 3/15/2009 - 9/21/2019. So, we lost our beautiful Tara this weekend. We hadn't shared it with many people, but she was diagnosed with Bone cancer in April of 2019 and we did what we could to make her comfortable with medications, lots of love and treats. But, she got to a point where there was too much pain. So, we had to let her go. We are heartbroken and have cried a lot and held each other and our other 2 greyhounds a lot too. But, she's at peace now and we will always love her with all our hearts. Go hug your pets and love them as much as possible! RIP Tara. #greyhound #greyhoundsofinstagram #greyhoundlife #greyhoundlove #greyhoundadoption #love #rip (at Bristol, Connecticut) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2xyCL8A8ZQ/?igshid=68e9aiswgap7

[mascotamanias]

Reposted from @galgossolidarios (@get_regrann) - Zar en adopción urgente !!!! Esta en residencia y lo lleva fatal, le echamos una pata ? ◼◼◼◼◼◼◼◼◼◼◼◼◼◼◼◼◼◼ Necesitamos casas de acogida, adopciones (RESPONSABLES, NO CAPRICHOS)..... Te animas? Quieres adoptar? Quieres acoger? Contacta con Galgos Solidarios o con @gosmaco gosmaco@gmail.com 694471712 #galgodecasa #stopgalgueros #galgo #galgorescue  #instapets #instadog #greyhoundrescue #greyhoundadoption  #greyhoundsofinstagram #happygreyhound #greyhound #happy #galgodesofa #galgoespañol #adoptaungalgo #adopta #adoptionday #adoption  #dog #love #agosto #2019  #donacion #donation #help #spain #galgossolidarios #donacion https://www.instagram.com/p/B08jdXol7jI/?igshid=1f4zkps9s3at2