ADOPTION | FOSTERING | VETERINARIANS | BOARDING/PET SITTING
Greyhounds make wonderful pets and will give you many years of love and devotion. Adopting a Greyhound is a serious responsibility requiring a long-term commitment. GALT's adoption application has been designed to evaluate potential adopters to ensure that each person who adopts a Greyhound is not only aware of that responsibility, but also to address the suitability and permanence of each Greyhound placed in a home. Please read the application carefully and consider the importance of your responses.
Adoption applications will not be considered unless they are complete and the $75.00 adoption application deposit ($50 refundable) has been paid.
You can pay the deposit online by going to the Adoption Application Deposit item in the GreytStore. This will give you a Confirmation Number that you will need to include on your adoption application, or you can mail an application to GALT with a check or money order for the $75.00.
GALT offers both a printable application and an online application. Please choose the one that best fits your needs.
GALT recommends that families with children who are interested in adopting a greyhound read the book, Childproofing Your Dog: Complete Guide to Preparing Your Dog for the Children by S. Brian/Wilson Kilcommons. Unless you have previously owned a greyhound or currently have a greyhound or other large dog, GALT does not recommend that families with children under five years of age adopt a greyhound.
GALT's non-refundable tax deductible adoption donation fee is $350 for all greyhounds under 10 years and $225 for 10 and over. A $75 deposit is required with submission of the application ($50 of which is refundable and $25 of which is non-refundable). The remaining $275 adoption fee donation is due when the Greyhound is adopted.
GALT receives greyhounds from breeders, trainers, animal shelters, owner releases and strays. Once the greyhound has been initially processed, blood is drawn for a heartworm check, a CBC (complete blood count with serum chemistry panel), fecal test and tick-borne disease panel. Results are usually received the next business day, and medical treatment is then determined. If all tests are normal, scheduling for spay or neuter along with other procedures is set. Of course, if any of the tests are suspect, further medical evaluation is implemented.
A tick-borne disease panel test detects Ehrlichia canis, Babesia canis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever & Lyme, all diseases transmitted from a tick bite. Veterinarians advise this testing as these diseases are becoming exceedingly prevalent in all breeds, including greyhounds, across the state of Texas due to the widespread infestation of ticks.
GALT feels a responsibility to its greyhounds and potential adopters to screen for the detection of these diseases. Proper treatment will eliminate these diseases; however, if the greyhound is not tested and treated as necessary, the diseases can go undetected for years manifesting themselves into different illnesses causing difficult, extensive and costly treatment. The tick panel test is performed by ProtaTek Laboratory in Chandler, Arizona, considered one of the best facilities specializing in the diagnosis of tick-borne diseases in greyhounds. If advanced testing is necessary, GALT also uses the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine diagnostic lab. It has been GALT's experience that other testing, including the snap test, may prove to be questionable or erroneous. including the snap test, may prove to be questionable or erroneous.
GALT tests each greyhound for heartworms and treats all dogs that test positive. Those greyhounds testing negative for heartworms are given a heartworm preventative each month while in GALT's care. Although this is normal procedure, be aware that there is an incubation period of six months and each greyhound should be tested for heartworms every six months after the last heartworm test.
In addition, GALT tests all of its greyhounds for various types of parasites. Canine parasites in Texas are reaching epidemic proportions. Some worms may be becoming resistant to some treatments or may require more intensive treatments. GALT tests and treats its greyhounds for parasites as often as necessary while the dogs are waiting for their forever homes.
GALT's average cost per greyhound is over $500.00 and includes:
- Blood work: CBC (complete blood count) with serum chemistry panel
- Heartworm test with negative results*
- A tick-borne disease panel by Protatek Lab to detect Ehrlichia canis, Babesia canis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme with treatment if needed for each*
- Neuter or Spay
- Dental cleaning and extractions if needed
- All vaccinations, including DHLPP, Rabies, Bordetella
- Fecal test and treatment until negative results are achieved*
- HomeAgain Microchipping, Membership and benefits
- Adoption package which includes special greyhound martingale collar, leash, muzzle
- Dental start-up kit, Greyhound book, and additional informational material
* If treatment is necessary, the adoption donation still remains $350.
These medical costs do not include other costs for heartworm preventative and flea and tick preventative, such as Interceptor, Heartguard Plus, Sentinel, Frontline Plus, or Advantix, which are given every month the greyhound is in GALT's care. The medical costs also do not include all prescription medications given to the greyhound, if needed, while in its care.
All adoption groups do not offer the high quality medical procedures that GALT does. Be sure you understand before your adopt.
The non-refundable tax deductible adoption donation of one greyhound allows GALT to process another.
Your application and $75 deposit check should be mailed to:
Greyhound Adoption League of Texas, Inc.
P.O. Box 680
Addison, TX 75001-0680
A GALT representative will contact you to review and discuss your application.
Thank you for your interest in adopting a Greyhound.
Surviving
Fostering 101, 102 and 103 | Why
I Foster
Sharing Foster Experiences |
Poem: The New Foster
Foster homes for GALT's greyhounds are critically needed at this time. By being a foster home, you provide a temporary home for one of the greyhounds that has been brought into GALT's adoption program. You acquaint them with "life inside a home" versus life at the kennel or track. It can be one of the most rewarding, and sometimes challenging, experiences.
The most common comment about fostering a greyhound, is "I'm afraid I will get too attached". Well, that is very true for each of us, but remember, "if you adopt you can save one, if you foster you can save many."
As a foster, you sacrifice a bit of your heart and your home to the greyhounds. The dogs bond quickly. You may be the first person who has been kind to them. It is hard to give them up when they are adopted. But remember, "The gift is in the goodbye." Fostering is a lesson in unselfish love.
If you are interested in becoming a foster home, please fill out the application and submit as instructed. This application allows us to better match a foster greyhound to your particular home environment. Should you have any questions, please feel free to email or call.
On behalf of the greyhounds needing the loving care needed in preparation of their "forever" homes, thank you for your participation.
