The Greyhound bottleneck
Why these gentle dogs need your help now
Greyhounds are incredible, gentle dogs who make wonderful companions, but right now, many are waiting far too long to find their forever homes. Across the country, adoption rates for Greyhounds have slowed, creating challenges for shelters like ours and programs such as the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP), which is currently at capacity with a six-month waitlist.
Thankfully, we’ve been able to re-home some of our long-term Hounds recently, giving them the second chance they deserved. However, we’re now seeing more Greyhounds coming in, and our attention has turned to the growing Greyhound bottleneck that has developed over the past few months.
At Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania, we are working closely with trainers looking to surrender their ex-racing dogs, but we face limitations. Greyhounds require double-sized kennels, and we only have a small number available. They also need extra support and time in foster care to adjust to home life, learning to settle into an environment that’s vastly different from the track.
Unfortunately, we are unable to take in more Greyhounds until early January, which deeply concerns us. So, why is this happening?
- Slower adoptions: Greyhounds aren’t being adopted as quickly right now, not just in Tasmania but across the country.
- Capacity issues: Other shelters and programs, including GAP, are taking fewer Greyhounds due to space constraints.
- Breeding cycles: More pups are becoming available, leading trainers to surrender older racing dogs who were kept on-track longer due to lower pup availability over the past few years.
With these factors combined, the number of Greyhounds needing homes is rising, and our resources are stretched thin.
We urgently need more foster carers, not only for Greyhounds but also for pups and dogs with medical needs. Foster carers provide the essential care and training these dogs need to thrive in a home environment, making them ready for adoption.
If you’ve ever thought about fostering, now is the time. By opening your home to a Greyhound, you’re giving them a chance to experience love, comfort, and safety — and a step closer to finding their forever family.
