Emma Pritchard

They are gentle, well-mannered, affectionate, low-maintenance, have little odour and shed minimally, and they are extremely quiet and docile.

All they need is lots of love and cuddles, and enough room to run around.

They also need a comfy place to sleep for between 12 and 18 hours each day.

Known for their athletic ability on the track, greyhounds are becoming increasingly popular as pets with many people welcoming them into their homes at the conclusion of their racing careers.

Northern Rivers trainer and Greyhounds As Pets volunteer Lesley Green has been working with the breed for over 50 years.

Describing them as beautiful dogs, she said they make excellent family pets.

Ms Green joined other Greyhounds As Pets volunteers at the Grafton Greyhound Racing Club on September 25 for an information, education and adoption seminar with members of the public invited to come along and meet retired greyhounds and learn about their growing popularity.

“They make wonderful pets,” Ms Green said, adding every retired greyhound undergoes a behavioural assessment for suitability and spends time in foster care prior to their adoption.

“They don’t need a lot of exercise, as long as you have enough space to let them out a few times each day for a run, they’ll be very happy.

“They’re very low maintenance, they get along well with other dogs and there are also cat friendly greyhounds available for adoption.

“It’s great to see retired greyhounds go to good homes.”

After meeting several retired greyhounds on the weekend, Clarence Valley resident Cassie Wright said she had fallen in love with the breed and is “one hundred percent certain” she will adopt one.

“I’m looking for a dog that won’t mind being at home while I’m working eight hours a day, and greyhounds are like big couch potatoes, they just want to sleep most of the time,” she said.

“It was good to come to the seminar and to be educated about the breed.

“I definitely think I’ll adopt a retired greyhound.”

All retired greyhounds are vet-checked prior to being adopted.

The adoption fee for a retired greyhound through Greyhounds As Pets is $250 and includes vaccination, microchipping, desexing, heartworm treatment, intestinal worming and registration through your local council.

Greyhounds aged seven and above have a discounted adoption fee of $150.

Ms Green said trainers are more than happy to help anyone interested in adopting a retired greyhound.

“We all want to see them go to good homes,” she said.

For further information, please visit www.gapnsw.com.au