Partner Links
Below are links to recommended sites and partners of Team Greyhound:
Online Adoption Form
Team Greyhound Adoption of Ohio Inc.‘s Online Application
Thank you for your interest in adopting a retired racer. Applications through Team Greyhound are currently being accepted in the following locations: Central Ohio, Cleveland Area, Dayton Area, Toledo and SE Michigan Area.
Please fully complete this application before clicking submit or enter.
Adopting a Greyhound is a serious consideration for you and your family. In order to help you make the best decision possible and to best ensure that you and the Greyhound will have a happy and healthy life, we need to know some things about you and in turn, you need to know some things about Greyhounds.
We highly recommend reading Adopting the Racing Greyhound by Cynthia A. Branigan when considering an adoption.
TO HELP US BETTER MATCH THE DOG TO YOUR HOME, TELL US ABOUT YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR LIFESTYLE.
TGAO Sponsors
Sponsor a Racer Today
For various reasons a greyhound may stay in foster care for an extended period of time. Sometimes they require special medical attention (surgery for broken legs, for example), and sometimes they just require more training or socializing.
Team Greyhound is now accepting donations to sponsor our “special needs” foster greyhounds. Please note that your donation is tax deductible.
Sponsorship can be rewarding for retirement home residents, school classrooms, or for people who for any reason are unable to adopt their own greyhound, but want to be a part of our rescue effort.
You may choose the greyhound you would like to sponsor or have us choose a special greyhound that needs you.
How does your sponsorship help?
There are many, many ways that your sponsor donation will help your chosen hound, including:
- Every day foster dog costs, such as food, beds bowls, crates, dietary supplements
- Veterinary bills—our dogs in need usually have a medical issue that requires extensive medical care
- Special training for obedience or socialization
Please send your monetary donations to:
Team Greyhound
5809 Hyde Park Place
Mason, Ohio 45040
OR
You can donate easily using PayPal by clicking on the icon below!
Please note that no donation is too big or too small! Thank you for helping support our magnificent friends and companions.
Many thanks to those businesses who have helped support the efforts of Team Greyhound Adoption of Ohio!
Hill’s Pet Nutrition Shelter Feeding Program
We are participants in the Hill’s Pet Nutrition Shelter Feeding Program. Hill’s helps provide food for the many dogs that are in our care until they go to their permanent homes. In the past they have donated treats and other items to help make our greyhound picnic successful. Hill’s promotes dog health through nutrition and are advocates in pet adoption.
Four Paws
Some of our hounds receive excellent care at Four Paws boarding facility. Thank you so much Four Paws! http://www.the4pawsresort.com.
Contact Us
General Info:
Team Greyhound Adoption of Ohio, Inc.
P.O. Box 130
7652 Sawmill Rd.
Dublin, Ohio 43016-9296
1-877-TGA-OHIO
email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Team Greyhound Promotional Items
For Team Greyhound promotional items, please click: Zazzle.com/teamgreyhound
About Us
Team Greyhound Adoption of Ohio Inc. Mission Statement
Team Greyhound Adoption of Ohio, Inc., is a non-profit group placing retired racing greyhounds into adoption in most of Ohio and parts of adjacent states. Since 1999, we have placed nearly 1500 retired racers into loving adoptive homes!
The racers that we place are trained in Ohio prisons for a minimum of three months prior to adoption. This training ensures a secure match with the adoptive families through their training in socialization, basic obedience, and house manners. The racers reside in foster homes after graduation from their training program, where they have an opportunity to be shown at meet-n-greets in our branches throughout Ohio. At any given time we have between 40 and 60 greyhounds available for adoption allowing choices of a variety of temperaments, sizes, and colors. All appropriate veterinary care including altering, vaccinations, worming, and micro-chipping has been given to each greyhound we take in.
Team Greyhound is an all Volunteer organization. We have no paid help and rely solely on volunteers and donations to cover expenses in the placement of the greyhounds. Our volunteers, area representatives, Board of Trustees and officers make Team Greyhound such a huge success! If you are interested in volunteering and helping out these beautiful greys, please contact by email or phone your area representative.
1/1/11-12/31/12 Officers:
- PRESIDENT: Wendy Simon
- VICE PRESIDENT: Don Levan
- SECRETARY: Katie Fornadel
- TREASURER: Lisa Caccioppo
Board Members
- Don LeVan
- Wendy Simon
- Lisa Caccioppo
- Courtney Kindler
- LuAnn Back
- Stu Bossert
- Karen Wissinger
- Jan Simek
- Bobbie McDermott
- Diane Spires
- Katie Fornadel
- Pamela Farr
- Rebecca Smith
- Josh Chaney
- Donna Bossert
TGA Ohio Branch Representatives:
- Dayton and Southwest Ohio Area (Don Levan @ 937-433-3302)
- Columbus and Central Ohio Area (Wendy Simon @ 877-TGA-OHIO (877-842-6446))
- Cleveland and North East Ohio Area (Nanci Hopperton @ 440-234-3539)
Events Calendar
How To Help
Donations
Team Greyhound Adoption of Ohio, Inc. is a Non-Profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to finding caring and loving homes for retired racing greyhounds. We have no paid help. We rely solely on volunteers and donations to help in the placement of these wonderful dogs. Please note that your donation is tax deductible.
- Team Greyhound Adoption of Ohio IRS form 990
- Team Greyhound Adopter/ Donor Privacy Policy
- Team Greyhound 2005 Annual Report
- Team Greyhound 2005 Taxes
If you are interested in helping these Greyt hounds, but do not have the extra time and would like to donate supplies or money, please see below for our "wish list" of supplies needed and our mailing address or PayPal button for monetary donations!
Please note that all donations are tax deductible!
| Old or New Blankets | Large Crates | Dog Bones (Large size) | Dog Bones (Medium size) |
| Large Dog Beds | Dog Toys (Stuffys) | Soft Bristle Toothbrushes | First Aid Supplies |
| Printer Paper | 3 Prong 2 pocket Folders | Dog Toothpaste | Pre-paid Gas Cards |
| Food & Water Bowls | Dog Treats (med size) | Office Max Gift Certificates | "Vet Wrap" |
Please send your monetary donations to:
Team Greyhound 5809 Hyde Park Place Mason, Ohio 45040
OR
You can donate easily using PayPal by clicking on the icon below!
Fostering
Thank you for your interest in wanting to help with our foster program. Why do we like to have foster dogs in homes before getting adopted? Fostering is a way to help a dog get adjusted to a whole new world. For a retired racer, this is a whole new world. They know nothing about stairs, glass doors, slippery floors, sleeping on nice soft beds, etc.
When you choose to foster, you are saying you want to help this dog learn about the wonderful new life he is about to experience. You have chosen to take on the task of working with the dog through any and all issues that might surface. That means that as a foster parent, you have chosen to deal with the challenge of cleaning up accidents, teaching the dog not to chew, how to go up and down stairs, how to get along with other pets, cats and children, when to play and when to sleep, how to deal with being left alone, and many other issues.
It can sometimes be frustrating. It can also be difficult to let go of the hound when it is his time to be adopted. If it weren’t hard then you should not even consider fostering.
So be prepared for some pain. Be prepared for some frustrations. But also be prepared to feel the best feeling ever. There is nothing like seeing your dog and his new owner a month, a year, 3 years later and the love and happiness between them. You know that you helped make that happen. By taking on the hard work, you made it an easier adjustment for the dog and the new owner. You helped insure the long lasting permanent relationship. You helped to keep the dog from a possible bounce back.
What does Team Greyhound supply? When you foster a dog with Team Greyhound, we will supply the following items while the dog is in your care. Some families choose to supply their own food. If you choose to supply the food or any other items for the dog it can be considered a tax write off to a charitable organization providing you keep receipts and proper documentation.
TGA Provides For Foster Dogs:
- All Food
- Leash/collar
- Crate
- Belly Band (if needed)
- Preventative Heartgard Plus and Frontline
- All Veterinary Care
Would you like to help us get these lucky greyhounds ready for their forever homes? TGA is always in need of foster homes. For more information, please call your area representative or fill out the online foster application.
Please note: TGA has wormed each greyhound for the most common internal parasites. However, you must keep your own pets up to date on their own veterinary care to prevent transmission of any potential present parasite.
Adoption Specifics
All greyhounds we place are ready to adopt. They will have been:
- Spayed or neutered
- Vaccinated
- Tested and on preventative medicine for heartworm disease
- Wormed for intestinal parasites (for rounds, hooks, whips, and tapes)
- Examined for dental issues, including a cleaning if necessary
- Treated and on preventative medicine for flea infection
- Micro-chipped
- Nails trimmed
- Bathed
- Trained for a minimum of 90 days in our prison training programs within the Ohio Department of Corrections facilities with basic manners and obedience commands
Your newly adopted greyhound will come with:
- A martingale collar and leash
- A greyhound muzzle
- A five pound bag of Science Diet Adult Maintenance
The adoption fee for adult dogs is $250, or $175 for senior dogs (older then eight years of age). This is a non-refundable fee to Team Greyhound to pay for the veterinary care of the greyhounds.
Although a fenced yard is not required, it is highly recommended. A fenced yard is required if you have small children two years old or under. It is the policy of Team Greyhound to not adopt to homes with invisible fencing or fences under 42”, as either of those systems are not a safe form of containment for a greyhound. The greyhound is required to be kept in an enclosed area with appropriate fencing or leash walked at all times. Leash walking a dog is a HUGE commitment. If you do not have a fenced area for the greyhound to relieve himself, then he MUST be leash walked about 4 to 5 times per day. This means that rain or shine, sleet or hail, better or worse, sickness and health, you must be out there walking that dog. Please carefully assess your ability to adhere to this before considering adoption.
To test your ability to leash walk a dog for the next ~9+ years, we recommend the following trial before applying to adopt. Determine the times that you will be taking your dog out, which will most likely be first thing in the morning, mid-morning or upon returning home from work, early evening and before bed. At those pre-determined times go stand outside and walk in small circles (as if waiting for the dog to do his business). Stay out there for at least 10 minutes. Once a day, take a nice walk for exercise. Do this every day for two weeks and don’t miss a time because your dog won’t let you! If you ARE NOT screaming UUGGHHH I CAN’T DO THIS, then you are a good candidate to adopt without a fence.
Adoption Requirements
- All adopters must agree to maintain appropriate vaccinations, preventative heart worm medication, and appropriate veterinary care
- All adopters must agree to keep the appropriate tags on the greyhound at all times (rabies, county dog license, name tag, and Team Greyhound adoptive dog brass tag)
- All family members in the home must want to adopt a retired racing greyhound
- Team Greyhound requires that all potential adopters read Adopting the Racing Greyhound by Cynthia Branigan (third edition)
- All adopters must understand that greyhounds are not outside dwelling dogs and must sign an agreement stating to never tie out the dog. The greyhound must always be kept indoors
- We require both personal and veterinary references. After the references have been approved, you will be contacted to arrange a home visit with your dog of choice or one that matches your lifestyle
Adoption Process
Although you may see a picture of a beautiful dog and want to adopt it, it may not be the right dog for your home. Sometimes we have multiple applications for the same dog. Please remember that all dogs are placed at the discretion of Team Greyhound. The purpose of the home visit is to introduce the greyhound to your home, family and other pets. We also check for any home related safety issues. After the home visit is completed, a recommendation is then made for adoption. If approved you will be notified and the adoption day will be arranged.
The length of time between receiving your application and adopting your dog will depend on a variety of factors. Generally, the process takes about 2 to 3 weeks. Please be patient as we are all volunteers working hard in our spare time to place these dogs in a timely manner. If you want to know the status of your application, please feel free to contact your area representative at any time. If no dogs are currently in your area, you may need to travel within Ohio to pick up your adopted dog. If a dog is located at a correctional facility near you, we can often make arrangements for you to meet us there to pick up the dog.
About Greyhound Adoption
Greyhounds as Racers
A litter of Greyhounds are kept together with their siblings throughout their training. At two months of age, Greyhounds romp and chase in runs typically 250 to 300 feet long. At about six months, training begins by pulling an object on a rope for the pup to chase and then advance to being pulled quicker by a moving vehicle. Next up is training with a whirligig, then on to schooling.
The racing program consists of five categories of dogs, separated by their experience and ability. The first race or two for the dog will be in a maiden class. After a maiden race, the dog graduates to the “D” class. Winning dogs move up a class, while three or four successive non-winning finishes will demote the dog down a class.
As the dog ages and slows and is unable to effectively compete in the “D” class, the dog is retired.
The Racing Greyhound:
- Is accustomed to rising early
- Is used to a strict routine
- Races every four to seven days
- Lives in a crate and is turned out four times a day for relief and exercise
- Is used to being handled and being around people
- Is treated fairly well at most tracks and kennels, though are not pets at this point
Greyhound Physical Structure:
Male greyhounds are generally larger than females. The average male is about 26 to 30 inches at the shoulder and weighs about 65 to 85 lbs. Females average 23 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh about 50 to 65 lbs.
Greyhounds come in many colors including black, white, fawn, red, brindle (in a variety of shades), blue, white with blue, red, fawn, and black.
Greyhounds are usually between 2 and 5 years of age when they retire from racing. Occasionally there will be some “seniors” over 8 years old looking for a home as well.
A retired racing greyhound as a pet:
- Has a life span of 12 to 14 years
- Is typically a laid-back and relaxed dog
- Is loving and affectionate
- Is easy to train
- Is used to being around other greyhounds and can adapt quickly to other dogs and other pets such as cats
- Like to be with you and are easy to please
- MUST be kept on a leash or fenced area. They can not be “tied out”, as they can break their necks if they bolt towards a rabbit, squirrel or other critter
- Is low maintenance, requiring very little grooming
- Very little “doggy odor” because they have very little oil in their hair
- They eat between 3 to 6 cups a day of a good quality dry dog food
- Are sensitive to chemicals. Precautions must be taken for use of pesticides for flea and tick prevention and for lawn and garden care
- MUST live indoors. They have low body fat and are not tolerant of extreme temperatures. If you need a coat to go outside, so will your greyhound
- Make great traveling companions
- They enjoy running, but do not require a huge yard as a walk or romp in an enclosed area for even five minutes is sufficient
- Most greyhounds are quieter than other dogs, rarely barking, if ever. Greyhounds typically do not make good watch dogs.
- Simple to housebreak, as they are trained at the track to not soil their crates. They need a few days to understand that their new home is now their crate. All of Team Greyhound’s dogs that graduate the prison training program are housebroken
Greyhounds and Children
Most greyhounds are gentle and tolerant towards children. Young children should never be left unsupervised with ANY dog. As with any dog, it is the owner’s responsibility to see that children are taught to respect animals. Small children should be supervised at all times with any dog.
Families should wait until they are certain the children are able to:
- Respect the dog’s space
- Stay out of the dog’s crate
- Stay off the dogs bed
- Do Not pull ears, tail, or poke eyes
- Be careful not to fall on the dog
- Let the dog rest
Use the expression “Let sleeping dogs lie” - Sleeping dogs should never be approached without calling to the dog first. The greyhound is accustomed to having its own area to rest and may become startled while sleeping when approached too quickly.
What to Expect:
Before making a decision to adopt any dog, there are questions to ask yourself
- Do I have the time and attention needed to devote to the dog, or is my lifestyle too busy to permit me the time needed to care and love a pet?
- Am I planning on starting a family in the future and how will that impact our lifestyle and ability to care for a pet?
- Am I willing to make this commitment for the rest of the dog’s life?
When you first bring your greyhound home, there will be an initial adjustment period. Some greyhounds adjust very quickly while others may need a little extra TLC. Your greyhound will rely on you to show him his way and teach him what you expect of him. He needs your patience and understanding. To your greyhound you are the all-knowing, all-mighty leader of the pack.
The greyhound has ALWAYS been around other hounds and NEVER left alone. Your new hound may be very quiet and depressed at first and it may take weeks before he seems happy and ready to accept his new surroundings. Your greyhound may not want to eat when he first comes to your home. If possible, keep his food available to him at all times at first until he decides to eat.
All greyhounds adopted through Team Greyhound are required to be leash walked or kept in a completely enclosed area. The natural instinct of the sight hound is to chase a moving object. If your dog has sighted on any moving object, his instinct to chase will kick in and he will be gone at about 40 miles per hour. They can cover a large distance in a short period of time. Check your gates every time you let the dog out.
Greyhounds and Cats:
Approximately half of the dogs adopted through Team Greyhound currently live with cats. After a home survey, we will recommend a dog that is cat safe if you already have a cat. The home visit allows us to try the dog with your cat to see how they will do together. As you browse the available hounds on this web site, look for the prey drive rating we have initially assigned to the dog via testing we have done with a single cat. The range is one to five, with lower being better. Note that a dog might respond in a different manner to a different cat or in a different environment.
Greyhounds and Other Dogs:
Most greyhounds get along fine with other breeds. Many live with small dogs as well as larger dogs. Often it is the other dog that won’t immediately accept the greyhound into its home. Usually it is just an initial adjustment for your dog to allow the greyhound into his/her territory.
Greyhounds and: Birds and Other Critters
Like your other pets, the greyhound needs to be introduced properly in order to learn that these critters are not his toys. Teaching the greyhound what you expect of him is very important. Keep the greyhound leashed, muzzled and by your side. Use a firm NO with any aggressive behavior. It may be best to keep the dog in a separate room from a flying bird since the temptation may be too great.
Greyhounds, Doors and Their Bolting Instinct
Show your Greyhound you love him by protecting him from his natural instinct to run. Your greyhound’s training has taught him that when the starting box door goes up, he is expected to bolt out and run and run and run. Therefore, it will be EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for you to always know where your greyhound is and secure him before opening a door, whether it be your front door, garage door or car door. If possible, use baby gates to keep the dog from having access to a door that does not lead into a fenced area. If young children are present, keep a lock on the door that is high enough that the child can not reach it. Placing a sign on the door – FAST DOG LIVES HERE CAUTION WHEN OPENING ! – may help serve as a reminder to all family members or to infrequent guests who may not be familiar with the greyhound.
Feeding
Feeding: Most greyhounds eat about 4 to 6 cups of dry kibble a day. They are used to being fed twice a day, morning and evening. It is best to use a good quality dry dog food that does not contain soy, preservatives, or a lot of corn. Normally the dog food found in your grocery store is not recommended. Go to your local pet store and read the lists of ingredients. There are many good brands available.
Treats should be limited. Dog biscuits should not be colored with artificial coloring. Don’t let your greyhound get FAT. Their life expectancy is reduced by as much as 30% if they are fat. They should be lean but not ribby!
The Team Greyhound Prison Program
In cooperation with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Team Greyhound Adoption of Ohio is working with several correctional facilities in the State of Ohio. We started with our first dogs at the Lorain Correctional Facility in Grafton, Ohio, in March of 2001. We currently work with five facilities throughout the state of Ohio. This type of program is not new for the State of Ohio, however, this is first training program in Ohio to involve retired racing greyhounds. While the dogs are at the facility they each have a primary handler and a secondary handler. The job of the handlers is to teach the greyhounds socialization, general manners, and basic obedience skills. The goal is that when the dogs leave the program they will know how to walk nicely on a lead and obey the basic commands of sit, down, stay and come. Based on the willingness of the dog to learn, more commands can be taught. The dogs will be in training for a minimum of 90 days.
When the first two dogs were placed in the program on March 23, 2001, it was a wonderful experience to see the love and compassion that the handlers had for these two beautiful greyhounds. The greyhound magic was working and it was evident that this was a great opportunity for these handlers to feel positive about themselves while doing something to create a positive contribution to society.
This type of training program give Team Greyhound the ability to offer for adoption a greyhound that is already well mannered and trained in the basic commands. This venture enables Team Greyhound Adoption of Ohio to receive a much needed source for foster care, while enabling us to help more greyhound dogs find loving and caring homes. This program was modeled after many successful programs in other states. Our thanks go to all of the people involved with The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections that have been involved in this program. A special thanks to the people involved with the TLC program in Kansas who provided a lot of insight into the smooth development of our own program. But most of all, thanks to the handlers who are willing to give so much to these wonderful majestic greyhounds.
In cooperation with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, Team Greyhound Adoption of Ohio is working with several correctional facilities in the State of Ohio. We started with our first dogs at the Lorain Correctional Facility in Grafton, Ohio, in March of 2001.
Participating Prisons
Below are the prisons Team Greyhound has partnered with to achieve the following goal: When the dogs leave the program they will know how to walk nicely on a lead and obey the basic commands of sit, down, stay and come.
