Each year The Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC)’s Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) rehomes approximately 240 greyhounds with Queensland families.

When greyhounds retire from racing, owners and trainers can rehome them through GAP, where the team prepares them to live as part of a family.

During their time at GAP, the greyhounds have health and behavioural assessments, are desexed, wormed, microchipped, vaccinated and have dental examinations and treatments.

The greyhounds then spend time with staff at the program or with a foster carer to help them adjust to life in a family home.

To ensure each greyhound is ready for life in a family home, they are given basic obedience training, such as basic house manners and are familiarised with a normal family home routine.

Acting Racing Integrity Commissioner Mark Ainsworth said the GAP plays an integral role in transitioning greyhounds from racing to retirement.

“The GAP team achieves this by matching each greyhound with the right family and taking the time to get to know each greyhound through the comprehensive and ongoing behavioural assessments,” he said.

“When matching our greyhounds, the team considers several factors including a family’s lifestyle, regular activities, children, other pets and the home environment,” he said.

If your greyhound is not successful during the pre-assessment intake day, the GAP team will provide feedback and suggestions for additional socialisation and/or obedience training that can help your greyhound pass the next pre-assessment intake day.

For industry participants wanting to retire their greyhounds to the GAP, the team holds greyhound intake days every fortnight.

Owners and trainers can place their greyhound on the waiting list for adoption through GAP by booking a pre-entry assessment temperament test by calling (07) 5424 6092 or by emailing gap@qric.qld.gov.au