How do you know if a greyhound is the right dog for you?
At GCA-NC, we strive to create lasting, loving matches between our treasured greyhounds and their forever families. Not sure if a greyhound is the right dog for you?
Read on to learn more about the criteria that make for a happy greyhound-adopter partnership.
We ask that all adults in the household be fully on board with bringing a greyhound into your home.
For homes with existing pets, they should be up-to-date on vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and spayed/neutered (medical exceptions considered). We’ll work with your veterinarian to ensure your pet’s health is ready for a new companion.
Adopters should be ready to embrace the financial aspects of caring for a greyhound, from food to veterinary care.
Families with young children or frequently visiting children (like neighbors, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews) will be considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure the best environment for all.
A fenced yard is preferred for many of our greys. Here’s what we look for:
Direct access from the home to a securely fenced area with a minimum height of 4 feet (5 feet or more is even better).
Fences should be in good condition with secure, lockable gates.
Electric, underground, invisible, barbed wire, 3-4 horizontal board (livestock-style) fences, or portable kennel runs are not permitted for greyhounds.
Greyhounds thrive on companionship. If you’re away for more than 8 hours at a time, you’ll need to arrange for daycare or in-home care.
Our cat/small dog trainable greyhounds are limited in number, so patience may be needed as we match the perfect greyhound to your home.
When you adopt a greyhound through GCA-NC, you are committing to creating a safe, loving, and enriching home for the life of the dog.
You agree to follow all state and local regulations for pet licensing and vaccinations.
Your greyhound must be kept as an indoor pet in a climate-controlled environment. This means no extended unsupervised time outside, and they cannot be housed in garages, barns, outdoor kennels/pens, or left outside alone while no one is home.
Our greyhounds are placed solely as cherished family members. They cannot be used for business, medical, or experimental purposes, including racing, hunting, breeding, laboratory research, blood donation, or any other commercial activity.
Greyhounds must never run loose unless they are in a securely fenced area. When outside a fenced space, they must be on a standard leash, regardless of location, weather, or time of day.
Caring for a greyhound involves ongoing costs, estimated at a minimum of $1,500 per year. This covers high-quality food, routine vet visits, heartworm testing, monthly prevention for heartworms, vaccinations, flea/tick treatments, intestinal worm care, dental maintenance, a crate, toys, licensing, grooming, boarding, and emergency vet needs as necessary. Please ensure you are prepared for this lifelong responsibility.
Electric, static, or no-bark correction collars are not allowed for training or behavioral management.
This includes annual heartworm testing, monthly heartworm prevention, vaccinations, flea/tick treatments, intestinal parasite management, dental care, maintaining a healthy diet, and monitoring their weight to ensure good health.
If for any reason you can no longer care for your greyhound, you must return them to Greyhound Care and Adoption of NC. Rehoming or giving your greyhound away, even to family or friends, without written permission is not allowed.
Greyhounds should never be tied or staked out to a stationary object or be transported in the open bed of a vehicle. Tie-out chains, zip lines, or run lines are strictly prohibited.
Your greyhound should always wear a correctly-sized martingale collar with identification. Use a standard leash when walking them; retractable or flexi-leads are not permitted.
If your greyhound is lost, escapes, or is stolen, notify Greyhound Care and Adoption of NC immediately.
Adopting a greyhound is a serious, lifelong commitment. If you have any concerns about meeting these guidelines, we encourage you to thoughtfully reconsider applying for adoption to ensure the best outcomes for our greyhounds.
Our adoption fees are based on the age of the dog at time of adoption:
If you have reviewed and agree to the adoption eligibility and requirements, we invite you to complete and submit our online Adoption Application.
The questions in our application are designed to help our adoption counselors identify the perfect greyhound match for your home.
We’re excited to help you find your next ‘Greyt’ family member!
After submitting your application, you will receive an automated confirmation email – be sure to check your spam folder if it doesn’t appear right away. Our dedicated volunteers strive to review and process applications within one week.
Once your application has been received, an adoption counselor will reach out to discuss your application and answer any questions you may have.
Once your application is approved, our adoption coordinator will contact you to inform you of any foster greyhounds currently available that could be a great fit for your family.
When a potential match is identified, we will arrange a meeting between you and the greyhound to ensure compatibility.
If everyone agrees it’s a perfect match, you will complete an Adoption Contract Agreement, pay the adoption fee, and officially welcome a retired racing greyhound into your home!
As part of the process, we will also contact your veterinarian to verify that your current pets are up-to-date on vaccinations and heartworm prevention. A home visit may be scheduled to help us ensure the best match between you and your new companion.
Greyhound Care & Adoption of North Carolina reserves the right to approve or deny any application at any stage of the process.
Our goal is to place each greyhound in a home where they can truly thrive, focusing on personality, temperament, and activity level rather than just appearance.