23 August 2024

Looking for a new furry friend? Perhaps you should adopt a greyhound

| Chris Roe
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Vicki and Graeme Roy adopted Honey and Sasha through the Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) program in Albury and Wagga.

Vicki and Graeme Roy adopted Honey and Sasha through the Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) program in Albury and Wagga. Photo: Supplied.

Vicki Roy and her husband Graeme are proud “parents” of a pair of greyhounds – Honey and Sasha – who they adopted from the Greyhounds As Pets (GAP) program.

Vicki said they were the perfect addition to the family, making themselves at home and winning over staff and customers at the office.

“We got Honey back in April from Wagga and we thought she needed a sister, so we got Sasha at the GAP winter adoption event in Albury,” she said.

“We took Honey down there with us and she met Sasha, and they seemed like they were happy enough, and now they’re just like sisters, squabbling and loving each other.”

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Greyhounds As Pets is a not-for-profit initiative coordinated by Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) that rehabilitates racing greyhounds for adoption.

The program is an important part of the ongoing reforms in the industry and GRNSW has a commitment to rehome 3500 dogs in the 2024-2025 financial year.

According to GAP, there are many advantages to adopting a greyhound and they will be holding their next adoption event this Saturday at Petbarn in Wagga.

Two greyhounds

Sasha and Honey enjoy hanging out with Vicki at the office and greeting customers. Photo: Supplied.

Vicki said they had previously owned Great Danes and now that the couple were in their 60s, the move to the much smaller and lighter greyhounds was a welcome one.

“They’re just such great pets and they’re actually a lot like Great Danes in that they are couch potatoes and they don’t take a lot of looking after,” she said.

“They’re just such loving dogs and we’ve found that two is twice the fun because they’re very companionable with each other and we’ve found they are quite happy to be alone together.

“The senior dogs are also terrific, and I reckon for retired people they’d be a good option because they’ve got less energy and they’re more settled.”

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On the long list of plusses, greyhounds rarely bark, they don’t shed much fur, they are very sociable and affectionate and great with kids.

Vicki said that while they were “incredibly fast”, the animals were quite happy with a 20-minute walk or a good run around the yard.

“They’re sprinters so they have a run or a walk and then they lay down for most of the day, so they don’t require a lot of exercise at all,” Vicki said.

“We’re electricians and I’m in the office most of the day so the girls come in with us and they sit in the office and greet people as they come in.

“All the couriers and wholesalers love them and they are just so much fun to have around.”

If you’d like to learn more about the program and meet some of the dogs, the GAP team will be at Petbarn Wagga from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday (24 August) where you can adopt a greyhound for a reduced fee.

You can visit the website and see some of the adorable greyhounds looking for a new home.

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