From Track to Couch

International Greyhound Racing and Rehoming Structure
We’ve discovered the international path from track to home for retired racing greyhounds is much different than our experience here in the states. Most of the American adoption groups built relationships with kennel owners and trainers in order to be considered and notified when greyhounds were no longer able to race. The path was from track to the adoption group to their forever home to live happily ever after as a pet.
We’re learning with our Irish and Australian partners, the retired greyhounds follow a slightly different path. The racing organization is required to use a portion of the gambling profits to assist with rehoming efforts. These facilities are funded by the racing industry with the goal of preparing the greyhound to be directly adopted from a rehoming organization and partnering with adoption groups, like ours.
Here’s another way to breakdown the three stages of rehoming efforts in Ireland and Australia:
- Greyhound Racing Industry: The racetracks where dogs race and bets are placed, etc.
- Racing Funded Rehoming Organization: The first stop for retired racers from the track is a kennel-based facility, funded by greyhound racing organizations. Intake process involves behavioral assessments, de-sexing, vaccinations, etc. Dogs can be housed in kennel facilities or placed with foster families.
- Not-for-Profit Organizations: There are many groups that work with the racing funded rehoming groups. The groups exist in the originating country and work within the United States.
We are working to offer more presentations to share how racing and retirement is handled by the Irish and Australian racing industry to pass along what we’ve learned. If you have any specific questions, please send to communications@sagreys.org.