Help more greyhounds reach retirement.
Foster families needed now!
When we receive the greyhounds from the track, we give them any medical care they need, their required vaccinations, and a bath. Then they are off to one of our foster homes until we find a permanent home for them. The foster parents provide the greyhounds with "doggie" training to make the transition from track to home easier for the dog and his or her new family.
Fostering means taking as little as two to three weeks to help a dog straight off the track adjust to life as a "45 MPH couch potato." Prospective adopters cleared by FastFriends will visit your home and your foster dog. FastFriends takes first-time foster parents through the same procedure as adoptive parents since foster homes have first option at adopting their foster greyhound.
We always need more foster homes. We do not have a shelter and can only bring in dogs where there is a foster home open to take a newly retired racer. We are very grateful for our wonderful foster families.
If you are interested in fostering a greyhound, please review the
FastFriends Foster Care Manual.
Foster homes are also needed for injured dogs. Click here if you are interested!
If you are interested in fostering a greyhound, we want to hear from you.
Please apply to be a foster home today! Click here to fill out an application.
Responsibilities of Foster Families
As a foster parent, you are expected to help acclimate your greyhound to life in a home. We expect you to house train the dog. Generally this is not difficult, since your dog has been trained to go outside his crate. You need to teach him that your house is basically a huge crate. Watch him closely during the first several days, take him out at regular intervals, and praise him when he relieves himself outside. Help him learn to cope with new things like sliding glass doors, tile floors, the television, stairs, and other animals. A greyhound needs time and help to adjust to life with slick floors and stairs. You will find a lot of advice from FastFriends. They are fast learners.
Your greyhound has never learned how to play, since his life as a racer was all business. Take some time to help him learn to play. I've found that the most enticing thing for such dogs is a small stuffed animal thrown in the air or tossed a few feet from them. The urge to pounce on it is almost irresistible for a greyhound.
As your greyhound adjusts to his new surroundings, his personality will begin to emerge. Take note of this so that you can help the FastFriends placement representative develop a profile of his personality for prospective adopters.
You may wish to begin teaching the greyhound basic obedience commands. Bear in mind that many greyhounds, due to their physical structure, find sitting uncomfortable.