Please note that we currently do not require foster carers with cats as our cat trainable hounds are breaking land speed records racing into their forever homes!

Foster Care

If you are currently unable to adopt here is your chance to play a vital part in helping a greyhound on their way into their new home. Often we have greyhounds who need a little extra help before being ready for adoption - this is where our foster carer team comes in! Our foster carers look after our greyhounds in their own homes and play the important role of guiding the hound through all of these ‘firsts’ they’ll encounter being a pet, establishing some basic house manners, and getting to know their personalities.

Here are the steps to becoming a foster carer:

1.       Complete the Online Questionnaire and select FOSTER.

2.       Our Foster Co-ordinator will be in touch with a few more questions to learn about your skills and experience so that we can find the right greyhound for your foster home.

3.       Agree to our volunteer agreement and Code of Conduct. 

From here we are good to go and your local Rehoming Team Lead will set you up with the necessary equipment and resources to make your role a success and find that special short-term friend for you.

You’ll be able to provide the greyhound with some life skills to make the transition easier when they’re adopted:

  • Beginning toilet training
  • Learning to be left alone
  • Staying off furniture
  • Beginning loose lead walking
  • Learning to settle in a crate
  • Navigating stairs and other floor surfaces
  • Familiarising them with household routines

What’s in it for you:

  • You’ll be part of our GAP Community and invited to attend events
  • Have access to GAP Facebook groups
  • Be provided with comprehensive behaviour resources
  • Ongoing support from the Rehoming Team
  • Satisfaction of seeing your foster grow and learning to thrive as a pet

To foster, you will need to be flexible with your time to ensure you are present to help settle in your foster – everything is brand new and they’ll need your guidance! Obviously, you also need to be permitted to keep a dog on your property and ensure you can keep the dog safe and secure. To drive to the vets or to meet the team for events and appointments with prospective adopters, you also need your own transport.

Can I foster if I have my own pets?

Absolutely!  If you have an existing dog, we encourage you to bring them along to meet the foster first.  

Can I foster if I have a cat?

Please note that we currently do not require foster carers with cats as our cat trainable hounds are breaking land speed records racing into their forever homes!

Can I foster if I work full-time?

Yes, although you will need to ensure that you have sufficient time to integrate a greyhound into a home environment and to care for them. For almost all greyhounds this will be their first time in a home and they will need guidance to help settle in and to learn our expectations of them as a pet.

How long do greyhounds spend in foster care?

The typical foster stay is between two and four weeks, though this can be longer depending on the reason for fostering and your location to one of the three kennel bases located in Cambridge (Waikato), Levin (Kapiti Coast) or Rangiora (Canterbury).

  • GAP will provide all the gear you’ll need (crate, food, bowl, lead, collar, muzzle, coat)
  • Join our Foster Carer Facebook Group where they can ask questions and share stories with other foster carers.
  • Ongoing email and phone support and weekly check ins with your local Rehoming Team Lead

Fostering is a little different to adoption. If you’re interested in adopting a dog, find out more here.

However, sometimes foster carers do fall in love with their foster greyhound and we are happy to proceed with an adoption, provided the dog is not reserved for someone else. The standard adoption fee still applies.

Why Fostering?

You’ll be able to provide the greyhound with some life skills to make the transition easier when they’re adopted:

  • Beginning toilet training
  • Learning to be left alone
  • Staying off furniture
  • Beginning loose lead walking
  • Learning to settle in a crate
  • Navigating stairs and other floor surfaces
  • Familiarising them with household routines

What’s in it for you:

  • You’ll be part of our GAP Community and invited to attend events
  • Have access to GAP Facebook groups
  • Be provided with comprehensive behaviour resources
  • Ongoing support from the Rehoming Team
  • Satisfaction of seeing your foster grow and learning to thrive as a pet
Can I Foster?

To foster, you will need to be flexible with your time to ensure you are present to help settle in your foster – everything is brand new and they’ll need your guidance! Obviously, you also need to be permitted to keep a dog on your property and ensure you can keep the dog safe and secure. To drive to the vets or to meet the team for events and appointments with prospective adopters, you also need your own transport.

Can I foster if I have my own pets?

Absolutely!  If you have an existing dog, we encourage you to bring them along to meet the foster first.  

Can I foster if I have a cat?

Please note that we currently do not require foster carers with cats as our cat trainable hounds are breaking land speed records racing into their forever homes!

Can I foster if I work full-time?

Yes, although you will need to ensure that you have sufficient time to integrate a greyhound into a home environment and to care for them. For almost all greyhounds this will be their first time in a home and they will need guidance to help settle in and to learn our expectations of them as a pet.

How long do greyhounds spend in foster care?

The typical foster stay is between two and four weeks, though this can be longer depending on the reason for fostering and your location to one of the three kennel bases located in Cambridge (Waikato), Levin (Kapiti Coast) or Rangiora (Canterbury).

Support
  • GAP will provide all the gear you’ll need (crate, food, bowl, lead, collar, muzzle, coat)
  • Join our Foster Carer Facebook Group where they can ask questions and share stories with other foster carers.
  • Ongoing email and phone support and weekly check ins with your local Rehoming Team Lead
Can I Adopt?

Fostering is a little different to adoption. If you’re interested in adopting a dog, find out more here.

However, sometimes foster carers do fall in love with their foster greyhound and we are happy to proceed with an adoption, provided the dog is not reserved for someone else. The standard adoption fee still applies.