WELCOME TO GREYHOUND ADOPTION OF OHIO (GAO)!

Greyhound Adoption of Ohio is the largest (based on number of dogs placed) and oldest (based on incorporation date) greyhound adoption organization in the state of Ohio . At the time of our inception, in 1993, greyhounds were rarely seen in Ohio . Today, you'll see greyhounds nearly everywhere you go! The word is out! Greyhounds make WONDERFUL pets!

GAO receives dogs from numerous tracks around the country, but primarily from Florida , Wisconsin and Kansas . We generally have 25-30 dogs awaiting placement at any given time. Upon arrival at GAO, each dog is neutered, vaccinated, checked for parasites, heartworm tested, microchipped and has a complete dental cleaning. Anything else the future pet may need is done prior to placement. Occasionally, GAO will receive a dog with a fractured leg, an injury that is quite common in the world of greyhound racing. These dogs receive excellent care through Ohio State University 's orthopedic surgery center.

If you're interested in adopting a former racing greyhound, please fill out the application on this site and forward it to us. You'll then be contacted to arrange your initial interview visit, to talk with us, view our video about greyhound adoption and to obtain some additional information. We ask anyone interested in adopting to read the book, ?Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies?. This is, overall, a very good primer about adopting a greyhound. If you have children under the age of 8, we ask you to read ?Childproofing Your Dog?, by Brian Kilcommons, in preparation for adoption.

If you're not sure that greyhound adoption is right for you and would like to simply visit greyhounds first, you're welcome to call and set up an appointment to visit the dogs at the kennel or you may attend one of our periodic ?open houses?. If you then decide to adopt it would be necessary to complete the interview visit at a later date. You may also see greyhounds and their families at one of our ?Meet ?n Greets?. See ?Current Events? for dates and times. GAO uses foster homes only on a limited basis, such as when the kennel is overcrowded or for special needs dogs. We feel that asking a dog to bond with a family and adapt to their ways, only to pull him or her out of that situation to go to another home is not the best way for us to accomplish our adoptions.

Our goal, at GAO, is to place our greyhounds with loving, committed families where they will live safe and secure for the rest of their lives. To that end, GAO offers support to help your dog transition into his or her new life and throughout the life of your pet.

GAO's adoption fee is $175. We also have reduced adoption fees for two-at-once adoptions. Greyhounds have never been alone and, while they can do fine as an only dog, if you have no other dogs at home, your new greyhound will be much happier if he or she has a friend.

If you can't adopt a greyhound, there are many ways you can help. You can make a monetary donation, donate an item for our e-bay auctions, sponsor a greyhound or lend your expertise in a variety of ways. For additional information, please contact the appropriate person on our Contact Us page.

We welcome you to the wonderful world of retired racing greyhounds! May it be as rewarding for you as it is for us!

With love for greyhounds,

Linda Perko
Greyhound Adoption of Ohio, Inc.
"Adopting just one greyhound won't change the world, but the world will surely change for that one greyhound"

If anyone is inclined to help at the kennel, we're trying to organize people to come out once a month to do a turnout. With so much to do for the Reunion and so many dogs to care for, the days never seem to end.  Several people have offered to come over to do a particular "shift" once a month, so we thought we'd ask if anyone else is interested.  It could be the same day each month or different days, depending on your schedule. 

Turnout times are generally about 7AM, 11AM, 3PM and 9PM.  Of course, things come up and we understand if you sign up for a turnout and have to cancel.  It just helps us to schedule ourselves if we know someone is coming to help. 

Our thanks to Bree Bartek, Cathe Farkus, Carli Wyszynski and Kim Ahlin, who are already helping with this and Sandy Gudat for offering, too!  A special thanks to Helen Miller and Olga Demirjian, who've been sharing the weekend first turnouts for FIVE YEARS!  To those of you who always help when we have to be away, we send our thanks, too! 

We also need volunteers to give baths!