Step One – The Application

Click on Greyhound Adoption Application to begin the process.  If you leave the form without hitting the “SUBMIT” button the form will reset to blank and you must start over from the beginning.  The application will take about 25 minutes to complete.  When you hit the “SUBMIT” button you will receive a confirmation that the form will be emailed to the Adoption Committee and the adoption representative assigned to you will get in touch with you to go over the application.   If after this initial conversation you and your adoption rep agree that a greyhound might be a good fit for you and your family, an office visit will be scheduled.  We recommend that you print a copy of your application before you hit the "Submit" button.  Technology is a wonderful thing, but sometimes it fails us.  If you are not contacted by email or telephone within 48 hours of submitting your application please let us know either by email - gpanet@sbcglobal.net  - or by telephone at 713-667-3804 - or fax 713-667-9938

Step Two – The Office Visit

The first office visit is the time for all of us to get to know each other, a chance to exchange ideas about dog training and behavior in general and greyhounds in particular.  It’s our time to answer your questions and to learn what you want and expect from a family companion.  It is very important that all family members who will spend a great deal of time with the greyhound come to the office visit.   If you have not had a chance to have a close encounter with a greyhound, there are always several dogs lying around in the office for you to pet. 

Retired racing greyhounds are unique in the dog world not only for their personalities but because of the way they have been raised.  We recommend that all prospective adopters read Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies by Lee Livingood. This book is a valuable source of information and wisdom for the experienced greyhound owner as well as anyone new to our breed.  It can be found at the library, most major bookstores, or at our office (at a reduced price).

Because we are one of the few adoption groups nationwide willing to adopt to people with very young children, we require families with children under six to read Childproofing Your Dog, also available at our office at a reduced price.    Since very small children and dogs of any breed are not necessarily a match made in heaven, we spend a great deal of time counseling with families who have little ones and adoptions are done on a case by case basis. 

Step Three – The Home Visit

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Step Four – Adoption Day

Based on your application and interviews, the Adoption Committee will have several dogs to recommend to you.  During the process we ask that you  not fall madly in love with a particular dog you may see on the website (difficult as that may be), since there is no guarantee that dog will be available when you are ready to adopt or that the dog is suitable for your home.  You will have an opportunity to meet all the dogs that the committee determines would fit well with your family.  If the dog has been in foster, the reports will be available for you to read.  Keep an open mind – on more than one occasion (probably closer to hundreds) a family comes in determined to leave with a small brindle female and departs joyfully with an 80-pound black male because he is THEIR DOG!!

Because adopting a greyhound is a very serious matter, GPA Houston Inc. and the adopter enter into an adoption contract that sets forth both parties’ rights and duties, a copy of which is furnished to the adopter.  In the unlikely event that after adoption the adopting party decides to return the greyhound, no refund of the adoption fee is given.   

Effective January 10, 2008, the adoption fee for greyhounds under the age of eight is $285.00.  For greyhounds eight and above the fee is $175.00.   The adoption fees represent only part of the expense of maintaining the greyhounds in our care.  The remainder is raised through donations.  Twenty-five dollars of the adoption fee represents the tax-deductible annual membership in GPA Houston, which includes among other benefits invitations to all GPA events, the newsletter, monitoring by our 24/7 emergency answering service, and post-adoption support and counseling.

In addition to the greyhound itself, the adoption fee includes:

• A special greyhound collar and matching leash

• A greyhound muzzle

• Renowned dog behaviorist Patricia McConnell’s booklet Leader of the Pack

• An excellent dog training DVD

• A GPA numbered ID tag identifying  imprinted with our emergency number

• GPA adoption manual

All greyhounds adopted from GPA Houston have been spayed or neutered, had their teeth cleaned if required (necessary in almost all cases), are current on their vaccinations (including rabies, DHLPP, and bordetella), have been tested for heartworms and are on preventative, and have been dewormed (regardless of the results of the fecal test which are not always reliable).  GPA Houston orders presurgical blood work on all the dogs in our care.  The adopter will receive copies of all records of medical treatment of the greyhound while at GPA.    If the greyhound is due for heartworm preventative within one week of the date of adoption, the adopter will be given a preventative tablet. 

In January 2008 GPA Houston began testing our dogs for tick-borne diseases.  While many people are familiar with Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Tick Fever, there are other similar diseases spread by ticks which represent a danger to dogs and humans.  Unfortunately, these diseases, which in the past were confined to limited areas of the country, are spreading.  Because greyhounds move around the country during their racing careers, tick-borne diseases represent a threat to the dogs’ long-term health.  Greyhounds, of course, are not the only dogs at risk of infection.  Dogs who spend a great deal of time outdoors in areas where ticks are prevalent – for example, hunting dogs or dogs who spend time in the country– are also at risk.  Periodically there is an explosion in the tick population even in urban areas where there are lots of trees and vegetation. 

Ehrlichia canis and babesia canis are organisms which are transmitted to a dog  from an infected tick.  In racing greyhounds the initial infection is most likely to occur in the racing kennel.   Initially the dog exhibits flu-like symptoms.  As the dog’s immune system is activated to cope with the invader the dog appears to recover and becomes asymptomatic.  The dog’s immune system and the organism reach an equilibrium, which explains why an infected dog does not appear to be ill.  This condition may continue for many years unless and until the dog’s immune system becomes weakened, perhaps as a result of an unrelated illness or advancing age. 

Since most vets who practice exclusively in urban areas have never encountered a tick-borne disease they are often unfamiliar with the very wide variety of symptoms which the dog can exhibit, often confusing a tick-borne disease with another condition. 

Fortunately, tick-borne diseases are treatable.  WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT A HUMAN BEING CANNOT CONTRACT A TICK-BORNE DISEASE FROM A DOG.  THE ONLY WAY A HUMAN BEING CAN CONTRACT A TICK-BORNE DISEASE IS FROM A TICK. 

Most racing greyhounds adopted in the United States are not tested prior to adoption; but we feel that these diseases represent a sufficient threat to the long-term health of our dogs that we have made the decision to test and treat prior to adoption.   You will be provided with literature at the time of adoption that explains these diseases in greater detail, but you can rest assured that we have gone to considerable effort and expense to provide your new dog with the best start in his or her new life.

Office Hours

Sunday -
closed

Monday -
by appointment only

Tuesday -
10 to 3

Wednesday -
10 to 3

Thursday -
10 to 3

Friday -
by  appointment only

Saturday -
10 to 4

Where are we located?

Best Friends Pet Hotel
5602 Royalton
Houston, TX 77081
Near Chimney Rock & Southwest Freeway.

Map Location

Here is the map that you can print, and get driving directions from your home.

PLEASE
 call us!

Please call us if you have not received an email or phone call from a member of our adoption committee!
(713) 667-3804