How to rehome your greyhound when he/she is retired from racing?
1. Contact the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust
Place your greyhounds name on the IRGT Rehoming List by contacting Clodagh on 0858047467 or else 061-448089 or Cassandra on 0858538083 or by emailing clodagh.bourke@grireland.ie
2. Photograph your Greyhound
Email 3 good quality photographs of your greyhound
- Please ensure that the greyhound is full length, side view, unmuzzled and any other manner in which you feel would display what a great pet your greyhound would make.
If you are not an email user then please contact Clodagh Bourke who will work with you on alternative means of getting these photographs to the IRGT. We can also share some tips on good photograph practice.
3. Provide some key details on your greyhound
Please include the following information with the above email:
- Race name:
- Pet Name:
- Earmark:
- Height (cm - ground to top of shoulder):
- Weight (kg):
- General description of temperament/personality:
- Temperament around/ interacting with children:
- Temperament around small and large breeds of dog:
- Temperament around cats:
- Attributes that suggest that your greyhound will make a wonderful pet:
- Medical history (including information of all old race injuries/issues):
- Date available for rehoming (Three weeks after Rabies & Spay):
- Name of Veterinary surgeon who you expect to prepare your greyhound for rehoming:
This information will then be shared with Rehoming Agencies which the IRGT collaborates with and shared on the IRGT Facebook page
4. Visit your Vet for rehoming procedures
Greyhounds then need to be taken to your chosen Veterinary Surgeon for pre-rehoming procedures:
(a) Neutering/Spaying
(b) Pet Passport
(c) 7 in 1 Booster
(d) Rabies Shot
(e) Vaccination for Kennel Cough
RCÉ and IRGT will pay €130 towards the above procedures
Please be aware it is the responsibility of the owner to contact veterinary practices in their area and choose the vet which has the most affordable prices as IRGT only provide the funding outlined above.
Please provide details of your Vet in the above mentioned email, in advance of booking your greyhound in to allow the Vet to be fully briefed on what is required/payment process.
N.B.: Please ensure that your Veterinary Surgeon records all procedure (including date of neutering) on the greyhounds Pet Passport prior to taking possession of the Pet Passport
Next Steps
5. Your Greyhound will remain with you while waiting for their new home
Owners will be required to keep their greyhounds until a suitable home is found in Ireland or until a suitable transport date is arranged if the greyhound is being rehomed by a European Rehoming Agency which the IRGT collaborates with.
-If being transported to Europe then greyhounds will have to return to the Veterinary Surgeon 48 hours before transport to be Certified Fit for Travel.
N.B. This certification must be stamped on the greyhounds Pet Passport and the IRGT will provide finance for this certification, details of which will be included in correspondence to vets.
6. Carry your greyhound to the agreed pick-up point
Owners will be required to take their greyhounds to a specified pick-up point on the day of transport and must ensure that they bring the greyhounds signed Pet Passports and Microchip Registration Certificates with them on the day
7. Update RCÉTS and Notify the ICC
All owners will be required to update RCÉTS (Rásaíocht Con Éireann/ Greyhound Racing Ireland Traceability System).
Owner must also notify the ICC of the rehoming of their greyhound - carmel@sportingpress.ie
Note:
Owners may hold their greyhound while a forever home is sought for their greyhound through reputable rehoming organisations or Owners may choose to place their greyhounds into the Greyhound Care Centre following preparation for rehoming. The Entry Fee for the Greyhound Care Centre is €200 per greyhound (Cheques/Drafts/Postal Orders to be made out to Greyhound Racing Ireland). Owners may also pay electronically by contacting GRI on 085-8047467 or 061-448089. Owners will be provided with a receipt for this Entry Fee. The Entry Fee is used to cover the costs of keeping the greyhound in the Care Centre until a forever home is identified.