Phone: (02)6677 9115 or 0416 194 864 Email: friendsofthehound@linknet.com.au Website: www.friendsofthepound.com

The Friends of the Hound Greyhound Adoption Group was formed by members of Friends of the Pound (Tweed) Inc and is dedicated to the welfare of Greyhounds in the Tweed and surrounding areas. Our mission is to create awareness of the Greyhound as a gentle, affectionate dog and excellent family pet, and we advocate the ADOPTION NOT DESTRUCTION motto. Through a program of promotion and education, we aim to dispel the widespread public misconceptions about this breed and provide permanent loving homes for as many Greyhounds as possible. Greyhounds are not just race dogs, they do make great pets, and we hope that owning a Greyhound or ex-racer as a pet will become as popular in Australia as it is overseas in countries such as the United States and United Kingdom.

The Friends of the Hound Greyhound Adoption Group is volunteer-based and not-for-profit, relying solely on fundraising and donations, the generosity of our local community and the efforts of our members, to achieve our aims. We are actively promoting our Group and it’s functions at various promotional events and through a range of advertising material. We have support from members of the community, some local businesses, local coursing clubs and a number of trainers, including support and financial assistance from the NSW Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association and Greyhound Racing NSW, and we hope to greatly expand this support network in the future.

Since it’s inception late last year, Friends of the Hound have managed to successfully re-home quite a number of lovely Greyhounds to suitable permanent homes. Our Greyhounds have found homes locally, in Brisbane’s outer suburbs and two dogs were recently flown to their new home in Newcastle and another two have found homes in the Coffs Harbour area. Most Greyhounds are surrendered by local trainers but dogs have come from as far as Maitland and one was even flown from Tasmania. All dogs re-homed through Friends of the Hound are desexed, vaccinated and microchipped and sold with collars and muzzles.

As you can appreciate, a shortage of both time and funds plague most voluntary organisations, and it is a credit to everyone involved in Friends of the Hound that so much is actually achieved. Our foster carers play a very important role in the greyhound adoption process by providing a temporary home for the dogs until they are permanently adopted into their new homes

Thousands of Greyhounds are destroyed every year, and usually at only 18 months to four years of age. The Friends of the Hound Greyhound Adoption Group believe that through effective marketing and a successful re-homing program, combined with efforts and assistance from Greyhound racing bodies and associations, and support from local Councils, larger animal welfare groups, and the general public, many lovely dogs that would otherwise be destroyed can be adopted out to good homes to bring years of joy and companionship as much-loved pets!

Described as ”the dog world’s best kept secret”, Greyhounds are gentle, affectionate dogs and are loving, low-maintenance pets and loyal companions. They deserve the opportunity to live out their lives as part of a family, because…… GREYHOUNDS MAKE GREAT PETS!

LISA WHITE
Friend of the Hound