Melbourne footballer Bernie Vince is urging Victorians to support Greyhound Adoption Day on Sunday, 25 June.
Greyhound Adoption Day, which aims to find new homes for retired racing greyhounds, is again coming to Melbourne on Sunday, 25 June, at The Meadows greyhound racing club, Northcorp Bld, Broadmeadows, from 11am – 3pm.
The adoption day was very successful when it was held in Broadmeadows last year, when it smashed the Australian record for the number of greyhounds re-homed in a single day. Organisers are hoping to top that result this time.
“I didn’t know much about greyhounds until Emily was staying with me. They are calm, gentle, friendly dogs. They do like to sleep a lot, but they’re also very sociable”, Bernie said.
Melbourne midfielder Bernie Vince recently fostered a greyhound, Emily, through the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP).
Watch the video of Bernie, Lesley and Emily
Greyhounds are usually fostered for three weeks to prepare them for their new lives as pets, however Emily was quickly snapped up by Lesley and Brian Noble from Seaford, who have adopted her.
Seventy dogs were re-homed at The Meadows event last year (GAP’s previous record in a single day was 35). This time, about 80 greyhounds will be seeking their forever homes.
“Emily seems to be settling into her new life after racing very well. I’m glad she was adopted so quickly, and it looks like she’s pretty happy with Lesley and Brian”, said Bernie.
GAP is asking people who wish to attend to register their interest beforehand by filling in a registration form on the GAP website at https://gap.grv.org.au/AdoptionDay. And, if you are intending to adopt on the day, please follow the link and complete the adoption application form which will help us find the right dog for you. We will send you a link before 25 June so you can find out more about the dogs that will be available on the day.
Most of the dogs are retired racing greyhounds, between eighteen months and ten years of age.
GAP Adoption Manager Larissa Darragh said greyhounds made terrific pets as they are friendly, docile dogs and, contrary to some assumptions, they don’t need a lot of exercise.
“They need about 15 minutes of exercise a day, which is average for a pet dog. It’s fine to just take them for a walk,” she said.
“It’s great to see what GAP is doing to re-home racing greyhounds. If anyone is thinking about getting a dog, then I’d recommend that they go along to the Adoption Day in Broadmeadows to find out what greyhounds are like”, said Bernie.
Like last year’s event at Broadmeadows, this is a special double adoption day – twice as many dogs as a normal adoption day (which are held at Greyhound Racing Victoria’s metro and regional race tracks), with a morning and afternoon session (instead of just one session).
Morning Session – 11am to 12:30 pm. Afternoon Session – 1:15 pm to 3pm.
