VOLUNTEER AT HOMECOMING DAY
Please note: Due to Covid restrictions and using a smaller yard then we previously did our Homecomings are no longer open to the general public and are not by invite only.
Homecoming Day starts early for the hounds. We normally arrive at the Caliente racetrack about 6am to pick out the dogs we can take and start the 150-mile drive to the site of our Homecoming days in Southern California.
After everyone's had a potty break, we check them over for ticks and look for any obvious injuries that we might not have already caught.
They get a very thorough bath. We clean their ears, trim their nails, and brush their coats. It will take several weeks for their dull track coats to turn glossy. We give them a hearty meal. And, of course, our volunteers are always ready to give them lots of love as the dogs cope with a pretty bewildering transition day.
Homecoming Day starts early for the hounds. We normally arrive at the Caliente racetrack about 6am to pick out the dogs we can take and start the 150-mile drive to the site of our Homecoming days in Southern California.
After everyone's had a potty break, we check them over for ticks and look for any obvious injuries that we might not have already caught.
They get a very thorough bath. We clean their ears, trim their nails, and brush their coats. It will take several weeks for their dull track coats to turn glossy. We give them a hearty meal. And, of course, our volunteers are always ready to give them lots of love as the dogs cope with a pretty bewildering transition day.
Health Check
The health of our greyhounds is of paramount importance to us. After the dogs have been bathed and groomed, our experienced medical area volunteers look them over from head to tail, checking for signs of injury or infection. We give them de-worming medication, and draw blood to send in to a lab for testing.
We give them the appropriate vaccinations. and we insert an Avid microchip, which any vet clinic or animal shelter can read if the dog (god forbid) becomes lost.
The health of our greyhounds is of paramount importance to us. After the dogs have been bathed and groomed, our experienced medical area volunteers look them over from head to tail, checking for signs of injury or infection. We give them de-worming medication, and draw blood to send in to a lab for testing.
We give them the appropriate vaccinations. and we insert an Avid microchip, which any vet clinic or animal shelter can read if the dog (god forbid) becomes lost.
Small Dog and Cat Testing
Greyhounds were bred for thousands of years to hunt prey, especially wild hares. Most can live well with small dogs and some can live well with cats. But a few retain a high "prey drive" that means they will be wonderful, gentle companions for adults, children, and medium to large dogs of any breed, but ought not to live with small animals.
So we test for this before placing them into foster homes. We expose them to a small dog and a cat in a controlled environment. We keep the greyhound on leash and muzzled just in case, and watch his reactions.
We know through experience whether a greyhound's reactions to the little ones indicate that he can live with small animals with no difficulty, that he can be trained to live with small dogs but not with cats, or that he needs to be placed in a family with no small animals. You can see the results in greyhound profiles on our "Greyhounds For Adoption" page.
Greyhounds were bred for thousands of years to hunt prey, especially wild hares. Most can live well with small dogs and some can live well with cats. But a few retain a high "prey drive" that means they will be wonderful, gentle companions for adults, children, and medium to large dogs of any breed, but ought not to live with small animals.
So we test for this before placing them into foster homes. We expose them to a small dog and a cat in a controlled environment. We keep the greyhound on leash and muzzled just in case, and watch his reactions.
We know through experience whether a greyhound's reactions to the little ones indicate that he can live with small animals with no difficulty, that he can be trained to live with small dogs but not with cats, or that he needs to be placed in a family with no small animals. You can see the results in greyhound profiles on our "Greyhounds For Adoption" page.
On to the Foster Home!
The work doesn't stop here. Incoming greyhounds are next sent to their foster homes for several weeks of continued preparation.
Go to Fostering 101 to read about this.
The work doesn't stop here. Incoming greyhounds are next sent to their foster homes for several weeks of continued preparation.
Go to Fostering 101 to read about this.
