Thank you for your interest in participating in the Greyhound Friends of NC (GFNC) foster program. Fostering includes providing a temporary, safe and secure home for the greyhound and your ongoing assessment to assist us in finding the right forever home for the foster. We will provide guidance and support to make your fostering experience rewarding.
Based on your location, reach out to one of our foster coordinators below or review the Foster Program Guidelines and complete our online Foster Application to begin the process.
Charlotte Satellite (Charlotte and west of I-95)
The following guidelines outline the Charlotte Satellite foster home eligibility/qualifications, fostering objectives, GFNC responsibilities and foster home responsibilities. Please contact Lynda Montgomery (gfncgreyhound at yahoo.com, 704-576-2129) if you have questions after reading the Foster Program Guidelines below.
Wilmington Satellite (Wilmington and east of I-95)
If you would like to foster in the Wilmington area, please contact Liz Smith (wilmington at greyhoundfriends.com).
Triangle Satellite (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area)
If you would like to foster in the Triangle/Raleigh area, please contact Charlotte Eby-Peinert (cep at greyhoundfriends.com).
GFNC is a foster only program and relies on our foster families to bring a retired racer into your family for a period of time and assist with their transition to a smooth retirement. The majority of our foster dogs will be directly from the track and fostering helps the greyhound adjust to pet life before moving to their permanent home. Fostering can be a few days to a few months, depending on the dog’s needs and suitable applications received for adoption.
Racing greyhounds have a very uniform schedule and although they are adults, they have no understanding of life in a home. The foster family will help them learn a new routine, which may include:
- Housebreaking (they are crate trained)
- Walking on a leash
- Introducing them to other pets (remember they have only been around other greyhounds)
- Going up and down stairs
- Introducing them to normal house noises like vacuum cleaners, radios, televisions, door bells, etc.
- Introducing them to glass doors, windows, mirrors, toys, different flooring surfaces, etc.
- Teach appropriate pet behavior and manners, indoors and outdoors
- Grooming (which may include bath, clean ears, trim nails, brushing teeth, etc.)
- Hugs and lots of praise for good behavior
To foster a greyhound with Greyhound Friends of NC, you must meet the following basic requirements:
- Complete the GFNC Foster Application
- Greyhound experience is preferred
- All adults in the household must agree to the fostering of a greyhound
- You must be at least 28 years of age (exceptions may be considered on a case by case basis)
- A stable home environment with established routines is important
- You should own your home or have a rental that allows large dogs. If you rent, we will contact your landlord during the application review process
- Securely fenced yard is preferred, although not required – Invisible or electric fencing is not secure for a greyhound and is not acceptable
- Prefer a home without young children or very active children (will be reviewed on an individual basis)
- Existing pets must be current on vaccinations (as appropriate), current on heartworm preventative and be spayed or neutered (exceptions may be considered on a case by case basis) and be confirmed with your veterinarian during the application review process
- Ability to communicate via email/phone and submit feedback on foster
- Ability to control a dog 55-80 pounds
- Foster homes in areas surrounding Charlotte-NC, Fort Mill/Rock Hill-SC, Triangle/Raleigh-NC, Winston-Salem-NC, or Wilmington-NC will primarily be considered due to geographical access to our active coordinators/volunteers and aligned veterinarians (exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis)
- Agree to GFNC Foster Home Guidelines and sign a GFNC Foster Agreement
- Maintain ownership of all foster greyhounds until they have been formally adopted (contract signed and adoption fee/payment received)
- Maintain an information file on all foster greyhounds, including paperwork provided by racing owner/kennel and medical records
- Provide ongoing support, be available to you for any problems or concerns and remain involved with you until the foster is adopted
- Provide the following supplies and materials (as needed and at the discretion of foster coordinator):
- Crate
- Leash
- Martingale collar with GFNC identification tag
- Heartworm, intestinal worm and flea/tick treatments
- Veterinary care (prior approved)
- Plastic muzzle
- Support, encouragement, guidance and assistance
- Provide a safe and secure indoor environment
- Properly introduce and supervise the foster to other animals
- Keep foster separated and/or muzzled from other pets when unsupervised until all are comfortable together
- Use muzzles when turning out group in fenced area
- Communicate with foster coordinator on progress of foster, including completion of the “GFNC Foster Checkup Form” initially and as foster progresses to assist with matching to prospective adopters
- Maintain communication with the foster coordinator to inform of any issues that may arise, including any medical and social issues
- Provide medications as directed and maintain “GFNC Foster Home Medication Log” for any medications (heartworm prevention, hookworm medicine, OTC diarrhea treatment, flea/tick prevention, etc.) provided while in foster home
- Provide food and a structured feeding schedule twice a day (feed foster in crate or separate area from other pets to avoid any disputes/aggression)
- Provide access to fresh water
- Provide dog bed, comforter or other place to rest
- Do not allow foster on bed, couch or furniture, as adopter may not prefer this
- Use a crate for the foster whenever left unattended
- Never leave children unsupervised around a new foster or allow children near foster when they are sleeping, resting, eating or playing with toys/bones
- Meet prospective adopters and finalize adoption paperwork, if appropriate
- Any interested adopters must be advised to complete the online application before arrangements are made to meet a foster
- GFNC foster coordinator will provide initial review and screening (Vet references checked and arrange a home visit if determined necessary) of applicants
- Once possible match is found, the application will be forwarded to foster parent to review. If foster parent agrees applicant is a match, they will make contact with potential adopter to interview and schedule meeting. If foster parent does not feel applicant is a potential match, either by reviewing application, phone discussion or after initial meeting, they will notify foster coordinator as soon as possible to discuss.
- Meeting should take place at a location selected by the foster parent, a public location (PetSmart, Petco, etc.) is appropriate vs. having them come to your home. Please note, foster parent is not required to travel out of town to meet a prospective adopter; travel will be a choice of the foster parent. Our adoption application clearly asks if applicant is willing to drive to meet our foster greyhounds.
- Obtain approval for all non-emergency vet care and immediately notify foster coordinator of any emergency vet care required. Unauthorized routine care will be the responsibility of the foster parent
- Read and sign a GFNC Foster Home Agreement acknowledging and agreeing to all conditions and statements, including release of liability
Would you like to foster a greyhound with GFNC? Click through to access our online application!