Death row reprieve

Greyhounds as Pets has found new homes for 50 former racing dogs since January. They were on death row. Once they could no longer work and earn their owners an income it was all over rover.

But now they have been given a reprieve. An adoption agency has been set up to find homes for retired greyhounds and transform the animals from sleek racing machines to pampered pooches.

Since opening in January, Greyhounds as Pets (Gap) has found new homes for 50 former racing dogs, manager Jacqui Eyley says.
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Ms Eyley has two greyhounds as pets and both are sprawled on the couch. It's their favourite position. Push them off and they just climb back up. Seeing Lucy and Lucky refusing to move from their spot in the sun challenges the usual image of a greyhound that of a hyped-up mutt running flat out around a track. In fact, greyhounds are one of the laziest breeds, she says.
"They are 10 percent hoon, 90 percent couch potato." They like to sprint, so it's a couple of laps around the backyard before spending the rest of the day snoozing on the deck or the couch if it's raining.

Most racing dogs have never been inside a house and once they cross the threshold it's a whole new world, so they are fostered out for three or four weeks to help them get used to the change in lifestyle.

Ms Eyley is looking for foster homes in the Manawatu area. She has a few in Wellington but this means a bit of travel to get the dogs there and back. The foster families look after the dogs during their transformation from racing dog to much-loved pet and the carers need to have time, patience and a well- fenced section.