A Little About PGC

	ABOUT PHILADELPHIA GREYHOUND CONNECTION, INC. Philadelphia Greyhound Connection, Inc. is a PA Non-Profit 501(c)3 Corporation dedicated to assisting in the re-homing of retired racing Greyhounds. We hope to find as many forever homes as possible for Greyhounds that are no longer fast enough to be considered racers or those that may have been injured during racing.   PGC, Inc. is an all-volunteer group that was founded in December 2003. Our Greyhounds come from tracks along the Northeastern corridor of the US. We don’t have kennels so all of our dogs go into foster care. Thanks to our foster families, we are better informed about the dog you will be taking into your family. Greyhounds can live well with cats or birds or even the smallest of dogs and all of our dogs are cat/small animal tested before being placed in a home.  We do several Greyhound Awareness Events per month to promote Greyhound adoption. PGC is racing neutral.   ADOPTION PROCESS Our adoption donation is $260.00. That covers spay or neuter, teeth cleaning, current inoculations and heartworm check. A collar and lead will be provided as well as a PGC, Inc. ID tag. A $50.00 check must accompany all applications. The adoption process takes approximately 2-4 weeks. After you complete and return your application, the adoption representative will review your application and answer any questions you may have. Your veterinary and personal references will also be checked at this time. ADOPTION APPOINTMENT This will take approximately 45 minutes. You will meet your new dog, receive an informational packet and sign our adoption contracts. You are given a refresher course about how to take care of your new dog, what to expect once you get your dog home and safety issues, especially the off-leash issue. At this time you can ask as many questions as you need. You are assigned a Greyt Buddy (this is someone you can call for any questions or concerns). We provide extensive support to all of our adopters and keep in constant contact. PGC, Inc. is available to you 24/7/365. ABOUT GREYHOUNDS Greyhounds for adoption can range in age from 2 to 5 and have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. Senior’s (6+) are also available. Males are usually 26 to 30 inches high and between 65 and 85 pounds, females are usually 23 to 26 inches high and between 50 and 65 pounds. Their hair is extremely short and they shed very minimally. Most people who are allergic to dog hair are not usually allergic to Greyhounds. Greyhounds are part of the sight hound family and can see up to ½ mile away. For this reason, they can NEVER be let off the leash unless in a fully fenced in area. No matter how well your Greyhound follows your commands, NEVER allow him off the leash. Greyhounds come in many colors - brindle, black, white, fawn or a combination of these colors. They are extremely intelligent dogs and can adapt in their new environment rather quickly. They are very social animals and love to be cuddled! The more love and affection you give your Greyhound, the more you receive in return! Be prepared to stop often during your walks, Greyhounds are traffic stoppers! People will want to ask questions and pet the dogs. Best of all, you will experience the greatest love of all from your Greyhound, Unconditional Love. IS A GREYHOUND THE DOG FOR ME? Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before adopting a Greyhound: WHY AM I INTERESTED IN ADOPTING A GREYHOUND? Is it for myself, for the kids, or to replace a deceased canine cherished by the whole family? It is important to be sure not only that your reasons are sound and not motivated by whimsy or impulse, but also that your expectations of Greyhound ownership are reasonable. For instance, if you expect that getting a dog will teach your children about responsibility, think again. Dogs don’t teach responsibility, that’s a parent’s job. Ask yourself why you are interested in Greyhounds specifically. Make a list of the pros and cons of owning an ex-racer. Although they make greyt pets, they’re not for everyone. DOES EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY REALLY WANT A GREYHOUND? At least 75% of a dog’s care tends to fall on the domestic leader of the household. To pick up the remaining 25% of the responsibilities, it’s important that all other members of the family really want the dog and are willing to pitch in. A dog that starts off being unwanted or resented by even one member of the family can hardly expect a totally happy life! AM I PREPARED FOR THE EXPENSE OF GREYHOUND OWNERSHIP? These expenses include but are not limited to: Food, routine vet costs, monthly heartworm medications, emergency veterinary visits, winter coat, martingale collar and lead….. HOW CAN I HELP? Volunteer: Because PGC, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization; we are always in need more help. It is a wonderful way to share your experience and enthusiasm with prospective and current owners of Greyhounds. If you could spare just a few hours a month it would be most appreciated. Donate: Donations made to PGC, Inc. are used to help rescue dogs, supply medications and vet care or used by the “Colby” or “Robin” funds for dogs in need. PGC, Inc. is a PA Non-Profit corporation & donations are tax deductible. Foster: Temporary foster homes are needed, usually For between 2 and 4 weeks. If you are interested, please call us for a foster application.

	BRINGING HOME YOUR NEW GREYHOUND When you bring your Greyhound home, keep in mind that most likely, this dog has never lived in a house, climbed steps, had a ride in a car, slept in a bed or on a sofa. This is a traumatic change in their normal routine, which was up to 22 hours in a crate with a muzzle on. Don’t expect too much from them, give them space and time to adjust. Remember, they aren’t like other breeds. *Greyhounds are extremely intelligent and will learn quickly all the rules of his new home. *I suggest that for the first few weeks, apply masking tape or stickers on glass doors so that the dog knows this is not something he can just walk right through. Leave the window blinds open all the way making sure that you tuck the cords away safely and if there is anything on the windowsills, push it back and out of the way. Mirrors may spook him, making him think it's another Greyhound he's looking at. You may have to put a sheet over your dresser mirror just until he gets used to seeing his reflection. *Be patient when trying to teach him the stairs. Take him one step at a time going up and down. He’ll get it in no time, soon to be taking five steps at once! *Let him out frequently and for the first week or so, try not to leave them alone for more than 6 or 7 hours at a time. A lunchtime walk would be great. Some dogs suffer from Separation Anxiety so remember that your Greyhound has never been left alone before. He’s used to living with other dogs, listening to voices all day long. *Leave the house and come back in often, this way, they get used to you coming and going and know that you will always come home. Don’t make a huge fuss when you come home. Do take them out for a walk due to all the excitement. *Most Greyhounds do not need crates especially if you are home all day but some dogs feel more secure. They need a space of their own through the adjustment period. Make sure your crate is all ready when you bring your new dog home and give him the opportunity to explore it. Some dogs need the security of their crate until they get acclimated to their new surroundings. *You will find your Greyhound will follow you everywhere, even the bathroom! Eventually, this will stop, once he realizes you aren’t going to desert him. *Warning!! Once they find out how soft the sofa and bed is, they may try to confiscate them as their own! They can curl up to the size of a ball if they need to or they can expand to the size of the whole bed if they want to! *Greyhounds have hardly any body fat so when the temperature is less than 40 degrees, make sure he’s wearing a coat. If there is snow and ice on the ground, clean his pads after being outside to make sure there is no ice or snow packed in them. Don’t leave your dog outside in the heat either. Dogs are susceptible to heat stroke. Make sure there are fresh water and a shady spot for him to rest and of course, a soft dog bed or blanket. Concrete is too hard for Greyhounds to lie on. *The most important thing to remember is your Greyhound can NEVER be off the leash unless they are in a fenced in area. Sight hounds see things we can’t always see, so no matter how well you think you know your dog, he may see something in the distance and just take off. No matter how loud you scream for him to come back, he won’t listen to you. If you are going to use a “tie out”, make sure you dog is wearing a harness and NOT a leash. *Be prepared to stop often during your walks, Greyhounds are traffic stoppers! People will want to ask questions and want to pet the dogs. Best of all, you will experience the greatest love of all from your Greyhound, Unconditional Love. Enjoy your new Greyhound.