Philadelphia Greyhound Connection, Inc.

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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.  Each new adopter is assigned a Greyt Buddy that they can contact if they ever need any help or information.  PGC is available 24~7~365 to assist adopters with anything they might need.  We highly recommend Bridgewater Veterinary Hospital (215.638.9275) and CARES (215.750.2774) for your Greyhounds medical needs.  We always have a large selection of coats (summer and winter), Martingale collar & lead sets, toys, Midwest crates and handmade collars available at discount prices.  We even carry Gourmet Greyhound Coffee!
 
ADOPTION PROCESS
Our adoption donation is $275.00. That covers spay or neuter, teeth cleaning, current inoculations and heartworm check and a Microchip. 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 1-2 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 (7+) 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.
Sheryl & Ray Vona with
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Nicholas, Rupert and Cheyanne

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 (approximate costs):

Food $25.00 per month

Treats $15.00 per

Routine veterinary care $100.00  ~  Emergency veterinary visits?

Monthly heartworm preventative $7.00

Monthly flea/tick preventative $14.00 (April to November)

Winter coat $50.00  ~ Spring/Fall coat $20.00 to $40.00

Miscellaneous items: Martingale collar and lead, toys…

Unconditional Love:  Priceless

 

A Few Facts About Greyhounds

 

~A Greyhound is capable of reaching peak speeds of 45-miles per hour and is the second-fastest land animal to the cheetah.

 

~The Greyhound’s tail acts as a rudder, enabling it to turn quickly at high speeds.

~A litter of Greyhounds usually ranges between 5 to 9 puppies.


~The name of a Greyhound may not exceed 16 characters and cannot be the same as that of another Greyhound.

 

~A Greyhound’s racing name is not his real name because yelling his real name during a race could interfere with performance.

 

~Greyhounds actually spend a lot of time each day relaxing and sleeping.

 

~Greyhounds are muzzled not because they are vicious animals. To the contrary, they are considered one of the most docile breed of canines. Muzzles are used to prevent overzealous play in the turnout pen and during the heat of action during a race, in addition to assisting in the determining photo finishes.

 

~Like all sight hounds, Greyhounds must not be allowed to run free, they may end up in the next state when they come to a halt. The drive to run and hunt is deeply ingrained, so fenced yards and leashes are a must.

 

~Among the pharaohs known to keep Greyhounds were Cleopatra VII, Tutankhamen & Amenhotep II.

 

~In the tenth century, King Howel of Wales declared that the    penalty for killing a Greyhound was the same as that of killing a person – death.

 

~In 1014, King Canute established Forest Laws that prohibited slaves & serfs from owning Greyhounds.

 

~Famous Greyhound owners have included Alexander the Great, George Washington, Rutherford B. Hayes, George Custer, Babe Ruth, Frank Sinatra, Al Capone, Ed Sullivan & Bo Derek.

 

Wanted:  Purina Weight Circles

If you are using Purina Products and would like to help out please clip and save your weight circles. On every bag of Purina brand Dog Foods, you'll find a weight circle on the side of the bag. PGC, Inc. collects these weight circles. Please send them to:

Philadelphia Greyhound Connection, Inc.

2210 Murray Street

Philadelphia, PA   19115

Thank you!

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PGC, Inc. is a PA 501(c)3 non-profit group. All donations are tax deductible.  Please help us place these loving Greyhounds into forever homes where they can enjoy their retirement! Donations can be made through PayPal. 

 

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REQUIRED READING:

 

Retired Racing Greyhound for Dummies by Lee Livingood

 

SUGGESTED READING:

Childproofing Your Dog: A Complete Guide to Preparing Your Dog for the Children in Your Life

by Brian Kilcommons

 

Greyhound Tales:  True Stories of Rescue, Compassion & Love

by Nora Star and Kari Mastrocola

 

Guide To Adopting An Ex-Racing Greyhound by Carolyn Raeke

 

Greyhounds, A Complete Pet Owners Manual by D. Caroline Coile, Ph.D

 

The Ultimate Greyhound by Mark Sullivan

Leo: A Greyhound's Tale
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Written for adults and older children, Leo is about a retired racer's search for love.