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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 12, 2008 - 35 Finding a home away from the racetrack By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A local organization that finds permanent homes for retired racing greyhounds is asking people to open their hearts and their houses. Greyhounds in Need of Adoption (GINA) is in need of foster homes. The non-profit organization, which is based in Oakville and serves southern Ontario, currently has about six foster homes. They are looking to increase that number significantly. "If we had 20 or 30 foster homes, that would be wonderful," said Jadzia Weir, a volunteer home visit rep with GINA. "Some people who foster will take dogs at certain times of the year. For example, some people travel in the winter, so they'll only take dogs in the summer. Because some are seasonal, the more we have, the better it is. We really need more foster homes." GINA's dogs come from racetracks in the United States. It works with a greyhound adoption group in Buffalo, where the dogs are sent that will be picked up by GINA. After the dogs are bathed and checked, GINA volunteers bring the animals to Canada. "We've got a good relationship with tracks in Massachusetts, Florida and Iowa and they contact us or the group in Buffalo," she said. "They (the tracks) don't start training the dogs to race until they are about a year old and then they give them nine months or a year, and if they are not working out, they contact us and say how many dogs they have." The dogs are placed in foster homes once they arrive in Canada. This gives the dogs a chance to make the transition from a racetrack setting, where they are generally kept in crates for most of the day, to a home setting. "These dogs have never seen stairs, or a TV, or a window and they've never been in a home," Weir said. "Their lives have been spent in a crate at a racetrack. " Normally, a dog can be in foster care anywhere from two to eight weeks, with three to four weeks being the average. This gives foster parents and GINA volunteers the opportunity to get a sense of the nature of the dog, including its traits, such as if it gets along with other animals and how it behaves around people. "The dog always goes to a foster home first and one of the reasons is because we want to know the personality of the dog," Weir said. "We want to know how it behaves around cats, around children, if it is noisy or quiet, if it is shy or friendly. Once we've established a personality, we try to place it in the right home for that animal." Weir said some greyhounds are apprehensive when they first arrive at a foster home, but many quickly adapt. "Some are very nervous, but it is amazing how affectionate and loving these dogs quickly become," she said. "They make wonderful pets and have so much to give." NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER TO THE RESCUE: Jadzia and Dave Weir love their two adopted greyhounds Gracie (brindle) and T.J. (fawn and white). The Weirs say that their 45 mile/hr couch potatoes are truly a part of their family. One of the attractive features of being a foster parent is the minimal cost, according to Weir. Expenses, such as veterinary bills, food, crate, leash, etc... are covered by GINA. All that is needed is a loving home, patience and a vehicle, as the dogs must be transported to a vet for any medical needs. GINA's foster dogs receive their medical care from the following veterinary clinics: Main West Animal Hospital of Welland, Royal Ford Veterinary Clinic in Oakville and Wellington Veterinary Hospital in Markham. According to Weir, greyhounds are fine living in apartments, townhouses and condos, as long as the foster parents are able to take the dog out for daily walks. "If you have a backyard, that's bonus, but if you are willing to walk the dog, that is fine too," Weir said. "They need at least one walk a day. They pretty much need as much exercise as a regular dog. People think of them as a high-energy dog, but they usually aren't. They are called the 45 mile-per-hour couch potatoes." Weir said people with small children might not be ideal to serve as foster parents for greyhounds. "We don't want anyone with a brand new baby, because they are not used to children," she said. "They have never been with children. They only know the racetrack." GINA was formed in June 2001 and has since found homes for approximately 240 dogs, placing about 20 to 30 per year. The group is run solely on volunteers. There are currently about 25 active volunteers with GINA, including board members, home visit reps and foster families. GINA is also looking for permanent homes for its greyhounds. Most dogs are between the ages of two and five. The cost to adopt a greyhound is $450. "That's about an average cost from rescue," Weir said. "You are getting a 100 per cent purebred dog and there's no mixing because they want that dog to be the healthiest, fastest dog." The organization meets with people interested in adopting a retired racing greyhound so it can best determine what type of greyhound would fit their lifestyle. "I'm a home visit rep, so I go to someone's house who puts an application in and look at what type of dog they need," Weir said. "We want this match to work. Our return rate is pretty low as a result." Weir adopted two greyhounds through GINA and has been a member for three years. She said her dogs, T.J. and Gracie, are amazing pets and have become an important part of her family. "These are the best dogs we've ever had," she said. "They are elegant, we love walking them and they are affectionate." The organization relies on donations to operate. Weir said there are many important causes out there, but she hopes people will support GINA. "We do need money," she said. "We try to do some fundraising throughout the year and are trying to come up with more ideas, because some dogs cost us several thousand dollars, while other dogs don't cost us hardly anything." For information on being a foster parent, adopting a greyhound or making a donation to GINA, e-mail Jennifer Christianson, director of adoptions, at jlxianson@gmail.com or call her at 416-491-2505. Information is also available online at www.saveagrey.com. 14 YS ! A T D EF L My Christmas List A Diamond Ring or Diamond Earrings or a Diamond Pendant 4316 Village Center Court, Mississauga 905-566-5583 *** no gimmicks, no fast talk, no high pressure sales *** www.Randor.com Wholesale Jewellery