How to Adopt a Greyhound in the United States | PetzLover

Where do adoptable greyhounds come from now that US racing is ending?

VCA Animal Hospitals notes that retired racers registered with the National Greyhound Association (NGA) make up most pet greyhounds in the US. Racing has shrunk to one state. Florida voters approved a ban in November 2018 that ended racing there after December 31, 2020, and the last tracks in Iowa and Arkansas closed in 2022. GREY2K USA counts 44 states where commercial greyhound racing is illegal and five more (Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Texas and Wisconsin) where it is legal but every track has closed.

That leaves Wheeling Island Casino & Racetrack and Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Cross Lanes. In spring 2026 the US House passed a farm bill that would ban dog racing nationwide, but local reporting said the Senate version did not include the ban, so check whether it has become law before relying on any timeline.

• Retired racers, typically 2 to 4 years old, according to MoKan Greyhound Adoption.
• Greyhounds raced abroad. Southeastern Greyhound Adoption (SEGA) lists one fee for American, Irish and Australian greyhounds.
• Returns and owner surrenders, often older dogs with known house manners.
• AKC-registered greyhounds from show breeders, a separate line from NGA racing dogs.

You can also see greyhounds listed for adoption near you and save the search to get alerts about new ones.

How does greyhound adoption work?

Most greyhound groups place dogs from foster homes or a kennel. The National Greyhound Adoption Program (NGAP) in Philadelphia, for example, takes an application and reference sheet with a $150 deposit, checks references, then has its adoption coordinator choose a dog that suits your household; it says the process usually takes one to two weeks. A typical process:

1. Read the group's adoption pages; some ask you to read a book such as Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies first.
2. Apply, listing everyone in the home, other pets, your yard and your work hours.
3. Expect a phone interview, reference checks and a call to your vet.
4. Meet dogs at the kennel, a foster home or a meet and greet. Many groups choose the dog for you because they know which dogs are cat-tested or calm with children.
5. Allow for a home visit. MoKan, for example, sends a trained representative to every adopter's home to check for dangers to the dog.
6. Sign the contract, pay the balance and take home the dog and its records.

How much does it cost to adopt a greyhound?

Group fees cover vet work already done, so they are usually higher than the $50 to $300 the AKC says shelters typically charge. Budget afterward for food, a winter coat, a padded bed and yearly vet care.

Is a retired racing greyhound right for your home?

The AKC standard puts males at 65 to 70 pounds and females at 60 to 65, and VCA gives a height of 26 to 29 inches and a lifespan of 10 to 13 years. VCA describes a loyal, gentle dog that is very quiet in the house once it gets a daily walk or jog, or a sprint in an enclosed area. PetMD adds that greyhounds can be shy with strangers but are very affectionate with family.

• Leash for life. VCA says most greyhounds should not be off leash unless the area is securely fenced, and that they are not very reliable at coming when called. MoKan warns that a dog running at up to 40 mph may not find its way home.
• A martingale collar. Groups such as MoKan send dogs home in one with an ID tag.
• Cold. The short coat gives little protection, so VCA suggests a coat in cold weather.
• House manners. MoKan says most ex-racers arrive crate-trained and many are house-trained or nearly so.
• Fences. Many groups require a fenced yard; MoKan accepts adopters who will walk the dog instead.

Can a greyhound live with cats or small pets?

Sometimes. PetMD says greyhounds have a very strong prey drive and are not ideal for homes with cats or other small animals, yet many ex-racers live calmly with cats. Groups test dogs first: NGAP reserves its cat-friendly dogs for families with cats, and MoKan warns that a cat-tested dog is not completely safe with a cat.

1. Ask how and when the dog was cat-tested, and whether it has lived with a cat in foster care.
2. Keep the dog leashed and muzzled for the first meetings; MoKan recommends a muzzle when first introducing small animals.
3. Give the cat escape routes and high places, and do not leave them alone together until you are sure.
4. Treat small dogs and other small pets as separate tests.

What should your vet know about an ex-racing greyhound?

PetMD calls greyhounds the only documented breed with a sensitivity to some anesthetic drugs. A Clinician's Brief review by veterinary anesthesiologists says sighthounds metabolize some drugs more slowly, that thiobarbiturates should be avoided in favor of agents such as propofol, and that their low body fat (about 17 percent, against 35 percent in the average dog) puts them at risk of getting cold under anesthesia.

• Bloodwork. The same review notes a higher packed cell volume and lower albumin than in mixed breeds, so normal greyhound results can look abnormal to a vet who does not know the breed.
• Bloat. PetMD says greyhounds are predisposed to bloat and gastric torsion. A swollen belly with unproductive retching is an emergency.
• Ear tattoos. In NGA-registered dogs the left ear carries the litter registration number and the right ear the birth month, last digit of the birth year and litter order, which helps confirm age and history.

What happens in the first weeks with an adopted greyhound?

• Keep the dog leashed in its martingale collar and ID tag from the car to the door.
• Set up a crate or a quiet, padded bed away from foot traffic.
• Keep walks, meals and bedtime on a steady schedule, and take the dog out often until house-training is reliable.
• Update the microchip to your name; the AAHA Universal Pet Microchip Lookup shows which registry holds it.
• See your vet in the first weeks with the group's records.
• Call the group early if something worries you; NGAP, for example, says it supports its dogs for life.