Become a Volunteer

Become a Greyhound Pets of America Indianapolis Volunteer

We have a wonderful group of volunteers that help in shows in the Indianapolis Area. We always welcome folks with dogs and without dogs to promote Greyhounds as pets. We also need people to organize events, provide copying services for our printed material and possibly help with picking up dogs.

For more information on becoming a volunteer please contact us. 

Become a Sponsor

Become a Greyhound pets of America Indianapolis Sponsor

 

                

 

Become a Foster Family

Volunteer Foster Families Needed Now!

Thank you for your interest in our foster program.  Please read the following information and complete our foster application on the following page if you are interested in fostering a retired racing greyhound!

GPA Indianapolis receives retired racing greyhounds from GPA Daytona Beach and other tracks on a regular basis.  These dogs go to foster homes until they are adopted by an approved adopter. The Daytona Beach Kennel crew provides basic information to us about the dogs including: the dog's registered name and kennel name, their tattoo numbers, age, sex, color and weight along with the results of a preliminary cat test and a few comments about the dog's personalities.  We use this information to determine which dog we will bring up. This allows us to place the dogs in the most appropriate home for fostering.

Fostering a retired racer can last from four to eight weeks.  GPA Indianapolis will pay for any medical care the dogs need.  We arrange for the foster dog to go to one of our participating veterinarians to be neutered/spayed, have their teeth cleaned, have their vaccinations brought up to date, and they are checked for heartworm and intestinal worms.  Vet appointments are made in advance and an instruction sheet is given to all foster homes.  The vet appointments are scheduled a week and a half to two weeks after the dogs arrive.  Foster homes are responsible for getting the dog to the vet and back.  The dog will go to the participating vet to nearest your home.

GPA Indianapolis will also provide a crate, muzzle, collar and lead, dog coat, shampoo, food, and a "buddy" who is very experienced in fostering.  Applicants who have been approved to adopt a retired racer from GPA Indianapolis may visit your home or make arrangements to meet your foster dog at a "Meet & Greet" event.  Please note: the foster homes are notified of an interested adopter in advance.  At that time the foster home is given the opportunity to adopt their foster dog if they so desire.  Otherwise, a GPA Indy representative will place the dog in an approved home.

GPA Indianapolis keeps a certain number of "emergency" foster homes open at all times for dogs who may not work out in your home, i.e., a dog who tested cat friendly in the kennel but turns out to be non-cat friendly in your home.

If you have any questions please contact GPA Indianapolis at 317.354.6858.

Responsibilities of Foster Families

The foster home must attend the "drop" of the dogs in Indianapolis and be prepared to take their foster dog home that day.

At the drop, the foster home is given the adoption folder for their dog.  This folder includes: a prepared adoption agreement, an adoption check list, an accounting sheet for the adoption fee, and a "vet sheet" which outlines instructions for the dog's vet appointment.  The folder also includes our Adoption Manual and Volunteer Manual along with other information about greyhounds.  This folder is passed on to the person that adopts the dog.

At the drop the foster home is responsible for obtaining the adoption folder, collar and lead, muzzle, and shampoo from a GPA Indy rep. The foster home is also responsible for getting the dogs "papers" that come up on the truck. These papers include a copy of the dog's release form from the racing kennel, a copy of their registration certificate, original vaccination records (if provided by the racing kennel) and a copy of the dog's racing record.  They are inserted in the adoption folder and passed on to the dog's adopter along with the collar and lead, and muzzle.  Finally, the foster dog must have a photograph taken for our website before leaving the drop.

Foster homes are responsible for house-training their retired racer.  Generally this is not difficult since the dogs have been "crate trained" or trained not to soil their crates in the kennels.  You will need to watch your foster dog closely for the first several days and "catch him in the act" prior to correcting inappropriate behavior.  It will be important to give your dog a lot of praise when he does his business outside.

Please keep in mind that greyhounds are very sensitive creatures and will require "gentle" guidance from his foster parents.  Everything is new and confusing to the dogs coming right out of the racing kennels and an adjustment period and a few accidents are to be expected.

Your foster dog will also need your guidance to learn about things around the house.  He will need to learn about stairs, mirrors, sliding glass doors, tile floors and other pets and children in the home.  Your foster will also need your help to learn how to play.  Sadly, his life as a racer was all business.  Engaging the dog by tossing toys around and romping in the back yard should be fun for the dog.  As your foster adjusts to his new surroundings you will notice his personality emerge.  We ask the foster homes to provide us with information about your foster dog's personality. GPA Indy has a password protected area on our website where the information can be submitted.  Again, an experienced "buddy" will be at your disposal for any help or advice you may need.

It is not required but the foster homes may wish to begin teaching the greyhound basic obedience commands such as "come", "down" and "stay".  Due to the greyhound's physical structure, the "sit" command may be impossible.  It is important not to allow or teach your foster to lay on your couch or bed.  We try not to allow the development of bad habits in case the foster gets adopted into a home where they prefer the dogs not get on the furniture.

 

Special Programs & Fundraisers

Amazon Smile Program

AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support the Greyhound Pets of America - Indianapolis Chapter every time you shop on Amazon, at no cost to you.

Tens of millions of products on AmazonSmile are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription renewals are not currently eligible.

With each purchase you make on the smile.amazon.com website the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases.

Start shopping now by visiting https://smile.amazon.com/ch/35-2120490

 

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Bissell Partners for Pets Program

Bissell believes in pet adoption and are committed to helping animal welfare organizations, like the Greyhound Pets of America - Indy Chapter. 

When you purchase pet products on bissell.com and enter the code ADOPT at checkout, a portion of your purchase will be donated to our rescue. What's more, every purchase goes towards an entry for us to win a $5,000 quarterly giveaway!

Start shopping on www.bissell.com and enter the code ADOPT when you checkout!

 

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Kroger Community Rewards Program

Kroger is committed to helping our communities grow and prosper. Year after year, local schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations will earn millions of dollars through Kroger Community Rewards®.

Click here to enroll in the Kroger Community Rewards Program