It takes quite a bit of work from our dedicated volunteers to keep Wine Country Greyhound Adoption running. We reach out to the community to find homes for these lovely dogs, we coordinate long trips to pick them up from different states, we house them in foster homes until they are permanently placed, we support adoptive families and their new hounds, and we raise funds to support our efforts. There are many wonderful things about greyhounds that make all of this work worthwhile.

     WCGA's main focus in finding homes for greyhounds is participating in local events. These events, which we call "Meet and Greets," give us the opportunity to show the public greyhounds in person, distribute information, answer questions, and collect donations. Many people have never seen a greyhound except on TV. Most are astonished to find that greyhounds are very calm, gentle, soft, are well-behaved even in crowds of people, and make wonderful pets. Seeing a greyhound in person and being able to ask our volunteers questions help to dispel many of the misconceptions people have about them. Some of the greyhounds at Meet and Greets have already been adopted and participate to encourage the adoption of greyhounds in need of homes. At Meet and Greets, we often have greyhounds who have recently been brought in from the track and are currently in foster. This gives prospective adopters an idea of what greyhounds are like when they first arrive.

    It is very important to us that we place greyhounds in loving homes. After living life as a racer, we feel they have earned the right to be part of a family who is completely dedicated to making their new addition a permanent one. We carefully screen prospective adopters by talking with them about what adopting a greyhound entails, doing a safety visit of their home, meeting the entire family including other pets, as well as screening the greyhounds to make sure we make a good match between them and their new family.

      Because dog racing is illegal in California, the greyhounds we place are generally transported from Oklahoma or Arizona. Many applicants adopt their greyhound, sight unseen, the very day the greyhound arrives in California. Some adopt a greyhound who has been in foster care. Our greyhounds are profiled by our partners in Oklahoma and Arizona prior to their arrival and we match them with an appropriate applicant or foster family. 

     Without foster families, our organization would not be in existence. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work to provide foster care for a greyhound and there is tremendous need for this. A foster family is responsible for the care of a greyhound from their arrival until a permanent home is found for them. Foster care may last only a few days, but it could last longer depending on how quickly we find a suitable home for the hound. We are always available to support our foster families in following the rules and guidelines we provide. Foster families get great satisfaction out of providing a temporary home and, upon placement, are already looking forward to their next foster's arrival!

     Successful adoptions are what we strive for and we feel that supporting new owners is imperative in reaching this success. We offer support in a number of ways. We follow up with phone calls to all of our new adopters, we have an internet chat board where owners can post questions, we have many Meet and Greets that owners are welcome to participate in, we have local play dates with the hounds, and we are always available by phone or email to answer any questions or concerns. Most of the local greyhound owners enjoy being active in our organization.

     Wine Country Greyhound Adoption is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization and relies entirely on donations for our funding. We have several fundraising events throughout the year and are always looking for more opportunities. Funds are used for veterinary care, food and other dog supplies, transporting hounds, event entry fees, and business expenses.

     Looking into the thankful eyes of a greyhound, seeing them smile and give hugs, watching their transformation from a money-generating athlete to a beloved pet is what makes us work so hard. Each new adoption brings a greyhound to a better place where he or she can be adored. This is our reward.