The Greyhound-Data Forum has been created to act as a platform for greyhound enthusiasts to share information on this magnificent animal called a greyhound.
Greyhound-Data reserve the right to remove any post that is off topic, advertisements or opinions they consider to be offensive.
If you answer then please try to stay on topic. It's absolutely okay to answer in a broader scope but don't hijack posts by switching to something off topic.
In case you see an insulting post: DO NOT REPLY TO IT!
Use the report button to inform the moderators so that we can delete it.
Colleen Margaret Watson Australia (Verified User) Posts 71 Dogs 0 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 06:21
(0)
(0)
I was wondering if anyone knows the actual statistics for the GAP programme in NSW? How many dogs actually find homes as compared to how many are put down. We sent 3 of our beautiful greyhounds to the programme. 1 in Sept. 2011 & 2 in April 2012. As we've become older it's so very hard to have them put down (we can't keep them anymore) so we decided to put them into GAP. The 1st little 23kg bitch was put down & I was told that she was aggressive & went to bite the assessor. When she left here she didn't have an aggressive bone in her body. I only found out today (I have rang & left messages before) that the other 2 were also put down. The reason I was given was that their prey drive was too high when they were tested with the little fluffy dog. I was of the opinion that they would be re-trained when they went into the programme so that they got used to other animals. We had to get extra vaccinations, send muzzles for each of them & pay $100 per dog. As hard as it would have been we would have had them put down at the vet ourselves. We had to take them to the Gardens where they were then taken to Peats Ridge & then presumably after a couple of days to a vet to be put down with no one who loved them there to cuddle them & tell them how much they were loved. They wouldn't have known what was going on. I'm so saddened by this situation & would never send another dog to the GAP programme or never support them in any way again.
Jeff Holland Australia (Verified User) Posts 4831 Dogs 145 / Races 12 01 Feb 2013 06:28
(0)
(0)
Colleen, you need to use this GAP EXTERNAL LINK I've put in about 12, and 11 have found a home.
Graeme Beasley Australia (Verified User) Posts 3265 Dogs 27 / Races 5 01 Feb 2013 06:36
(0)
(0)
Can't you ask for them to come back to you if they don't pass? Surely there aren't just the two options - pass or put down?
Jan Jones Australia (Verified User) Posts 298 Dogs 9 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 06:42
(0)
(0)
Colleen - here in SA we indicate on the relinquishing form whether we would like to have the dog back if it doesn't pass the tests at the end of the fostering period. As far as I know, all dogs here are small-dog tested in the presence of the owner and can be re-tested if they don't pass the first time. We have had 1 returned to us because he did not pass his "green collar test" at the end of the fostering period, and he is now our home pet. It's a great pity that your experience with GAP was such a distressing one.
Tor Janes Australia (Verified User) Posts 10024 Dogs 16 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 07:39
(0)
(0)
Colleen thats a sad story sorry to read it
I just wish there was a retirement home for dogs that cant make GAP funded by the TAB and corporate bookies, well done to you though for trying to do the right thing by your dogs.
Michael Eberand Australia (Verified User) Posts 845 Dogs 3 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 07:49
(0)
(0)
jeff holland wrote:
Colleen, you need to use this GAP EXTERNAL LINK I've put in about 12, and 11 have found a home.
that's unreal Jeff. Very good to hear.
Rod Hampton Australia Posts 1627 Dogs 2993 / Races 11820 01 Feb 2013 09:03
(0)
(0)
I have had only 1 bitch go through GAP and she was adopted out successfully, for which I was really grateful. However, hearsay has it, that many of the "adoption" agencies frequently quote the number of dogs that have 'passed through the system" 'Passed through the system" does NOT mean that dogs have been adopted as pets !! I have also been told by a former leading trainer that the "tests" are totally unreasonable for the average grey, who has been in a yard for all it's early life, in a training facility for the rest, never been allowed to just wander about etc etc, and then expected to not show any interst in an animal it's never encountered before. GAP NSW has an option of return dog if not adopted, and you know what the other option is
Peter Gurry Australia (Verified User) Posts 9255 Dogs 18 / Races 25 01 Feb 2013 09:57
(0)
(0)
Problem is Australia wide, more dogs sadly than adoptees
Jenny Brown Australia (Verified User) Posts 53 Dogs 5 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 10:14
(0)
(0)
I have only put one dog through that programme. I had heard that not many dogs pass their assessment, but knew what a lovely natured dog he was and had tested him with small fluffy dogs, and he was fine with them, and thought there was no way he would fail. I also ticked the box that I would take him back if he failed. He was there less than a week and I got a call that he had failed, that he was fretting, and also failed the small dog test! Firstly he needed more time to settle in, he had never been away from me, and secondly he has always been fine with other dogs, so was very disappointed that he wasn't even given a chance. I got him back and still have him here..I wouldn't use that programme again either
Colleen Margaret Watson Australia (Verified User) Posts 71 Dogs 0 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 22:32
(0)
(0)
Jeff, I had all the appropriate information but it still doesn't tell you the ratio of dogs entered into the programme to the ones that have actually found a home. You must have been very lucky to have put 12 in & found homes for 11. Maybe if you're a well known person in the industry your dogs have more of a chance.
Colleen Margaret Watson Australia (Verified User) Posts 71 Dogs 0 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 22:34
(0)
(0)
Graeme, I could have asked for them to come back to me but unfortunately we live on a house block with council restrictions of 2 dogs which are Racing Greyhounds.
Colleen Margaret Watson Australia (Verified User) Posts 71 Dogs 0 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 22:36
(0)
(0)
Jan, that sounds like a much better system in SA. At least they are tested in front of the owner & get a 2nd chance.
Colleen Margaret Watson Australia (Verified User) Posts 71 Dogs 0 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 22:39
(0)
(0)
Tor, that would be a wonderful idea but as I work for TAB NSW I think we are dreaming if we think they would ever put in a cent towards anything like that.
Peter Phillips Australia (Verified User) Posts 62 Dogs 3 / Races 95 01 Feb 2013 22:46
(0)
(0)
Colleen, not that it changes your circumstances, but if a little time is taken to re-educate the dogs prior to them going into GAP it makes it much easier and quicker for GAP to re-home them. We have placed 6 in the last twelve months and 5 have found lovely homes, the 6th had to be returned because of a detached retina, he is asleep on the couch. June
Colleen Margaret Watson Australia (Verified User) Posts 71 Dogs 0 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 22:48
(0)
(0)
Rod, I also agree that the tests are unreasonable for the average grey. How are they expected to be assessed properly after a couple of days when they've been taken by a stranger to a place totally different to what they've been used to & then have a little fluffy dog put in front of them when they have never been around them before. Naturally they are going to go off & bark at them. A friend of mine put an 8 months old pup that would never race into the system. He was put down because he "barked in the kennels". This pup had been out in a yard all his life. My friend thought he would go straight to a foster home.
Colleen Margaret Watson Australia (Verified User) Posts 71 Dogs 0 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 22:52
(0)
(0)
Peter, it is very sad.
Colleen Margaret Watson Australia (Verified User) Posts 71 Dogs 0 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 22:53
(0)
(0)
Michael, it's great that Jeff has found homes for so many of his dogs.
David Coleman Australia (Verified User) Posts 303 Dogs 10 / Races 51 01 Feb 2013 22:56
(0)
(0)
Colleen,have a look at Grv Gap info and see how it compares to NSW
The dogs are all sent to foster homes for retraining and evaluation..
The girls running it there are excellent and ive had quite a few go there and have a home waiting for them well before thereve finished their retraining...
Going on your comments it seems the system in NSW isnt as good..
Lets hope thats not the case..
Colleen Margaret Watson Australia (Verified User) Posts 71 Dogs 0 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 23:02
(0)
(0)
Jenny, I would have loved to have brought all 3 dogs back home but unfortunately we are only on a normal house block & we cannot keep them here as we usually have 2 racing greyhounds & that is all we are allowed. Over the years we have always had 1 as a pet. The last 3 places we've lived we've left the graves of our beloved pets in the yard. We have our last one buried in the back yard here. Mary was over 13 when she passed away. I have a lovely marble plaque on her grave & put fresh flowers on it almost every day.
Colleen Margaret Watson Australia (Verified User) Posts 71 Dogs 0 / Races 0 01 Feb 2013 23:07
(0)
(0)
June, it's wonderful that your dogs have found homes. I was told yesterday that GAP is going to try & get people to re-educate their dogs before going into the programme. Unfortunately we weren't told to do this before ours went in. We thought that they re-educated them to be around other animals.
If you need help or advice about a dog you are retiring then this is the place for you.
