As an organisation, our passion is helping retired racing greyhounds find their forever sofas.

Signing up as a Team Zoomie Fosterer is signing up to support this cause.  The majority of hounds that you will foster on this scheme will be greyhounds straight from the track, but there will be hounds that come in from home environments for various reasons.

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Greyhounds that have just retired from racing have:

• Never been in a home environment

• Have never experienced the world beyond racing

• Are not socialised with other dog breeds

• Are not house trained

• Do not know what being a dog really means...

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But darn do they learn quickly!

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It may sound daunting, but they take to home life amazingly well.  Imagine getting a fully grown puppy, that is already emotionally mature (as much as greyhounds can be) and that are already used to travelling, going to the vet, being groomed, so on and so forth...

While their upbringing is different to that of a typical dog, they already have life experience and an amazing ability to adapt and learn quickly.  They may start out as fully grown puppies but instead of two years of terrors, they become the perfect companions in just a few weeks!

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If that all still sounds a bit stressful, you can still sign up to help!  There is a national homing crisis.  Between the financial crisis, the cost of living, the political landscape and the state of the world overall, people are really struggling to afford to keep their hounds.   Charities like ours, up and down the country, are being inundated with calls for help every single day.

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So, while taking on a greyhound straight from the track may be a bit too much to start your foster journey with, you could help by taking on any number of other greyhounds or sighthounds in need.  Be it a senior sweetheart whos owner has gone into care, or your typical laid back lad who's family have made the difficult decision to surrender due to the financial strain...

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We get a full history for each hound we bring in for rehoming and will assess their behaviour and suitability for each foster home.  Hounds coming from home environments will already be house trained and socialised, and just need a safe and loving home to care for them while they wait to be adopted.

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Whichever way you would like to get involved, the great thing about greyhounds is they make the perfect pet for first-time dog owners!  So, even if you do not have any past experience of hound ownership you can still foster.  We will support you every step of the way!

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If you choose to foster, we’ll provide everything you need*.  All we ask is you give your foster hound all the love, attention and care that you can, as if they are your own hound.  Some may require medication or follow behaviour development plans, but you will have the full support of our team throughout the foster period.

 

When you foster with us, you get:

• All the benefits of hound ownership but without the long-term commitment

• Food, equipment and veterinary care will be provided*

• Full support from our experienced team and complete confidentiality

• The reward of helping hounds in need
   

*Food, enrichment and equipment will be provided, and neccesary veterinary costs covered, by The Zoomie Zone for the duration of the foster period, provided that foster carers follow the instructions and guidelines set out by our team.  It is not possible to reinburse unauthorised purchases. Please note that the dogs are not insured while in our care, and each veterinary visit represents an ongoing cost to the charity. In the case of injuries or unexpected expenses resulting from a direct breach of the fostering contract, for example, allowing the foster dog off-lead in a public park, resulting in a dog fight, we would ask that the foster carer make contribution toward the associated costs.