By Andrew Adermann
Choosing to adopt a pet is one of the most complex yet rewarding decisions you can make.
For Alex Thompson and Johanna Dahlgren, it was always a matter of when not if they would adopt, however it was only recently that it became clear a greyhound was the perfect choice.
“It’s safe to say we’ve always wanted one our entire adult life but I only moved here two years ago so we’ve been in the process of doing a lot of other things before worrying about getting a dog,” Dahlgren said.
“We’ve been to RSPCA rescue centres and adoption days and that’s where we first heard about greyhounds, we didn’t know much about them but we knew we wanted a rescue and adopt.”
“I’ve always had a dog in the family and always wanted to get my own but the timing probably wasn’t right,” Thompson added.
“We were confined to certain breeds too, as I get allergic reactions so there were a few concerns I had about dogs that could shed.
“We found out that greyhounds don’t really shed or trigger that reaction so that was another tick.”
The couple have fostered a number of dogs over the last six months, and after both securing full-time jobs since re-locating to Australia, they felt they were finally in a position to adopt.
“We learned about the Greyhound Adoption Program because they have a foster program in place, so we signed up with that in September last year but it took a while from there before we had our first foster,” Dahlgren said.
“Because we live in an apartment, we learned they were perfect dogs for that space and they suit that lifestyle really well – they’re lovely and easy to care for dogs, really low maintenance.
“We developed a relationship with Anna there, who came over a few times to check on (foster dog) Maverick and when we wanted to foster again we got back in touch with them.”
The Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) is run by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission and is dedicated to finding homes for greyhounds that have retired from racing.
GAP aims to find suitable, loving, homes for retired racers and encourages a more positive image of the dog and to stimulate the public’s desire to own a greyhound as a family pet.
As a result of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a surge in greyhound adoptions, with more people working from home.
This financial year alone, there have already been more than 200 adoptions.
“This surge in greyhound adoptions is an unexpected outcome of the restrictions around the COVID-19 pandemic,” QRIC boss Ross Barnett said.
“As a result we are even calling for more dogs from the Queensland racing industry to keep up with the demand of dogs to adopt.”
For Alex and Johanna, the worldwide pandemic saw a steep decline in fostering opportunities, which led to the decision to look for something more permanent.
“We were fostering dogs for ages and then COVID hit and no one wanted their dogs looked after because everyone was at home, and I really missed having one at home so that’s what made me want to get our own,” Thompson said.
“COVID definitely played in to the decision to adopt, but in the way that we couldn’t keep fostering because there was no demand for me to do it,” Johanna added.
“I work from home full-time anyway, but we were a little lazy and just wanted to keep fostering until we were 100% sure.
“Once COVID hit, it was the catalyst to sit down and think about it but it had always been on the cards before that.
GAP’s extensive match-making process paired the couple with retired racer Betty, who now goes by the name Suki.
Now seven-years-old, Suki was retired from racing a number of years ago but stayed with her former owner as a broodbitch.
She was then passed on to GAP to help find a forever home, where she now resides in Brisbane’s south.
“She took to her new home instantly – she got straight in the lifts and was able to walk up and down stairs, because stairs can be an issue sometimes,” Thompson said.
“She loves going up to the TV and squishing her face against it, and is still very fascinated with mirrors and looking at herself in it.”
“Her personality has come out more and more every day,” Dahlgren said.
“She’s a goofball in disguise, she acts normal but when she does get goofy she gets really weird.
“She’s super playful but at the same time loves lounging around at our feet while we are working, we just pull her bed up next to us and she sprawls out.”
Like all dogs, Suki isn’t shy of a nap but when she knows it’s time for a walk she will always get what she wants.
“Her alarm is our alarm, but when my alarm goes off and I make eye-contact with her she’s dragging me out of bed wanting to go for a walk straight away,” Thompson said.
“If I wake up and we aren’t out the door in 10 minutes then she is whining!”
“At first she was up quite early because I think the kennel routine is a bit earlier but now she just loves to sleep,” Dahlgren added.
Speaking from their own experiences over the last six months, it comes as no surprise that the couple were highly complimentary of the program and its outcomes.
“Based on our experience, I would absolutely recommend the program to others,” Thompson said.
“The match-making was perfect, we trusted them to find the dog that would suit us and there were a lot questions back and forth which was good, because I felt like we could be honest and vice versa with the pros and cons of each dog.”
“I wouldn’t have chosen a better dog for myself,” Dahlgren said.
“It’s brilliant to see the program doing so well; when we were told there were no fosters available a few months ago we thought that was great news to hear.
“Say what you want about racing, but the adoption program for when they retire is fantastic – it’s a systemised retirement of greyhounds.
“The people we have dealt with have been absolutely lovely, and safe to say we have been so happy with our experience.”
Click here to find out more about the Greyhound Adoption Program and to register your interest.