It took me 2 years to decide to get a Grey. When I was finally ready I contacted GAC to begin the process. After turning in my application I was almost immediately contacted by Victoria, my adoption coordinator, to educate me about the process. Let me say something up front, it's quite a process and takes some time, they are very thorough with their efforts to match you to the right hound, but this diligence pays off when they do make a match. Patience is a virtue here and I'm so thankful for my beautiful girl! Sheba is a wonderful fit for our family. I can't say enough about the organization and Victoria. I would never go anywhere else! Start to finish this journey has been amazing and the folks at GAC always professional, knowledgeable and responsive. Go to an open house (held every month) and see this amazing organization, meet the hounds and the wonderful volunteers that make this all possible. You won't regret it! read more

Greyhound Adoption Center - Animal Shelters Near Me - El Cajon, California

Adopted our boy from GAC in March and couldn't have had a better experience! From start to finish our placement rep (Kirsten) was amazing! So helpful! Going above and beyond to guide us through the process and ensure a great match. And I don't know what kind of magic voodoo the placement team does but they got us the PERFECT match. I couldn't have picked a better dog for our lifestyle had I put one together myself! Great organization and great experience for me! So happy we got our boy and that GAC was there for him when he needed them most! read more

Greyhound Adoption Center - Our GAC alum, Tempi - Animal Shelters Near Me - El Cajon, California

We had our home visit and were approved for adoption five months ago. It's been incredibly frustrating seeing countless dogs on their Facebook page come in and out of the adoption center without any unprompted updates for our own adoption. We are very experienced dog owners, six rescue dogs in the last ten years. Our only criteria are a dog that's okay with two dog-savvy kids and other socialized dogs. From what I can tell there seems to be a real lack of trust and communication between Marilyn, who makes the final placement decisions, and our placement representative here in Northern California. It's been a very discouraging process and unfortunately I don't think I can recommend the center to others at this time. **UPDATE** "Grove", a 3 year old female, was placed with us on 1/5/19. We were surprised when she arrived with an injured toe that was sensitive to touch and caused her to limp. We knew she had an injured toe and were told weeks before that she would have it amputated before placement. It was suggested we have our vet decide what to do about it, I guess their vet, Dr. Ann Lewis decided not to amputate. After ten days in our home she bit my son in the face and body, she stopped when I stepped in. Luckily stitches were not need but his pajamas were torn and it clearly could have been much worse if he wasn't wearing loose clothing and I wasn't in the room. I contacted the representative and was told she may be offered to another family in the area. I hope that is not true and she is not quickly placed with another family and for a second $295 adoption donation. We tearfully relinquished her this evening. This was a heart breaking experience for my family. Per my own experiences I cannot recommend GAC to others. Please be cautious. read more

I've had a greyhound before, and they are beautiful, wonderful animals. After years of racing, they totally deserve to be in a loving, home environment after they are rescued from the track. I totally understand why these adoption agencies are determined to give the dogs a loving home. I walked in yesterday to the Greyhound Adoption Agency, and they made me feel like I was not good enough or did not know enough about these dogs. My boyfriend and sister got the same vibe. They had over 25 dogs, and we were pretty much told that they would match us to a dog that they think fits us. It's not that they were super unpleasant, but they definitely gave off a "prove you are good enough" vibe. When a woman called me regarding my application last night, she wasn't very friendly either. So, after walking out of there, my family and I promptly headed over to Operation Greyhound, which is a 10 minute drive from the Greyhound Adoption Agency. I adopted my last grey from them. They are a much much smaller organization, and do not have as many dogs, but because they are smaller, they are much more personable. We found a beautiful girl at Operation Greyhound to take home :) read more

This review is mostly for the Canine Sports Center. I have met and interacted with numerous great volunteers working at the Grey Hound Rescue. If you are looking for someplace to adopt a dog, you could find a great one there, but might have to Unfortunately go through the staff that actually run the place. Namely Martha Demers and Darren Riggs (Darren whom I have never actually met). I have used the agility course for a few months mostly keeping to myself going when no one else is there. Today in an empty facility (No dogs other than mine), I walked my dog from my truck to the agility field and was approached by Martha. She proceeded to lecture me acting almost terrified that I had my GSD off leash in a heel saying I was being irresponsible having him off leash. Not being a member for very long, I was a little confused as I have seen numerous other members walk their dogs from their cars (under control) to the agility field. I proceeded to have a few hours of agility work walked dogs (on leash) back to the truck and called it a day. Received a phone call from someone that was told by Darren Riggs, that Martha told, yup three people telephone game that I was being confrontational and was running multiple dogs off leash (multiple lies). When I called Darren he said Martha was so upset she went home for the day. With no interest in hearing anything I had to say, I was told I was no longer welcome because Martha was so upset. There are plenty of better places to run your dogs than someplace where you have to worry about upsetting Martha. Hope you can learn some coping skills Martha. Notes: The place is usually in some state of disrepair and the field was mostly dug up and under construction the entire time I had a membership there. No amount of Membership dues are worth putting up with that place. read more

I really don't know how to put my feelings into words at this point. We put in our application in July. We had our home profiled as well. We went to open house. We have done everything they have asked. But when our person Al told us to come in today, An when going into the building we were abruptly told by a short grey haired woman that we were not invited by HER because she is the person who does the profiling , we couldn't believe our ears! She not only said it, but said it again after we explained that it was Al that told us to come out! She said again that's she didn't invite us there! I understand it's a process! Those dogs need loving homes to go to. We have a great back yard! I work at a animal hospital, what better medical care I can offer. At this point I don't know where I sit with this location. :-( read more

This place plays head games, uses scare tactics, and has terrible customer relations! We need to "prove" ourselves to your agency first? That's fine, but at least take the time to know us before you rule your swift judgment against us! Our local representative, Nancy, spent less than 5 minutes with us on a home visit before declaring that she was leaving and SHE would never let us rescue a greyhound because 1) we live in an apartment (which is over 1400 sq ft by the way) 2) we have a balcony (we would never leave a dog alone on a balcony) 3) we have kids (ages 9 and 11) 4) we have stairs and 5) some invisible, ridiculous reason that Nancy believes we just can't handle a greyhound because we're too irresponsible and stupid. You don't know us, so who are you to judge?! Nancy was also very rude, as she swept into my home, she never properly introduced herself to me, and as I tried to offer her a cup of coffee or glass of water, she talked over me and proceeded to tell US to SIT DOWN in our own home. I am not your dog, thank you very much, and this is MY home! My kids had been so excited to get to meet a greyhound and you can imagine how we felt as Nancy sat there and told us that she would never allow us to adopt a dog. I've never felt so insulted in my own house before. She left after all of 5 minutes, berating us the entire time for the balcony and stairs, and my kids barely got the chance to see or interact with the beautiful greyhound that she brought with her. Look, I understand that your agency needs to check homes for the safety and benefit of the dog. We are fully prepared to give a greyhound a loving forever home. My husband and I have wanted to adopt a greyhound for more than 17 years! We've done extensive research on greyhounds, and like any responsible prospective pet owner should do, we waited until the time was right. Our kids are older, we have a nice home (albeit an apartment, but it is a large 3 bedroom that is VERY dog friendly with an extremely nice, fenced-in dog park on site and doggie bag dispensers and pet waste cans everywhere), we can afford to give a greyhound everything it needs including ample time and patience. Obviously, we will take our business elsewhere... the people at Operation Greyhound are much more personable and can see that we are a serious and responsible family who just want to rescue a retired racer and give it a loving home. read more

Had to relinquish my greyhound here, they were so wonderful even though it hurt like heck. So kind and reassuring. I knew ultimately it was the right thing to do for him and that he would be happy and well taken care of. Thank you so much ladies for being amazing! read more

This is an update to my previous review. I want to start out by saying I think this organization has good intentions; however, I don't think they screen the dogs as well as they should. The dog we adopted was great, at first. She was food possessive but we just told our kids (ages 9 and 6.5) to leave her alone while eating, etc. We can work around that. She startled on a few occasions but we just figured it was part of adding a rescue dog to our home and it would improve with time. Last Tuesday night, completely unprovoked, and with my husband and I sitting right there, our daughter bent down to pet the dog good night (per routine) the dog wasn't asleep or anything, and the dog bit our daughter's face, drawing blood on her lips. It was awful! My daughter was screaming. Her mouth was swollen the next day. Number one, I felt very guilty at bringing home a pet that did this to my daughter. Number two, I've bonded with the dog and now, there is no way we could keep her. I feel very sad. My daughter was terrified. My husband relinquished the dog the next morning. Al, the GAC rep we worked with, was very compassionate. Unfortunately, the workers st GAC told my husband "well, we never know how these dogs behave in a home as they've been in kennels their whole lives". Wow, not a super great response. Why wasn't this mentioned before? Please, all potential adopters with kids, be careful. I think the GAC spends more time screening potential adopters and fail at screening the dogs they put in homes. Now, my kids are upset, I feel awful, and my husband now never wants a greyhound again. I want my 300 dollars back. I hope the GAC doesn't make 600 total off of a dog that bit my daughter's face. read more

Over the years I have adopted 5 greyhounds from Greyhound Adoption Center. The first greyhound was my first ever dog. Our representative Kathy was wonderful about answering my questions and addressing every concern. Everyone I have met and dealt with have all been amazing to work with and what always comes through is how devoted they are to the well being of these gentle and sweet dogs. I am especially impressed by the medical care they receive. The last greyhound I adopted was heart worm positive and was not adopted until they made absolutely sure that he was in perfect health. read more

Learning about greyhounds took me from being totally afraid of dogs to becoming a dog lover since 1999. I don't believe that I could have made this life-altering change without the support provided by the people at GAC. The time and care spent with us learning about the breed, choosing the perfect dog for our situation, and post-adoption support has been amazing. We are currently on dogs 3 and 4, and when the time comes (not soon, I hope), we will most certainly go back to find the next perfect pup. If you are wanting to learn more about greyhounds and the love they can bring to your life, please check out the GAC open houses on the 3rd Sunday of every month, from 1-3 p.m. read more

Greyhound Adoption Center took a while to get me down to the kennel, but it was the smoothest introduction I've ever experienced thanks to Darren. I knew as soon as I saw Lauper she was mine, and it was a wonderful meeting. They took the time to make me and my reactive/shy pups comfortable first, and put my up-to-then worried mind at ease. Such a beautiful kennel/grounds area, I'm very impressed and wish I could volunteer there. Totally would if I lived closer. Will definitely be going through them again when I get my next grey. read more

I have adopted two greyhounds from GAC. The volunteers and placement representatives were friendly and truly care about finding forever homes for the dogs they rescue. They are careful about their matching process so that it reduces the chances of family's returning dogs. The volunteers are patient when showing you dogs and don't pressure you to take a specific dog. My placement rep (Nancy) is awesome at helping me with any greyhound related issues that have come up even after the adoptions and GAC has an online group where you can ask questions or get support. I would highly recommend this agency if you are considering adopting a greyhound! read more

We REALLY wanted to adopt a greyhound. We live in Murrieta in a larger, 3-bedroom, 1400 sq. ft condo/luxury apartment. It is not small. It is not messy. It is the perfect place for adopting a dog and even has a fenced in, one-acre dog park with track, on-site.) Nancy was our rep for the area. She was VERY RUDE. She basically had decided we weren't going to get a dog before she even visited us (upon our first phone interview). She told us it would it would be next to impossible because we live in an apartment with kids. We are very nice people, we prepared our home for her visit and even made breakfast for her, but she didn't care. She walked into our home (without even saying "Hello") and said "NO it won't work here. I am leaving now". She said that Greyhounds are not good apartment dogs (FALSE). She said Greyhounds will not be good for our 9 and 11 year old or with any kids (FALSE). She didn't like that we had stairs and said a greyhound will never be able to go up the stairs (FALSE). (in fact, her greyhound did). We are willing to work with any greyhound for as long as it takes. She had also pre-judged us (and she doesn't even know us) that we would not be able to handle the responsibility of owning a greyhound. (Seriously, we have raised TWO KIDS! A much larger responsibility and duty than any dog could every be). But she does not care about getting a good home for a greyhound. She was VERY NASTY to us both on the phone and at our home inspection. I do not understand why Greyhound Adoption Center would allow such a nasty person to represent their company and dictate who can and can't get a dog from them. We will be going to Operation Greyhound because we are SERIOUS about adopting a dog. I talked with them and they said they don't play their games or politics like Greyhound Adoption Center does. And it is obvious to us that Greyhound Adoption Center's business model is one that does not care about putting dogs in loving homes. So SAD and I am so sorry for them and all of the dogs there and for anyone else who has to deal with such nasty people such as their volunteer, Nancy. TERRIBLE. read more

My husband and I met our first greyhounds in 2012 at a Greyhound Adoption Center meet and greet event at Petco in Fair Oaks (this is a regular event, every 2nd Saturday of the month from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.). We were looking for a new dog to keep our other dogs company after our oldest dog passed away, and we fell in love with greyhounds. We now have three of these delightful dogs, and we have become regular volunteers with the Greyhound Adoption Center as well with their activities in the Sacramento area (the Greyhound Adoption Center places dogs throughout much of California, and provides a great support network to its adopters). This video gives a great overview of their work: https://youtu.be/KY5UXFtCbJI read more

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Great org! Got my little girl from them and they did such a wonderful job of making sure she was healthy. They also taught her how to use the stairs before sending her home with us. One of the main reason I picked them over all the other greyhound orgs is that they put so much thought and care into the dogs. They match dogs with their guardians based on lifestyle and other criteria that truly matters. Thanks guys! Hoping to adopt another soonish! read more

We went to a GAC event last month and it was great to meet Alan our placement rep and all the dogs. The facility is amazing. It's clean, organized and the dogs seem happy. My whole family came for the tour and they were accommodating when it came to my children. They taught proper approach and petting. Our PR, Alan, is WONDERFUL! He really loves being a volunteer and really has a huge heart for the greyhounds. He has been a great teacher and advocate throughout the entire process. read more

We adopted our first Grey from GAC in December and couldn't be happier with our girl! We submitted our application online and our home visit was scheduled within days. Our adoption coordinator was Kat Strickradt and she spent a great deal of time asking us questions and listening to us to create a very detailed profile of the right dog for us, she also responded to all of my hundreds of emails. We have a very active kitty an a small dog, plus farm animals...this was a very tall order to fill. It took several months (which felt like years!) but we were finally matched with the PERFECT dog! We brought our little dog to meet her and Darren personally did the introduction and spent lots of time answering our questions and making sure we were a good match. We recently adopted a 2nd Grey from another rescue that was supposed to be cat-friendly but within a week she started aggressively chasing our cat and we had to return her. The profilers at GAC really take the time to get to know their dogs and potential adopters so that their dogs are placed in the right home the first time. If we do decide to adopt a 2nd, we are definitely going back to GAC, they are pros and really know their stuff! read more