Shawries Tree enjoying quiet time among the vines

Named after former Collingwood AFL Captain, Tony Shaw, the blue brindle sprinter retired from the track in February this year after a fantastic career that netted 20 wins and 21 placings from 80 starts. Shawries Tree has since entered the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP), where he faces the challenge of preparing for life as a domestic pet.

The former speedster, whose kennel name is Alex, will spend about six weeks with GAP, with the majority of that time spent in foster care with Hastings couple Debbie and Mike Payne. Debbie recently took time out to chat to Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) about Alex's progress...

GRV: How many greyhounds have you fostered?
DP: We've been fostering greyhounds for over 4 years and Alex is number 38 for us.

GRV: Have you kept any of them?
DP: Yes, we've kept one, named Bonnie, as a pet. She was the 13th greyhound we fostered.

GRV: How has Alex adapted to living in a house after spending most of his life living in a racing kennel?
DP: He is very relaxed and has felt right at home living in our house from day one.

GRV: What sort of things do greyhounds in foster care have to get used to?
DP: Every day things such as slippery floors, TV's, steps, household sounds like the vacuum cleaner and washing machine, traffic noise and kids on bikes etc.

GRV: What does it cost to feed a pet greyhound?
DP: Less than $10 per week. We feed about 300 grams of raw beef or chicken mince, and mix it in with about 300-400 grams of cooked veggies with rice or pasta.

GRV: How important is it that greyhounds put on weight during their time in foster care?
DP: Ideally you'd like them to put on a bit of weight because they lose a bit after foster caring through the stress of being de-sexed.

GRV: Do they gain weight fairly easily?
DP: Some greyhounds easily put on weight, while others don't no matter how much you feed them.

GRV: How much exercise do pet greyhounds need?
DP: They only need a minimum of 20 minutes a day. We walk ours a bit more than that, giving them a short walk before and after work.

GRV: Have you have any issues with toilet training Alex?
DP: Luckily we've had no accidents in the house. Although we do make sure we let him outside regularly.

GRV: How important is it that greyhounds socialise with other dogs during the foster caring process?
DP: Extremely. When they come into foster care, many greyhounds have never met other breeds before. We make it a priority that they meet other breeds, particularly smaller dogs, in a controlled environment. We often approach dog owners in parks and ask if they mind if our greyhounds meet their dogs. Once we explain what the foster caring process is about and assure them that the greyhound is muzzled, most people are happy to help.

GRV: Do you need a big backyard to keep a greyhound as a pet?
DP: No. Greyhounds are as happy in a small apartment block as they are in a big yard.

For information about adopting a greyhound, visit the Greyhound Racing Victoria website. Theyalso provide a comprehensive list of links on 'all matters greyhound' including websites for greyhound adoption in all states of Australia.

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Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved.