BRIDGING THE GAP

The Greyhound Adoption Program, or GAP, is an initiative of Greyhound Racing Victoria dedicated to finding homes for greyhounds that are no longer suitable for racing.

 

While many greyhounds become available for adoption each year, misconceptions about these dogs deter people from owning them as pets. Due to the fact that they are of the sight hound family and aroused by the passion of chase, people mistakenly make the assumption that greyhounds are aggressive.

 

Also, in the past, greyhounds were required by law to wear a muzzle in public, creating the perception that they are hostile.

 

It is one of GAP’s main goals to change the negative image so many people have of greyhounds, and through a more positive reputation, hope to increase the public’s desire to care for these wonderful dogs after their racing careers have finished. Each greyhound is kept by GAP for a period of six to eight weeks in order to expose them to as many different experiences as possible (e.g. cats, children, small animals etc).

 

All GAP dogs are thoroughly temperament tested, and GAP will always take the dog back if your situation changes at any time. GAP greyhounds are desexed, microchipped, wormed, vaccinated and heartworm tested; an adoption fee exists only to attempt to recover some of these costs. More importantly, these dogs can give as much, if not more, affection than they receive.

 

Similar programs have been highly successful in the USA and UK. It is GAP’s hope that it can improve the image of these beautiful hounds and find loving homes that will bring happiness to both owners and dogs.

 

The Greyhound Adoption Program was further highlighted at The Meadows last Saturday night when seven heats of the GAP Trophy (525m) were staged.

 

Rapidly improving sprinter Coulta Sky ($12.10), trained by Robert Britton of Lara, posted the time standard with a slick 30.11sec in heat four.

 

In the next heat, Mopar Bale ($4.50) represented the middle pin of a treble for Anakie mentor Andrea Dailly.

 

Mopar Bale, sired by 2005 Australian and Victorian Greyhound of the Year Pure Octane, clocked a smart 30.20sec – around one and a half lengths slower than Coulta Sky.

 

Dailly started her ball rolling one race earlier, when the talented Ashby Bale ($3.60) took out the Tas Freight Mixed Four/Five (600m) in 34.57sec.

 

And she completed a memorable night when Qayyim Bale ($10.30) saluted in the final GAP Trophy heat. Qayyim Bale recorded a moderate 30.60sec.

 

Strathdale sprinter Magnificent Tige ($2.20F) was indeed magnificent in heat two of the GAP Trophy.

 

Trained by Mark Morrissey, Magnificent Tige semaphored a solid 30.25sec. It was his seventh win from nine starts, and his third win in a row following 25.15sec and 25.41sec victories at Ballarat.

 

Other heat winners were Next Chapter ($17.50) – 30.47sec; Another Gossip ($14.50) – 30.59sec; and Sisco Train ($16.70) – 30.77sec.

 

Classy speedster El Masri Bale ($4.00) snared the Keilor Park Darts Club Free For All (525m) in a flying 30.00sec (best of night).

 

Prepared by Peter Hunt of Lara, El Masri Bale notched his 16 ^th win (with 14 seconds and eight thirds) from 52 starts.

 

Other winners on the 11-event fixture were Big Red Assassin ($5.60) – 43.25sec; and Phil’s Mate ($4.10) – 34.76sec.