Going Home Greyhounds Inc.

Going Home Greyhounds, Inc. is a non-profit, all volunteer 501(c)(3), tax exempt organization that provides refuge, aid and care for retired racing greyhounds until they are placed in permanent homes. Going Home Greyhounds (GHG) was founded in the summer of 1995 by Jane Drellow and Ruth Patrick. The organization was later incorporated in 1997 and received their 501(C)(3) non-profit status in December of 2001. Jane and Ruth designed the heart and greyhound head profile that became GHG’s logo. Our logo is proudly displayed on the GHG's special edition Pennsylvania state license plate.

 The organization currently consists of 4 board members and over 75 volunteers who partake in various activities such as hauling retired racers from racing kennels, bathing newly retired dogs, fostering greyhounds in their home, doing meet and greets, participating in local parades and various fund raising activities.

GHG is a local organization that adopts within a 100-mile radius of the Pittsburgh area. This helps to ensure that we are better able to communicate with our adopters and able to follow the care of our adoptees, because it is important to GHG that both the adopter and adoptee are happy and matched properly for life.

Jim Hopper and Tender Touch Veterinary Hospital are the original holders of GHG’s kennel license. In 2009, according to the new PA Dog Law Housebill 2525, GHG was able to apply for our own Rescue Network Kennel License. We still use Tender Touch as the hub for our group because all our foster dogs receive superior care there. We can do adoptions at Tender Touch, or in any of our foster family’s homes. All dogs adopted out through GHG are fostered in a loving home environment. Our foster homes are very involved in the adoption process since they know their foster dog’s needs best. This is an invaluable service that enables us to help families adopt the dog that will fit with their lifestyle and needs. After adoption, we have a very good support group to help you through the transitional period as well as the entire lifespan of your greyhound. You will be given the foster home contact information at the time of adoption as well as GHG’s behaviorist phone number. You will be contacted 4-5 weeks after adoption to see how things are going, then again between 8 months to a year later.

 The Greyhound Gazette is distributed to over 800 adopters quarterly. Here you will find articles, upcoming events and general GHG happenings. What a wonderful way to communicate and stay in touch with our adopters.

 GHG’s current fundraising activities include our annual reunion, a Christmas bazaar, spring and fall bathathons, and rummage sale. The annual reunion began in 1998 and is our most attended event. It is held at the North Park Lodge and is where previous adopters and volunteers get together for a great afternoon of food, music, games and events. It’s a wonderful time that we all look forward to every year.

 The Pineapple/Marie Memorial fund was established for the veterinary and health care needs of sick and injured dogs in memory of two fosters (Pineapple and Marie). Both of these dogs were extremely sick coming into our foster program and their foster families were only able to care for and love them for a few short months before they both crossed the rainbow bridge. Because of donator generosity to this fund year round, we are able to accept dogs from the track that would otherwise be euthanized.

 As of the end of 2009, GHG has found homes for 1902 retired racing greyhounds! Thank you to all our hard working volunteers and every family who's opened their hearts and homes to one of these precious dogs.