The increasing popularity of greyhounds as family pets, was never more evident than at Sunday’s National Adoption Day in Sydney, with the event deemed one of the most successful ever.

While the National Adoption Day has been running annually around the country for a number of years – although it was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 – Sunday was the first time the event in Sydney has been held at The Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park as part of the very successful Sydney Family Show, a move which proved incredibly popular.

In total 31 of the 41 dogs which the team from Greyhounds As Pets NSW (GAPNSW) took to the event, found new homes, and more than 700 visitors spent time with the dogs and GAPNSW staff learning more about the remarkable breed.

“The day was a tremendous success, not purely because of the number of dogs who found new homes, but to be able to engage with the public,” Dr Alicia Fuller, General Manager of GAPNSW, said.

“Adoption Days give us the opportunity to be face to face with public, to speak about and show what wonderful pets greyhounds make. Our staff can also answer any questions people may have, and these days give the public the chance to see for themselves the placid temperament of the dogs, and of course to have a pat and a snuggle.

“Being part of a wider event at the Entertainment Quarter also proved to be beneficial with many visitors flowing into our area, who would not necessarily have attended a standalone Adoption Day.

“To me that was one of the most pleasing aspects of the day, the number of people who came in and had a look around and a chat with staff. At one point we actually had people queuing to get in.

“There was a lot of activity and traffic in and around us, but importantly, all our dogs coped fantastically well.”

Apart from the 41 dogs and numerous visitors, also on hand were greyhound lovers and GAPNSW Ambassadors, celebrity vet Dr Katrina Warren and award winning entertainer Todd McKenney, himself an owner of pet greyhounds.

The National Adoption Day follows on the success GAPNSW had in raising awareness through their well patronized stand at the recent Royal Easter Show.

For anyone still interested, Greyhounds As Pets NSW still have a number of dogs available at their Western Sydney and Wyee facilities and you can get details on their website. Another Adoption Day will be held at Kellyville Pets on May 29.

The Entertainment Quarter was not the only venue in NSW for an Adoption Day on Sunday, with Casino also playing host to a day through the GAP Northern Rivers Regional Program.

It was the first time such an event has been held in the region, and the day was strongly supported by local trainers, with three greyhounds adopted and a number of enquiries made around fostering dogs.

“It was fantastic event, and the trainers all loved coming together for the day,” Regional GAP Program Coordinator Louise Amey said.

“It was the first time the public has had the chance to come along and see the dogs, as our regional program works differently with no GAP facility in the region, and this was a great starting point for us, and already everyone is talking about when the next one will be.”

In 2019-20 a record number of 1,337 greyhounds were rehoming through Greyhounds As Pets’ programs, up 83.4% on the previous year. GAPNSW is on target to eclipse that figure in 2020-21.