Adopting a greyhound in Birmingham: rescues, costs and settling in

The count under the short answer is live: it shows every greyhound listed with us in Birmingham and within about 25 miles, and each dog's profile links to the rescue that has it. When we checked in October 2026, greyhounds made up nearly half of all the dogs listed near the city, most of them with these three rescues.

Most come from racing. The Greyhound Trust says most greyhounds retire from racing between three and five years old, and on its homepage that about 8,000 retire each year, of which it finds homes for about half.

They can also wait longer than other dogs. Blue Cross says greyhounds often take longer to rehome "because people do not always see them as family pets", even though, with a bit of support, "they can adapt very quickly to life in a home".

Around Birmingham, adopting a greyhound costs £200 to £250, and the fee buys more than it looks. All three rescues neuter and microchip before rehoming, and all three send the dog home with a lead, collar and muzzle. Home Run Hounds and Greyhound Trust Wolverhampton add four weeks of insurance, and Daybreaks Trust five.

Buying puts those costs on you. Blue Cross puts a puppy at £400 to £3,000 to buy, and PDSA estimates the set-up cost of a large dog at £560, which includes the first vaccinations and neutering. After that, PDSA's estimated minimum is £116 a month for a large dog.

Puppies are not really what greyhound rescue is about. Because racers retire at three to five, the dogs you meet are young adults with a known temperament, used to a lead, a muzzle and other greyhounds.

Retired racers have usually seen a vet regularly, but ask what the rescue knows about this dog. These are the points UK sources raise for the breed:

• A nerve disease. Greyhound neuropathy (GN) is the DNA test The Royal Kennel Club lists for greyhound breeders.
• Stomach, teeth and eyes. Among the problems PDSA says greyhounds can be prone to are "bloat" (gastric dilatation volvulus, or GDV, where the stomach twists), gum disease and progressive retinal atrophy, which affects the eyes.
• Bones and bleeding. PDSA also lists bone cancer and von Willebrand's disease, a bleeding disorder.
• Old racing injuries. Ask whether the dog has any, and how it moves now.

A retired racer needs less walking than its size suggests. The Greyhound Trust says they are "built for speed, not stamina" and happy with two twenty-minute walks a day, and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home says they generally prefer around two 30-minute walks. Their thin coats feel the cold: PDSA says greyhounds need a warm coat on cold-weather walks, and Greyhound Trust Wolverhampton sends its dogs home with a waterproof one.

The two charities differ on muzzles. The Greyhound Trust's line is that greyhounds "do not need to be muzzled at all times", though it suggests one on walks until you know how your dog reacts to other breeds. Battersea is firmer: ex-racers "will always need to wear one when out walking in public spaces", as a safeguard against prey drive. For a run off the lead, Battersea points to secure dog walking fields rather than public places.

If you have a cat, ask early. Home Run Hounds says some of its greyhounds "can be cat friendly", while Blue Cross says most greyhounds will not be suitable to live with a cat, with exceptions. A dog that has lived in kennels may also need time to get used to stairs, glass doors and household noise, Battersea says, so a calm routine helps it settle.

Rescue greyhounds are adopted, not sold. You apply to the rescue, it matches you with a dog, and you pay its adoption fee. Greyhound rescues near Birmingham rehome adults, so if you want a puppy, a rescue is unlikely to have one.

If you decide to buy, The Royal Kennel Club runs a "Find a puppy" service, and Dogs Trust's breed guides suggest talking to your vet first, as some practices offer pre-purchase consultations on likely health conditions and rough costs. If an advert looks like a scam, report it to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud).