Adopting a greyhound in Bournemouth: rescues, costs and care

The count under the short answer is live: every greyhound listed with us within about 25 miles of Bournemouth, each linked to its rescue on our Bournemouth greyhound page. Lurchers and greyhound crosses have their own Bournemouth lurcher page. None of the rescues is in the town itself, so plan on a drive to meet a dog.

Racing. About 8,000 greyhounds retire each year, the Greyhound Trust says, and it finds homes for around half; its breed profile puts the usual retirement age at three to five. Independent charities such as Greyhound Lifeline take many of the rest.

Lurchers turn up in rescue too. A lurcher, says Dogs Trust, is a sighthound such as a greyhound, whippet or saluki crossed with another breed, so the mix varies from dog to dog: ask the rescue about the individual dog rather than going by the label.

A rescue greyhound comes with its vet work started, and the rescue already knows how it behaves with people and other dogs. Greyhound Lifeline's £175 donation comes with a dog that is neutered, has had its dental work, is vaccinated and treated for parasites, and goes home with a leather collar, lead and muzzle.

Buy a puppy and those bills move to you. PDSA puts a large dog's set-up costs, vaccinations and neutering among them, at £560, then at least £116 a month. That comes after the £400 to £3,000 Blue Cross quotes for the puppy. Greyhound Lifeline's FAQ says insurance is probably the biggest variable in running costs, and its adoption page asks whether you can pay for routine care and unexpected vet bills.

Teeth come first. In a Royal Veterinary College VetCompass study of 5,419 greyhounds seen by UK vets in 2016, dental disease affected 39.0 per cent, far more than any other problem; overgrown nails affected 11.1 per cent and osteoarthritis 4.6 per cent. The paper links some of this to their racing years. Greyhound Lifeline does dental work on every dog before it goes, so ask what was done. Ask about:

• Teeth and old injuries. What dental work has the rescue's vet done, and does the dog have any track injury or stiffness?
• Other conditions. PDSA lists bloat (a twisted stomach and an emergency), gum disease, progressive retinal atrophy (gradual sight loss), bone cancer and von Willebrand's disease, a bleeding disorder.
• Nerves. Greyhound neuropathy, a nerve disease, has a DNA test that The Royal Kennel Club wants breeders to use.

The rescues near Bournemouth differ most on fences and gardens. Greyhound Lifeline needs fences and gates of at least 6 feet and asks about stairs and the type of home you have. Forever Hounds Trust considers homes without gardens and smaller properties case by case. Margaret Green talks through your home and garden on a home visit or Zoom call before you meet a dog.

Whichever you choose, ask the rescue what fence height it needs for the dog, and check yours before the home check.

Greyhounds need less exercise than people expect: PDSA suggests about an hour a day in all. A greyhound can live in a smaller home if those walks happen, which is why Forever Hounds Trust considers smaller properties; ask any rescue before you apply from a flat.

Cats are the bigger question: the Greyhound Trust says some greyhounds can be trained to live with them, and Greyhound Lifeline's FAQ warns that even the best tempered greyhound can have its chase instinct triggered by squirrels, rabbits, deer and cats. Mention any cat, rabbit or small pet on your application. On cold or wet winter walks a thin-coated greyhound will want a coat: PDSA says greyhounds need a warm one.

Rescue greyhounds are adopted, not sold: you apply, the rescue matches a dog to your home, and you pay its fee or donation. Every greyhound on our Bournemouth greyhound page comes that way.

If you want a puppy, The Royal Kennel Club lists litters on its "Find a puppy" service, and Dogs Trust's breed guides suggest a pre-purchase consultation with a vet to hear about likely conditions and rough costs. If an advert looks like a scam, tell Report Fraud, the service that replaced Action Fraud. Our guide to dog rescues near Bournemouth compares every rescue we list.