GPA Las Vegas is always looking for volunteers to help with a
variety of activities, especially to attend meet and greets to raise
public awareness that ex-racers are available for adoption. If you
are able to offer a few hours a month with your greyhound(s), please
send an
e-mail
to
info@gpalv.com
or call 702.392.5822. What better way to enhance the experience of
sharing your life with a retired racing greyhound than to volunteer
your time to help spread the good news about adoption opportunities?
Adoption of a greyhound from GPA Las Vegas is not a requirement to
become a volunteer. You must, however, have first-hand experience
with retired racers and your greyhound must be a good ambassador for
the breed! To ensure that our interaction with the public is as
consistent and professional as possible, the following guidelines
have been developed. Refer to the
Events
calendar and contact us at
info@gpalv.com
or call us at 702.392.5822 to express your interest in volunteering.
Greyhound Pets of America Southern Nevada (GPA Las Vegas)
Greyhound Pets of America Southern Nevada (GPA Las Vegas) is a
501(c)(3), Nevada
Nonprofit Corporation
and a chapter of the national greyhound adoption organization,
Greyhound Pets of America, Inc., established to promote adoption of
retired racing greyhounds primarily in metropolitan Las Vegas and
Southern Nevada.
Greyhound Pets of America, Inc. was established in 1987, is a California
non-profit public benefit corporation and a 501(c)(3) organization
with tax deductibility for donations. GPA
Las Vegas is a volunteer organization dedicated to finding loving
homes for greyhounds from dog tracks across the country. Through our
community service work, we attempt to raise public awareness that
these ex-racing purebred dogs make excellent, loving pets and that
they are available for adoption into qualified homes.
GPA Las Vegas & the Racing Industry
GPA Las Vegas respects the right of every volunteer to have a
personal opinion regarding the racing industry and pari-mutuel
betting on greyhound races, however as a GPA Las Vegas representative, your
responsibility is to communicate clearly that this organization’s
mission, which is alignment with the Greyhound Pets of America
national organization, is officially neutral regarding the existence
of the greyhound racing industry – this means we neither promote nor
degrade.
Our focus is on providing adoption opportunities for retired racers
as greyhound retirement specialists.
In response to questions relative to the industry, care of the
greyhounds, conditions of the racing kennels, etc…please convey that
we are most qualified to discuss greyhounds as pets and their lives
after retirement. Please stress the preparation and care we provide
to each and every dog prior to adoption and that they will be
wonderful companions.
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Greyhounds as Ambassadors
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One of the most important factors to consider in your decision to
introduce your greyhound to potential adopters is whether or not
they are a good ambassador for the breed. Your greyhound must be
comfortable with strangers, safe with small animals, tolerant of
children and able to spend several hours in an unfamiliar
environment without exhibiting high levels of stress. This must be
an enjoyable experience for everyone, especially the greyhounds.
Greyhounds that are not feeling well, are unsteady on their feet or
cannot stand are best left at home resting. It can be quite rigorous
for ill or senior dogs. Please make sure that your dog is neatly
groomed including nails at a proper length. Remember that your
greyhound must wear a safety collar, be on leash, wear any required
municipal dog license and must have a current rabies vaccination.
Getting Started as a Volunteer
The first time you volunteer to participate in a “Meet & Greet” or
other event for GPA Las Vegas you will be joined by an experienced
volunteer who will act as a mentor. This will provide you with an
opportunity to listen to how questions should be answered and what
information is important to help in the decision-making process for
adoption. If you are unsure about the answer to a question, ask for
assistance rather than providing incorrect information. As you
become more experienced, there will be additional opportunities to
volunteer, either alone or in cooperation with another volunteer.
Equipment
Each volunteer will be responsible for taking the required equipment
to the meet and greet location. Typically, this will include a
small folding table and a few chairs, a covering for the table, a
GPA Las Vegas adoption sign for prominent placement on the front of
the table, GPA Las Vegas brochures, a donation jar, a photo booklet
and a greyhound reference publication. All of these items are
available from the GPA Las Vegas officers. You will also want to
supply the greyhounds accompanying you with something soft to lay
on, a water bowl and water.
Attire
Making a professional appearance is essential to establishing and
maintaining credibility for GPA Las Vegas. Logo apparel is
available for purchase from the on-line store. It is not
required, but recommended for wear when representing GPA Las Vegas
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Schedule
If you are unable to participate in the scheduled event, please call
one of the GPA Las Vegas coordinators as soon as possible so that
other arrangements can be made. Many stores and event organizers
limit the number of greyhounds and people able to participate or
attend, so it is important to be respectful of their requirements.
When you are scheduled for a specific amount of time to be present
at an event, it is expected that you will remain for the entire
time.
Location, location, location
Please be considerate of the individuals who made this opportunity
possible. Do not block the flow of traffic through doors and
aisles, as well as near product displays when indoors. Remember that
the table containing the information about greyhounds, as well as
the dogs themselves, must be accessible. It is recommended that you
stand, rather than sit, close beside the table rather than behind
it. Because many people are only interested in petting the dogs or
making a donation, please refrain from a selling approach. Limit
discussion of your own greyhounds unless you are answering a
specific question. Always take time to thank the individuals who
made this opportunity possible before leaving!
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Donations
Thank everyone who makes a donation to GPA Las Vegas! When
asked how the money is spent, explain that it is used to subsidize
operating expenses, including spaying, neutering, medical care and
administrative costs. All donations are used for the welfare of the
greyhounds
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Adoptions
Without exception, GPA Las Vegas will not conduct on-site adoptions
of any greyhound during a Meet & Greet or other event. Interested
individuals are encouraged to complete an application and give it to
a volunteer or mail, fax or submit it electronically to GPA Las
Vegas for processing. No commitments will made to place a specific
greyhound with a specific individual and dogs cannot be “held”
pending a decision on adoption.
The GPA Las Vegas Adoption Philosophy is in
compliance with the Greyhound Pets of America Code of Ethics, which
governs the adoption of retired racing greyhounds. GPA Las Vegas is
committed to ensuring that the
quality
of homes found will take precedence over the
quantity
of greyhounds placed.
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Throughout the year, there are numerous volunteer opportunities to help at special events which require a large volunteer force. These special events are composed of a combination of elements: fundraiser, sales booth,
Meet & Greet, greyhound adoption awareness and social event for greyhound adopters and their hounds. The same GPA Las Vegas policies and guidelines apply at special events as
those posted throughout the Volunteer Opportunities section of our website.
April: Pet-A-Palooza, Sam Boyd Stadium
May: Doggy Ice Cream Social & Fundraiser, Pecos Russell Animal Hospital
October: Las Vegas Greyhound Picnic in the Park Annual Fundraiser, Floyd Lamb Park
December: Holiday Social
Please check the Events
calendar & email
info@gpalv.com to volunteer and obtain more information.
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Adoption Placement Representative
Thank you for considering becoming an adoption placement representative which is the toughest and most challenging of all volunteer jobs. Placement reps receive tremendous rewards and a great deal of satisfaction, but they also experience stress and negative situations. The placement is ideal when a dog is placed in a good loving home and becomes a member of a family. Many times the relationship blossoms into a friendship with the adopters and their greyhound becomes a new "missionary” attending
Meet & Greets and other GPA Las Vegas events! On the other hand, there are times when a rep has to tell applicants they have been denied or a greyhound is returned to the program. While not always, most returns are due to the adoptive family's shortcomings and/or our
inability to help solve a problem with the dog. This usually causes the reps to question their judgment
and the value of their participation and can often overshadow the good they have done. The very worst result is when a hound gets lost, is killed or injured by a car after getting loose or
dies during a veterinary procedure. Reps often will question if there was something they neglected to tell the family that inadvertently caused this grief and what they could have done differently to prevent the situation.
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Setting aside the demands of the position, this is one of the most
enjoyable, rewarding and important roles a volunteer can play for
the group and for greyhounds awaiting homes. Most placement reps
enjoy their jobs immensely and are highly motivated to carry on
their good work due to their love of animals and greyhounds in
particular. Their job is to assess the
personality of a home and to place just the right greyhound into
that approved home. This includes assessing the activity level of
the home, other pets present, potential adopter's willingness or
ability to install a doggy door if gone for more than 4 hours at a
time, and other factors relevant to placing the right greyhound in
the right home.
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Each placement rep receives a training manual, materials and one-on-one training by experienced reps. Each rep will be trained on the entire process from receipt of the adoption application to the final contact with adopters. This will include the telephone interview and questions that may be asked, the home visit and questions that need to answered, what information should be given to the prospective owners, what to look for, notifying applicants they have been approved or denied and the follow-up responsibilities of the placement rep.
We would love to explore with you the possibility of you becoming a greyhound adoption placement representative for GPA Las Vegas! |
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Volunteers who help transport greyhounds find it very rewarding. This is one of the few opportunities to have hands-on interaction with foster dogs in the GPA Las Vegas program since they live in individual foster homes upon arrival in Las Vegas. Several times a month, we have the need for volunteers to pick up 2-3 greyhounds retiring from racetracks in nearby states and coming to Las Vegas to enter our program. From start to finish the average round trip transport takes about 6-8 hours and is usually to Arizona or California.
Transport volunteers usually are adopters who have experience in a multiple greyhound setting. Training is provided. Two volunteers conduct a transport to ensure the safety of the dogs and volunteers. Volunteers must know how to safely walk a greyhound, place a martingale collar with ID Tags and racing muzzle on a greyhound, load a greyhound into the vehicle and observe and address dog behaviors on the transport. Volunteers will also interact with greyhound volunteers from other organizations and acquire important and necessary documents. Volunteers provide their own vehicle, such as an SUV, minivan or station wagon, complete with soft beds and water.
From time to time, volunteers are also needed to take foster dogs to
Meet & Greets, special events, medical appointments, and home visits.
Gas money can be submitted for reimbursement or volunteers are provided with tax donation receipts.
GPA Las Vegas is in need of a media relations volunteer with experience in this area to develop and maintain media resources and relationships with TV,
radio, newspaper, magazines and on the Web to help advertise special events and to raise greyhound adoption awareness. Please email
info@gpalv.com if you could help!
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Summary
Remember that your primary responsibility as a volunteer is to
provide information about greyhounds and what is involved in
adopting and providing a safe and loving home for a retired racer.
To be successful, the experience must be both educational and
rewarding.
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