Class of 2019
2019: Friends, Family, and Diamonds in the Rough
In 2019, Gillian’s Greyhound Adoption (GGA) continued its strong focus on friends and family adoptions, placing retired racers into pro-racing homes where trust, community, and matching home and hound needs remained at the heart of every match. These personal connections showcased our strong relationships with kennel owners, trainers, and the extended greyhound racing community. This year also marked the start of our “Diamonds in the Rough” program, an initiative dedicated to helping retired racing greyhounds who may need a little extra time and guidance to transition into pet life.
What is “Diamonds in the Rough”?
Diamond in the rough: one having exceptional qualities or potential but lacking refinement or polish. Some greyhounds thrive immediately after retirement, while others require a bit of extra attention to find their footing in a home environment. Whether adjusting to household routines, needing behavioural assistance, or medical rehabbing, our 'diamonds in the rough' found a group that could support them, polish them, and help them become amazingly balanced retirees. With the support of their trainers, adoption advocates, and loving fosters, these greyhounds transitioned beautifully into family life, proving that every retired racer has the potential to be a superstar pet.
This year reaffirmed what GGA has always stood for: respecting greyhounds as amazing athletes who come from amazing farms and kennels where they are cared for and spoiled, and ensuring they move from the track to home life with care and thoughtfulness. The launch of “Diamonds in the Rough” highlighted the versatility and adaptability of these incredible dogs, and we’re proud to have been part of their journey.
The GGA Family
To view all photos in the adoptee's gallery, tap the arrow on either side of the image.
Steph Sandor (Ts Steph Curry)
The Paschen-Pritchard Family
Gotcha Day - May 19, 2019
Hershey (Hershey)
The Schormann Family
Gotcha Day - August 25, 2019
Win Wyn (Cbj Winchester)
The Mahmood Family
Gotcha Day - October 6, 2019
Hi everyone! Wyn here! I can't believe it's the end of the year already - we've been so busy! This year I'm embracing my role as the Man of the House - I even finally taught my weird sister Amy how to get on the couch! While I'm a little older, I'm still the same pup on the inside - I still love spinning in circles after a really great poop, spinning in circles while doing a circle-kick on mom's ankle, and trying to figure out what the letter W-A-L-K spell! Unfortunately, there are some bad actors who are jealous of my beauty and elegance. A lady on the elevator said my head looked like a bicycle seat, while my mom's boyfriend is always trying to play my ribs like a xylophone. And while we had a lot of great times this year, I got really sick at one point from something I shouldn't have eaten on a walk while mum was away! It was scary but we have the greatest pup-sitter in the world who made sure I got the care I needed and I'm happy to announce I'm back to tip-top shape! There were some bad people called "mom's job" who tried to make her go back into an office but I made a solid case for why I'm a big old mama's boy and need her close to me at all times, and we won that battle! Now I get to howl while she's in "meetings" but really, I'm doing HER a favour by contributing important information about critical Key Pawformance Indicators. Lastly, we are appreciative of Auntie Gillian and our big needlenose community for always being there when we need a friend, advice, or when I fake a limp just because my mum isn't spending enough at the vet. We wish everyone a joyful holiday season and a happy new year!
Dragon (Ctw Dragon Scout)
The O'Donnell & Ramsay Family
Gotcha Day - February 28, 2019
2025 was an interesting year of firsts.
Dragon is usually no stranger to greeting customers with a roo as they enter our store and will spend most of the day snoozing in the corner of the studio when Cat is teaching a workshop…but one day, when Cat was performing a healing session on a client, Dragon got up, took over, and did an impromptu healing process of his own. He sniffed the client all over and, when complete, cacked out the “bad energy.” The only other time we’ve seen anything like this was when we watched a video of a Reiki practitioner using horses in the same way!
Dragon enjoyed spending a number of weeks when grandma visited, and got to celebrate her 94th birthday! He celebrated by hogging the couch and her bed!
This year, unfortunately, was also when Dragon started losing all his nails. Some just popped off all clean and others came with a bloody mess. We changed his food and with the help of his vet, started Dragon on a regimen of supplements and pain meds. We are so grateful to Gillian for putting us in contact with Sidra…who went through something similar with her pup. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We’re happy to note that Dragon is back to his normal, playful, and annoying self. Cat has gotten really good at disinfecting wounds and applying bandages! Scott has gotten really good at cleaning up the mess.
Also this year, though not the first time, we took Dragon camping with us. While the weather wasn’t so cooperative, Dragon still made lots of friends! Anywhere we went, people just wanted to “talk” with Dragon. He made friend with campers, park personnel, and was especially friendly with…….ticks! In a period of one week, we picked off about 5 ticks or more. We even ended picking one off after we got home! What?
Dragon has been really good settling in here and, recently, has shown a high propensity for emotional intelligence with others. On that note, though, he still ignores us. 