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172 greyhounds have found their forever home since 1 August 2026, and hundreds more turned out for the Great Global Greyhound Walk.
It’s been full speed ahead for greyhounds with two record months of adoptions and the Great Global Greyhound Walk shining a spotlight on the breed.
August and September were back-to-back record adoption months, driven by increased public awareness and interest in greyhound adoption.
87 adoptions have been provisionally recorded for September. And, as of 5 October, 172 greyhounds have found homes across August and September.
Christine Bennett, Chief Executive of the Greyhound Transition Agency, says interest has continued to grow as more New Zealanders get to know the breed.
"We are continuing to see high levels of interest and it's great to see so many greyhounds finding their forever home."
Interest built further in the second half of September, when hundreds of greyhounds and their owners took to streets, parks and pubs across New Zealand for the Great Global Greyhound Walk. Despite difficult weather across much of the country, more than 20 walks went ahead across two weekends, giving the public a chance to meet greyhounds and talk to adoption agencies about how adoption works.
The Great Global Greyhound Walk is an annual international event bringing greyhounds, their owners and supporters together in countries around the world. This year's event was the largest on record, with 16,696 sighthounds taking part across 48 countries worldwide. New Zealand's contribution was significant, with 415 sighthounds joining in.
Bennett says neither the walks nor the wider rehoming mission would be possible without the adoption agencies, greyhound groups and volunteers around the country.
"There are so many amazing people out there doing incredible work for greyhounds. A huge thank you to every organiser, walker and greyhound who made the events happen across the two weekends."
Thanks to everyone at the Christchurch Bridge of Remembrance and Onehunga walks for sharing a glimpse of their day. Watch the highlights below:
Note: Adoption figures remain provisional and may be adjusted as individual greyhound records are updated and reconciled.
Got questions? Find answers to our most frequently asked questions below.
It's a personal, one-on-one process – and our trusted adoption agencies are wonderful at it. They know these animals best and they know how to set both you and your new greyhound up for success.
Every greyhound is individually assessed and matched, and the same goes for those who want to adopt. While the exact criteria vary by agency, you can generally expect:
You can also have a trial period with the greyhound in your home before making a commitment. Get in touch with one of our trusted adoption agencies to find out more.
There are many greyhounds looking for homes right now – you can reach out to one of our trusted adoption agencies.
Adoption fees vary by adoption agency. In general, they cover health checks, vaccinations, desexing, dental work, council registration and essential accessories.
That’s a question for your landlord, as pet policies vary and you’ll need their permission before adopting. The good news is that greyhounds are often an easy case to make – they’re calm, quiet, clean, and gentle in the home, and many landlords are open to them once they learn more about the breed.
Foster carers work with adoption agencies to provide a temporary home while a greyhound transitions to pet life – building their confidence, teaching them the ropes of domestic living, and making them even more ready for their forever home.
To find out about fostering opportunities in your area, get in touch with one of our trusted adoption agencies.
