Greyhound Pets of America is a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation founded in 1987 for the purpose of rescuing ex-racing greyhounds.

As of 2004, Greyhound Pets of America has 40 chapters and 5 sub-chapters around the nation. In 2003, GPA placed more dogs than any single organization at approximately 4,500.

GPA works with the racing industry to encourage its involvement with adoption efforts. The American Greyhound Council, a racing industry-sponsored organization established for the welfare of the greyhounds, began funding a nation-wide 800-number service (800-366-1472) in June, 1990. It asked GPA, as the largest greyhound adoption organization, to administer this service. Since then, GPA has fielded thousands of inquiries about greyhound adoption and sent prospective adopters to the nearest adoption agency.

The GPA adoption program depends on donations and volunteers to accomplish its goal. Whether you send a donation to the current GPA National Treasurer (see list of officers below) or to one of our member chapters, your donation will be tax-deductible.

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Greyhounds placed through the GPA program usually are between two and five years old. These ex-racers are intelligent, quiet, clean, gentle, good-natured, adaptable dogs who adjust readily to their new home environment. They are eager to please and respond positively to any attention. They seem grateful for their new homes and regard their new owners with never-ending affection. They do not require a great deal of space to run, as many people think, but they do need exercise. Inside the house they enjoy curling up in a corner on a soft blanket.

Greyhounds spend most of their lives in the company of other dogs, their trainers, and handlers. Greyhounds have all the advantages of breeding and training when it comes to being a good pet. Their sociability generally makes them great with other pets (including cats). Their temperament makes them wonderful around children and friends. Their intelligence and breed make them perfect house pets, clean, quiet, and a loving companion. Whether you are a family looking for a playful friend, or an individual looking for a devoted companion, a well-mannered greyhound could be just the pet for you.

Many adoptive owners find that Greyhounds fit in well with their new families. "Greyhounds make wonderful pets," says Joan Headland, a founder and the first president of GPA. "They're fantastic. Their temperament is wonderful, they get along well with children and the elderly. They're quiet, very loving, and sweet. When they're inside, they're couch potatoes. Outside - if they see something move, they chase it."

Early in 1987, what was then New England REGAP (Retired Greyhounds As Pets) invited various greyhound adoption groups across the country to join in the formation of a national greyhound placement organization. One of the groups invited to participate was REGAP of California, which Joan Headland and Carol Osborne helped form in the Los Angeles County area in 1986. Representatives meeting in Oxford, Massachusetts, on April 4, 1987, formed the Greyhound Pets of America with nine chapters around the country. At this meeting, officers for the new organization were elected to interim terms: John Furbush, President (Massachusetts), Joan Headland, Vice President (in absentia; California), Ann Tepper, Executive Secretary (New Hampshire), Lori Graham, Corresponding Secretary (Virginia), Lou Batdorf, Treasurer (Ohio), and Joan Dillon, Resource Librarian (Massachusetts).

The photo above is from the 1987 conference: (top row, left to right): Joan Headland (Calif), Joan Dillon (Mass), and Roger Garland (Northwest). Bottom: Gloria Sanders (Midwest), Carol Osborne (Calif), Pat Lewellen (Midwest), Kathy Feltich (Midwest).

The nine founding chapters were: California, Connecticut, Midwest, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, upper Ohio Valley (now known as Wheeling Downs), Texas, and Virginia.

Incorporation

The organization wanted to take a neutral position toward the greyhound racing industry. As a non-racing state but home to greyhound rescue groups, they determined that California was the best place to incorporate. The interim president called Joan Headland, who agreed to take on this task on behalf of the California chapter. Carol Osborne volunteered to head up the incorporation work.

Carol did extensive research on the subject of incorporating a non-profit organization in California. The written work began in May, 1987. One of the requirements for incorporation is a set of by-laws, so Joan worked on the by-laws while Carol worked on the other requirements. A first version of by-laws was sent to the original nine chapters asking for editing, suggestions, and revisions. Three people in particular really became immersed in those by-laws; Lou Batdorf (Ohio), Samantha Parsons (California) and Joan Dillon representing GPA/MA. After editing and mailing thoughts back and forth, the GPA incorporation process was well on its way. By November, 1987, GPA was registered as a California non-profit corporation.

Once the formal documentation for the State of California was in order, work began on GPA's federal tax exemption. On July 18, 1988, all paperwork was submitted to the Internal Revenue Service. Many hours went into preparing and submitting the required paperwork, including the application, by-laws from each chapter, and formal requests by individual chapters. In the meantime, three more chapters had joined GPA. By July of 1989, nine of the 12 GPA chapters had received federal tax-exempt status: 501(c)(3). This means that all donations to the chapters under the national umbrella are tax deductible for the individual contributor. Three of the chapters chose to file separately for tax exemption.

First National Meeting

On October 18, 1987, in Abilene, Kansas, GPA had its first official national meeting. In preparation for the meeting, interim President John Furbush had submitted a list of issues to the member chapters. Four chapters sent representatives: Midwest, Northwest, Massachusetts and California. Most of the other chapters identified proxies. At the meeting, Northwest, Alabama, and Arizona were admitted as the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth chapters. Pat Lewallen's group (Kansas) was welcomed into GPA as a Midwest sub-chapter. Those assembled agreed not to use "INC" as part of the corporation name, formally adopted the by-laws, and endorsed "voting by mail".

Officers were elected: President, Joan Headland, CA Vice President, Gloria Sanders, Midwest Executive Secretary, Cynde Green, AZ Corresponding Secretary, Lori Graham, VA Treasurer, Mike Herrera, CA Resource Librarian, Joan Dillon, MA.

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In the first year of existence, GPA grew from nine chapters to 12, from resident reps in 18 states to 27 states, from 42 placement reps to approximately 75. Its members wrote and instituted by-laws, incorporated, set up accounting procedures, acquired federal tax exempt status, developed a placement network across the United States, gained recognition on a national level, set goals for continued growth and development, and attained a professional business attitude.

GPA's growth has been dramatic. By 1995, over 300 placement representatives from 27 GPA chapters and 13 sub-chapters in 31 states and two Canadian provinces were at work. GPA placed about 100 dogs in 1987, its first year. In 1993, GPA assisted in the adoption of 3,188 greyhounds. In 2000, it helped adopt out 4,686.

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