Register
View All Projects Back

Greyhound Adoption Drive

Budget Stimulator

Can you afford to look after a greyhound? Budget for the Annual cost of greyhound ownership.

While basic food and vet bills for a greyhound will be $5000 per annum; this doesn't budget for insurance, extra vet bills, travel related costs. Surveys of the greyhound community show a typical cost of $10,000 annualised over the lifetime of the greyhound. Use this tool to see how you would assign spending.

 

While the inital costs of buying a greyhound is much cheaper than ordering a designer puppy, ($250 compared to $10,000) we want everyone to understand their responsiblities and costs of looking after your greyhound over time.

Each dog breed has specific neesds and while a larger dog is not necessarily more expensive to care for than a smaller dog, your greyhound will have costs beyond food and these will increase as the hound ages. This is true for all dogs, who cost the most in the last years of life as they need more veterinary care.

We'd like to know what you spend on your greyhound to give potential adopters an idea of what to expect to budget. Consider the following costs of ongoing care: 

► Council registration fees 

► Cost of bedding - as your hound ages you may need orthopedic bedding; or cheap bedding wore out and requires replacement

► Cost of clothing - greyhounds need clothing 

► Medical costs (yearly check up; vaccination; nail care, worming, illness, old age related costs)

► Pet Insurance

► enrichment activities - as simple as toys, as complex as day care while you are at work

► Holiday or dog sitting/ dog boarding cost when you are away for work or holidays

 

Potential budget to own a greyhound per annum
$8,000.00
Your personalised greyhound budget planner
$8,000.00

Health costs

In addition to annual costs of maintianing the health of your hound, be aware that 75 % of the medical costs are incurred in the final years, sometimes months of life. This can be mitigated somewhat by ensuring ongoing health care throughout their life with you, including keeping up to date with vaccinations, worming, pest control and especially, keeping their teeth cleaned. 

Be aware that accidents can always occur and that while pet insurance is now available, it does not cover all expenses so you will need to budget for this.

$2,600.00
(Once the colour has changed on budget items, your feedback for that item has been submitted)

Pet insurance

There are many different pet insurance options available today, however, there are some things you need to consider.

► It costs less per year to insure a younger hound; and you may not be able to change insurance later when the hound is older, or even insure any hound over the age of 8. Ask around for referrals to the best insurance available at the time your first get your hound. 

► Insurance will not cover all costs and you will still have out of pocket expenses. You may need to get prior approval for procedures, so do not rely on the insurance paying for something without first getting approval in writing. 

► There are some vets that have a monthly cost to help manage the ongoing health of your hound. While this is not insurance, it may reduce the overall cost of looking after your hound as it may not be much more than the cost of vaccination and worming. 

$1,000.00
  • -20%
  • -15%
  • -10%
  • -5%
  • 0
  • 5%
  • 10%
  • 15%
  • 20%
Learn More

Worming

This can be combined with some flea/ tick medications or taken separately.  Budgeted $30 per month. 

$300.00
  • -20%
  • -15%
  • -10%
  • -5%
  • 0
  • 5%
  • 10%
  • 15%
  • 20%
Learn More

Vaccinations

Speak to your vet about the options. They should be done annually as part of a yearly checkup. 

$300.00
Learn More

Accidents and Teeth Cleaning

Contingency planning. Some people use insurance to manage this, but, much like our own health insurance, it won't cover everything. And, depending on the age of your greyhound upon adoption, it may not be available. Putting aside a yearly amount will help cover this cost that is very likely to be used eventually. 

$1,000.00
  • -20%
  • -15%
  • -10%
  • -5%
  • 0
  • 5%
  • 10%
  • 15%
  • 20%
Learn More

Holidays

Do you go on holidays? Do you go often?  Or do you travel for work? If so, you will need to consider the cost of having your hound minded while you are away. It is not an inconsiderable expense and requires planning in advance.  

$1,400.00
(Once the colour has changed on budget items, your feedback for that item has been submitted)

Boarding costs

this is a difficult item to budget for as the cost will depend on the amount of time you go away and if you have someone come to your home to house sit or if you send your hound away to a boarding kennel or other service. Cheaper is not necessarily better as you will have to cope with a distressed hound when you get them back. budget $100 per day for care. I've budged 1400 for a fortnight holiday.

$1,400.00
  • -20%
  • -15%
  • -10%
  • -5%
  • 0
  • 5%
  • 10%
  • 15%
  • 20%

Food

Greyhounds are noted for stomach issues so often need to eat quality food, however, they don't necessarily eat a lot. the amount of food required depends on the quality of the food provided. You can save some money preparing their food yourself, but this is time consuming and the cost of your time needs to be considered, as does if you are meeting their dietary requirements.  

$4,000.00
(Once the colour has changed on budget items, your feedback for that item has been submitted)

Raw or Cooked

Whether you are going to stick with raw food or cooked food or a combination, you will want to feed them twice a day to protect against bloat and to ensure they are getting the nutrients they need. You can feed chicken carcasses but not chicken wings as these are too small for greyhounds and they will swallow them whole without getting the benefit of chewing them. Cooked food can be extended by cooking bone broth from carcasses and fillers like white rice and dried beans. 

$2,500.00
  • -20%
  • -15%
  • -10%
  • -5%
  • 0
  • 5%
  • 10%
  • 15%
  • 20%
Learn More

Good quality dry food

Feed twice a day to avoid bloat. Hounds tend to have sensitive stomaches so sticking to the same food is useful to stop an upset stomach. buy a better quality product, preferably from a vet. 

$1,500.00
  • -20%
  • -15%
  • -10%
  • -5%
  • 0
  • 5%
  • 10%
  • 15%
  • 20%
Learn More