The path to form a national Italian Greyhound Rescue began in 1997, when consistent fundraising dedicated to covering rescue expenses was implemented. At this time, various national humane organizations were beginning serious campaigns to educate the public about breed rescue, and rescue was receiving more and more inquiries to rehome dogs.
The Italian Greyhound Rescue Foundation was incorporated, and was granted 501(c)(3) status by the IRS in October 2004. Our volunteers have grown from a core of dedicated breeders to a national network of over 500 foster homes and rescue representatives. We routinely vet dogs, rehabilitate problem behaviors, screen potential adopters, hold awareness events, transport animals for specialized care, and raise funds to pay our vet costs. We have a structure in place to support our volunteers and recruit and train new ones. We are very proud of our past and look forward to an even more productive future.
In 1998, IGRF reported 86 dogs had been placed in the previous calendar year. Today, we typically handle between 900 and 1000 dogs annually, and as of 2015 have placed over 8000 dogs since the advent of current record keeping methods.
We run the very popular Biggy Iggy Auction once a year to raise money to support our program. Additionally, local volunteers manage the Iggy 500 fundraising event in Indianapolis, participate in area Care Days, and take part in countless pet festivals and "Meet and Greet" events sponsored by pet stores and humane societies. We also directly offer items for sale through as a continuous fundraising operation.
Our state Rescue Representatives are also instrumental in partnering with animal control facilities and other humane and rescue groups to coordinate pre-adoption home visits, transports, and shelter outreach.
Italian Greyhound Rescue also manages the Canine Recovery Program, an ID tracking program utilizing numbered tags and an hotline where lost and found dogs can be reported at any time of the day or night. All foster dogs that come through our program are assigned a tag and enrolled for their lifetime at no charge to our adopters.
Mission and Vision
To find homes for rescued Italian Greyhounds and to educate the public on the care and training required by this breed.
Other specialization
Adoption Policy
We generally ask you complete your adoption application first, rather than selecting out a dog because the dogs in each state constantly change. Completing your adoption application also tells us you are seriously considering an adoption versus just browsing.
Three Easy Steps to Adopt:
1. Download and complete the Adoption Application.
2. Return your Adoption Application via email, or postal mail.
3. Setup a home visit with your local rescue representative.
Usually the adoption process takes 1-2 weeks to complete, depending on if your references can be reached, and your availability to meet with a volunteer for the home visit. This may take slightly longer around holidays, or if you live in a rural area where distances may add complexity to completing the home visit.
Adoption Application
Download the adoption application in a format which your computer can open or print:
• Italian Greyhound Adoption Application - PDF Format
• Italian Greyhound Adoption Application - Microsoft Word/Open Office Format
If you do not have the capability to open the above documents, please let your local rescue representative know so they can mail a paper copy for you to complete. You can also download and install the free programs Open Office or Adobe PDF Reader to read and print the forms.
Returning the Adoption Application
If you haven't already been in contact with your local or state Italian Greyhound Rescue Representative, please locate your local Italian Greyhound Rescue, and on that page will be the contact information on where you can email your adoption application.
If you do not have the capability to email the application, call the local rescue representative for a fax number or mailing address where it can be sent. It is best to return the adoption application via email to keep the process flowing, and so it is easy for the rescue representative to share it with volunteers who may help call your references, or conduct your home visit.
If you are not sure of where to return your adoption application you can send it via postal mail to the address on the form.
If you want an application to go to a specific representative, please put that info on the top of the application. Otherwise, it will be sent to the Rescue Representative who is responsible for the state where you reside.
Getting A Home Visit Setup
After your adoption application is returned the rescue representative or another volunteer will call your veterinary and personal references. They may follow up with you for additional information if needed, and then set up an in-home appointment at your personal residence(s). The home visit is a social visit to meet you, check over your fence (if applicable), and introduce an Italian Greyhound to any existing pets you may already have. The home visit usually lasts anywhere from 30 minutes up to an hour in general, but in some cases may take slightly longer if you have a lot of questions.
Reference Checks
We do call both personal references and veterinary references to help ensure that our dogs are going to a home where they deserve the attention and care they need. These are short informal interviews so that we can get to know a potential adopter, and potentially how they may care for an Italian Greyhound.
People who make good references are people who are familiar with your schedule, such as neighbors, co-workers or long-term friends. These people should be close enough to the applicant that they have been to the house, are familiar with a general daily schedule, and may have knowledge about the potential adopters interaction with animals.
https://www.iggyrescue.com/html/contact/adopt_an_italian_greyhound.shtml
Testimonials
No testimonials submitted

Get safe exercise for your dog by renting a private dog park near you
See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters By Specialization In Denver
See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Denver
See The Best Dog Rescues & Shelters In Other Cities Near Denver
Get your dog the safe enrichment they need by renting a Sniffspot

David Adams is a man of many passions, but his love for dogs stands above all. He is not only a dog lover, but also the founder of an innovative platform called Sniffspot. This unique platform connects dog owners with private property owners who are willing to rent out their space for off-leash playtime. While the idea of Sniffspot was initially conceived by his wife, Rebecca, David has been the driving force behind its remarkable success, tirelessly overseeing its growth and development.
David's dedication to providing safe and enjoyable spaces for dogs to play, explore, and socialize is evident in his unwavering commitment to Sniffspot. He strongly believes that dogs need ample space and opportunities to stretch their legs and have fun. As a result, he has worked tirelessly to build a network of private property owners across the country who share his vision and are willing to offer their space for the benefit of dogs and their owners.
Despite his busy schedule, David always finds time to indulge in his passion for the great outdoors. He loves nothing more than exploring new hiking trails and embarking on thrilling outdoor adventures. Whenever he is not working on Sniffspot, he can often be found hiking or visiting multi-acre fenced sniffspots with his two beloved dogs, Soba and Toshii. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys the fresh air, breathtaking scenery, and the sense of freedom that comes with being in nature.
David is based in Salem, MA.
Read more