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

As of 2001, Greyhound Pets of America has 34 chapters and 5 sub-chapters around the nation. In 1995, GPA placed more dogs than any single organization at approximately 4,000. The rest of the greyhound adoption organizations combined placed another 11,000.

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.

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. Representatives. On April 4, 1987, Greyhound Pets of America was formed with nine chapters around the country.

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.

Incorporation began in May, 1987. A first version of by-laws was sent to the original nine chapters asking for editing, suggestions, and revisions. In 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. 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. 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" and officers were elected.

Growth of GPA-NW
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.

GPA has set a new goal to find homes for 7,000 greyhounds per year, we have developed plans to reach this goal by the year 2007. The program is called 7X7. To find out more about this exciting plan, visit the GPA National website at www.greyhoundpets.org.