Joanne & Rodney Hopkins have been involved in greyhound adoption in the Hamilton/Toronto area since first acquiring a greyhound in 1989 from the Toronto Humane Society. They became interested in greyhound rescue after researching information provided by a nearby adoption group. Greyhounds To Canada is the group that provided them with their first retired racers, being Caleb and Clancy after their first greyhound (Minka) passed away in 1994. Both Caleb and Clancy are certified Therapy dog volunteers with the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dogs in Hamilton.

After the group they were helping with disbanded, they continued to offer support and assistance to a few groups in the Eastern Ontario area. In 1998 they acquired a smooth collie named Ripley who was in need of a home. Joanne & Rodney have also been in affiliation with a few groups in the states and are in contact with greyhound tracks in the states to help with the rescue effort there as well.

They often assist greyhound breeders (who, in some cases breed other breeds as well) with getting homes for dogs that - for one reason or another - need homes. Because of potential adopters inquiring about other breeds (such as whippets & Italian greyhounds), Joanne & Rodney decided to begin fostering other breeds as the need arose. They were already aware that these breeds are compatible with greyhounds in most cases, as long as an appropriate match is made. You are welcome to inquire about other breeds but please keep in mind that they do differ from ex-racing greyhounds. For more info on this, please read the section "How Greyhounds Differ From Other Breeds" on our About Greyhounds page.

Joanne & Rodney do so much work to rescue these dogs and find homes for them that they decided they may as well form their own group with help from many volunteers. And so this is how our current group "Greyhound's Circle of Friends" came about. The volunteers are mostly people whom Joanne & Rodney have assisted in rescuing their own greyhounds. In addition to Joanne & Rodney's home, the volunteers often provided temporary foster homes for greyhounds until they are adopted. Another thing Joanne does is offer assistance to people who have adopted from other groups and are having problems with their dog. She calls these cases "bounce backs" and she tends to their particular problem so that they can go back to the home or maybe into a new home.

Carrie Ann Timm & Jamie Dufour, who reside in the Sarnia/London area, agreed to volunteer shortly after rescuing their greyhound, Sneaker (from Greyhound Adoption of Ohio) in 1998. Since then they have also rescued a whippet named Ruby. Carrie Ann & Jamie have enabled the group to "branch out" and be able to serve the southwestern part of Ontario in addition to southeastern Ontario. In 2001, Josephine and Jennifer in Ajax, Ontario and Fred and Judy of Tonawanda, NY joined the group as contact people in their areas.

Our group gets the dogs ready to go into homes by doing basic training, as far as house breaking and fixing other possible problems like counter surfing, jumping up on people, chewing, chasing cats, etc. We offer also further training for a fee that would be much less than most instructors charge. This fee, as well as any other donations we receive goes to the future benefit of dogs not yet in our custody.

The "Circle of Friends" refers to Joanne & Rodney, along with their many helpers, without whom the running of a group would be very difficult. Although most of the volunteers are not mentioned here by name, (only because they are not "contact people") their efforts are very important to the group. It is our hope that our "Circle" will continue to grow with many more helpers in the future so that one day, no greyhound will ever have to go without a home.