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Want to adopt a greyhound? What to know before you do.

If you think greyhound rescue dogs are hyper and ready to race, think again.

“They’re like big cats,” said Carey Theil, executive director of Grey2K USA Worldwide, a nonprofit advocacy group. “They’re docile and gentle and they don’t require a lot of exercise.”

Thousands of greyhounds will need homes at the end of 2020 when a statewide racing ban approved by Florida voters on Nov. 6 kicks in. If you adopt a greyhound, here’s what you can expect.

Finding the right fit

Before you adopt, make sure you’re a good match for the particular greyhound you plan to take home, said David Wolf, director of the National Greyhound Adoption Program.

“It’s a matter of profiling the dog and finding a good match, just like with any dog,” he said.

Some greyhounds like to run and will do better in a home with a yard. Others are couch potatoes, napping the day away.

During their racing days, it was all business and no play. Many were never given a toy, but can in time learn to play with them.

Former racing dogs are not accustomed to living in a home, so they may need to learn to climb stairs.

Greyhounds tend to have calm, sensitive temperaments and respond best to gentle commands.

Friendly with felines?

Some greyhounds are compatible with cats — but not all.

“If they’ve been trained to race with live animals, they may not be good with a cat,” Wolf said.

But some get along with kitties just fine.

“I have a greyhound and four cats,” Theil said. “They’re incredibly sweet and loving companions. Greyhounds are wonderful for any family.”

Wolf says he has found homes for more than 8,500 greyhounds since 1990.

“Very few greyhounds are a handful,” he said. “You can put your hand in the cage and they will not nip you. These are very friendly animals. If you don’t feel good, they lean on you and give you support.”

How to adopt

To find a greyhound rescue, you can search online for “greyhound adoption near me.” You will also find adoption groups on the site run by the National Greyhound Association, a proracing industry group.

Adoption fees vary, but generally range around $300.