AUGUSTA – The Maine Greyhound Placement Service hopes to locate permanently on farm property in Augusta.

The service, the state’s only greyhound adoption agency, now operates from a leased building in Bridgton. It has signed an option to purchase a 13-acre property at 259 Old Belgrade Road that includes a home and several barns and outbuildings.

The 19th-century barn near the road, currently owned by Robert A. Gray of Chelsea, would be converted into a veterinary clinic and offices for the greyhound adoption program. The sale is conditional on approval of the greyhound agency by the Augusta planning board.

The greyhound service has been around for 10 years and has placed around 2,500 dogs. Most of the greyhounds were adopted by Maine residents while some went out of state and into Canada.

The service adopts out retired greyhounds from race tracks. The swift dogs best known for runs around race tracks are usually from 2 to 5 years old at the time of their retirement. They typically live to 12 to 14 years of age.

Many racing greyhounds are put to death if not adopted.

The placement service would be open one day a week and the clinic, with a veterinarian and technician on duty, would be open several days a week to treat cats and dogs and other animals, said Scott Bruns, president of Maine Greyhound Placement Service.

Bruce Keller, the city planner, said neighbors have been notified about the proposed use of the barn.