(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)“How do you turn a racing machine into a pet?” asks Cathy Kiburtz, president of GreySave, an L.A. County-based greyhound adoption group. “That’s a big step from the old days of greyhound racing, before my time.”In the 1980s and early 1990s, reports of euthanizing retired racing dogs and other bad press led to the establishment of greyhound adoption groups. Inga Hammond of San Gabriel nuzzles Raven, a former racing greyhound who just arrived in Chino from Mexico. By 1992, greyhound racing was one of the most popular American spectator sports, with 50-plus racetracks drawing 3.5 million fans who wagered nearly $3.5 billion. Pressure from animal-rights groups led many states, including California, to outlaw greyhound racing.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 24, 2020 15:00 UTC