On a mission

Torus Tammer

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Leslie Carr said she may never have become

involved in an organization that in the last five years has saved the

lives of some 800 greyhounds if she had not gone to a home show three

years ago.

“I went to a home show at the Anaheim Convention Center to look for

windows,” said Carr, a Huntington Beach resident. “I saw volunteers from

a greyhound rescue there displaying greyhounds, so I gave them a donation

and bought a book they were selling. That experience piqued my interest.”

After reading the book, Carr started going to greyhound rescue “show

and tell” events and fell in love with the breed, so much so that three

months later, she adopted the first of her three greyhounds, one of which

she still has.

But her involvement didn’t stop there.

She was so taken by the cause that she has worked as a volunteer in

the Orange County/Greater Los Angeles chapter of Greyhound Pets of

America for the past three years. For the past year, she has also served

as a member of the group’s board of directors.

The organization makes frequent trips to Mexico to rescue race dogs

that are past their prime. Because of overpopulation, greyhounds face

certain death if they aren’t rescued, said Joyce McRorie, who established

the organization’s local chapter while living in Huntington Beach five

years ago.

McRorie said the group gets the dogs, which were bred and raised in

America, from the Caliente dog track in Tijuana -- a track that is part

of the American circuit.

“We leave with a group of volunteers at 4 a.m. with a dog trailer that

holds up to 24 dogs and cross the border by about 7 a.m.,” McRorie said.

The group knows ahead of time how many foster homes are available and

that determines how many dogs they bring back. They bring back injured

dogs first -- which is the main priority, McRorie said. When the

volunteers return, they head to a shelter in La Habra Heights that

McRorie runs. Upon arrival, the dogs are bathed and treated by a

veterinarian.

“This is when they get their shots, blood drawn and immediate

treatment if needed,” Carr said. “Then we feed them, groom them, name

them and put them with other cats and dogs to see how well they get along

with other animals.”

That test helps volunteers determine which foster homes to send them

to, Carr said.

“My role is finding homes for greyhounds that are retired and then

helping educate people as to whether the greyhound would be an

appropriate pet for them,” Carr said.

The organization is committed to its cause, she added. This month they

will walk in Pasadena’s Doo Dah Parade to get the word out about their

work.

“We will do everything from pet expos in Pomona to Christmas parades

at Belmont Shore in Long Beach,” Carr said. “These animals are beautiful,

and it is not difficult to put forth the effort when you know that they

will be placed in loving homes.”