FUND CREATED TO SAVE RACE DOGS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 29, 1992                   TAG: 9201290052
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Short
FUND CREATED TO SAVE RACE DOGS
Retired greyhounds are heading for greener pastures, and living-room sofas: Racing and animal-protection groups said Tuesday they have set up a $100,000 fund to help save thousands of the dogs from early graves.
"This dog is as soft and as loving as it's possible for a dog to be," said Roger Caras, president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Alongside him stood Herme, a sleek greyhound without a track but no longer without a home.
"There's no justification for euthanizing an animal like this because he can't run any more," Caras said.
The ASPCA will oversee the Greyhound Adoption Fund put together by the American Greyhound Council to address the problem of unwanted dogs in greyhound racing. The council represents track owners, greyhound owners and breeders.
The money goes to about 25 greyhound adoption groups around the country to cover costs for kennels, runs, food and veterinary care.
A videotape will be played at racetracks to help get out the message to those eager to adopt a retired racer: "We're athletes, we're beautiful, we're elegant and we're yours."
The fate of many over-the-hill greyhounds was sharply illustrated this month in Arizona when the carcasses of 124 greyhounds were found in a citrus orchard near Chandler Heights south of Phoenix.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB