Greyhound

Animal Rescue

Feb. 17/98
Los Angeles Times
Martha L. Willman

A story about Maggie McCurry, a Studio City resident who can claim the title Lady of Manningham back home in England, and the founder of Wings for GreyhoundsQthe first greyhound air shuttle rescue service in the nation. In an aged twin-engine Beechcraft, McCurry flies retired racing dogs from a Tucson track to California adoption kennels in Acton, Gilroy and Redding.

One greyhound rescue worker was cited as crediting the flight service with helping to ensure new lives as pets for some of the thousands of greyhounds that are otherwise routinely slaughtered once they get too old to win. The story notes that McCurry averages three to four flights a month, each time carrying two dogs the capacity, along with a co-pilot, of her 1960 aircraft. She removed the rear seats in the plane and replaced them with piles of soft comforters and pillows for the dogs to curl up on. The dogs wear special harnesses to protect them in case of turbulence. She added she transported about 50 dogs last year. The story goes on to state that an estimated 40,000 greyhounds were destroyed each year before the first adoption program began in 1987 at a Florida racetrack. Now, there are more than 220 greyhound rescue groups nationwide, some partially funded by the greyhound breeding and racing industry, which placed 18,000 of the sleek dogs in private homes in 1996. Still, 9,500 retired racers were killed. The industry, led by the National Greyhound Assn., has met the criticism by attempting to police itself. Random inspections of breeding farms have weeded out a dozen or so people who have been banned from the industry for life. And leaders urge breeders to produce quality, not quantity, reducing the number of unwanted dogs. In 1996, 36,688 puppies were born, a 29% decline from 52,000 in 1991, the first year statistics were kept. However, the story notes that many animal advocates are still working hard to shut down the industry, lobbying state leaders to ban dog racing as cruel.