Greyhound Retirement Day Will Melt Your Heart

Beautiful creatures go from racing and cramped kennels to adoption and loving homes. Here are photos of a group of greyhounds as they make the journey from Tijuana to Los Angeles. These lucky hounds will hopefully find a life of leisure at an adoption fair known as Retirement Day, organized by volunteer group Fast Friends.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Greyhounds walk with their handlers before competing at the Caliente racetrack in Tijuana February 18, 2012. All the dogs have been imported from the United States where only seven states still operate dog tracks. Circuit rules demand that all race dogs retire at the age of five, though some run well into their sixth year. Fast Friends, a greyhound adoption group based outside Los Angeles, United States, is committed to finding homes for retired greyhounds from the Caliente racetrack. Every few months, volunteers orchestrate an event called "Retirement Day" where older, slower dogs or dogs that have been weakened from frequent leg injuries officially leave their racing days behind and are given up for adoption. Picture taken February 18, 2012.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Greyhounds compete at the Caliente racetrack in Tijuana.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Greyhounds stand together in a kennel at the Caliente racetrack.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Greyhounds look on from behind a fence in a kennel at the Caliente racetrack.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Greyhounds stand at a fence in a kennel at the Caliente racetrack.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

A load of 13 greyhounds arrive onboard a Hound Hauler in Los Angeles for Retirement Day on February 11, 2012.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Fast Friends founder Joyce McRorie helps Bowtie Man the greyhound out of the Hound Hauler.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Greyhound Dave tries to sit on the lap of a volunteer.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Greyhounds have their feet dipped into containers filled with flea bath at Retirement Day.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

A greyhound is towel dried by volunteers.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Greyhound Dreamboat, also known as U.S.S. Dreamboat, is given a bath by volunteers.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Courtney Williams (L) introduces her cat Kinko to Robin the greyhound, next to Fast Friends founder Joyce McRorie, as part of a test to determine Robin's foster placements in Los Angeles.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

A girl hugs a greyhound that will be placed in temporary foster care at her home in Los Angeles.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Marcia Hall (L), who has adopted two greyhounds, and Fast Friends founder Joyce McRorie sit in the waiting room of a veterinarian with their dogs.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Urns holding the ashes of deceased greyhounds are seen in the living room of Fast Friends founders Joyce and Tom McRorie.

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Erin Siegal / Reuters

Two adopted greyhounds relax in their new home in Whittier, California February 21, 2012.