An update on the adoption of Riley, a greyhound

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Los Angeles Times Entertainment Editor Betsy Sharkey is in the process of adopting a greyhound, Riley, at right, that used to race at the Caliente Racing Track in Tijuana. She will periodically post updates on his assimilation into her family at L.A. Unleashed. This is her second report:

It all began with George. An unexpected encounter that became life changing.

OK, it was 8:30 in the morning. I was at the vet’s office with my 6-month-old English Setter, Max, who falls madly, deeply in love with every dog he meets, when in walks George, a black & white greyhound, dignified, elegant and calm.

When you’re with the wild one (that would be Max), it’s easy for observation to turn to envy ... I wanted one of those! George was a newly adopted retired racer, with elegant tuxedo markings. He was there with a volunteer from GreySave, a Pasadena-based greyhound rescue group.

Max immediately loved this dog and I have to say, I did too. The zen of George just filled the room. And besides, I told myself, dogs are pack animals and Max and I aren’t exactly a pack.

The prospect of adopting a greyhound was seductive, but I wasn’t quite ready to commit.

Thank God for Google -- I could read, explore, imagine and learn long before I made the first move toward commitment.

Greyhounds are lucky; they seem to have one of the most active and nationwide communities of rescue organizations. All have websites are filled with amazing dogs who’ve survived the grueling world of racing and now are just waiting to find a home.

There are the back stories, some heartbreaking, told by the foster families, who are helping them make the transition from track to a 3 bedroom, 2 bath life in the burbs.

But deciding to adopt a greyhound is just the beginning. The next step is to find out whether your home, your lifestyle and, most important, whether you will measure up. With so many dogs available, it had never occurred to me that rejection was a possibility.

Next up: The home evaluation.