Once they are too old to race they are often put to sleep or simply abandoned.
Animal charities have cited shocking cases such as a greyhound hurled out of a car window on the M74 motorway; others having their ears cut off before being dumped to disguise their identification numbers, and yet more simply abandoned because the owners do not wish to pay vets' fees after their racing days are over.
Another sad fact is that dog lovers rarely adopt greyhounds because they are believed to be too demanding.But, in fact, the breed makes an ideal pet.
Now one of the UK's largest greyhound rescue charities has expanded into Lancashire, with its base in Fylde.
And organisers of Greyhound Rescue West of England, which saves dogs that have been abused and abandoned, wish to find new homes for the friendly dogs in its care.
The charity receives no financial support from the greyhound racing industry and is reliant on the support of the public for donations to pay for the cost of caring for the dogs.
Now it has a new home at Afterglow boarding kennels, on Whitehill Road, Peel, near Blackpool, where kennel owner Mrs Peta Rain gives the dogs the TLC they so richly deserve until they can be re-homed.
Each dog will be vaccinated, neutered, microchipped and wormed prior to being rehomed. New owners also receive a month's free insurance; follow-up visits and access to trained behaviourists at any time.