Few dogs are as emotionally engaging or physically elegant as the greyhound. None are as swift. Its unmatched fleetness is key to the breed’s longtime survival. Bred to hunt, the greyhound has a lineage extending back 8,000 years. Throughout their history, greyhounds have been the companions of kings and an inspiration to writers and artists alike.

Today hundreds of young and healthy purebred greyhounds that do not make the grade on U.S. racetracks are in need of adoptive homes. Through the efforts of hundreds of greyhound-adoption groups, more than 20,000 former racing dogs are adopted into loving homes each year. With greater exposure of the breed, and greater awareness of their plight, all of these dogs can be placed after their tenure on the track and the breeding farms is over.

The otherworldly beauty, quiet grace, and loving disposition of the retired racing greyhound were Barbara Karant’s inspiration for Greyhounds. By photographing her subjects against a pristine white background, she captures the dogs’ indomitable spirit—their spunk, humor, mystery, and charm. Karant’s gloriously expressive pictures, along with evocative texts by Alice Sebold and other writers, make this book a wonderful gift for anyone who has ever shared his or her life with a dog.