They were docile, they were beautiful, and they were looking for loving homes.

The 20 ex-racer greyhounds at Saturday’s Adopt-a-thon defied the image of the breed as muzzled racing machines, mindlessly chasing a mechanical rabbit around a track, or the cartoon Simpsons’ quivering race track reject, Santa’s Little Helper.

These dogs stood quietly in their multi-colored warming blankets while people milled around them, looking for “the one.” Their large doe eyes looked adoringly at anyone who approached, and a pat on the head made them lean in for more.

Although greyhounds have been bred to run like the wind, they are perfectly content to be big lapdogs, and make great pets, according to Kathy Lee, from Greyhound Pets, Inc., which sponsored the event at Sunset Kennels in Oak Harbor.

“We call them 40-miles-per-hour couch potatoes,” she said.

The lean hounds have no body fat and are most content curled up in a warm house with their human companion.

The Idaho-based organization takes in dogs from tracks in Colorado and Arizona and places them with new owners, who must pass a rigorous screening process.

Some of the dogs are too old to race, while others may have been injured or just didn’t have what it takes to be a racer. They range in age from 15 months to 13 years.

One of the requirements of adoption is a large yard with a five-foot-tall fence.

“The main thing is, if you don’t let them off the leash you will have the best friend you could have. Let them off the leash and you won’t have one at all,” advised Roberta Oliviero of Oak Harbor, who has adopted three ex-racers in the past five years.

She was planning on taking one of the greyhounds home as a foster dog, while his broken leg healed. His track injury had forced an early retirement.

Running tendency aside, Greyhound Pets says it is a misconception that greyhounds are hyperactive. In fact they are mild, gentle and quiet by nature. They tend to not bark much, and so don’t make good guard dogs, but they do make excellent companions. Running in a fenced yard and daily walks are all the exercise they need to be happy.

Eun Jo Shaup of Mukilteo came to adopt a greyhound after her grown daughters had researched them on the Internet.

Shaup had picked out Giggles, a petite two-year-old female from a track in Colorado.

“I felt she would be a good companion,” Shaup said. “We’re going to eat, sleep and walk together. I’m planning on spoiling her!”

After she filled out an application, Greyhound Pets representatives would visit Shaup’s home to see if it met approval. As well as a fenced yard, prospective adopters must have a “greyhound savvy” veterinarian, and the ability to care for their new pet properly, according to Lee.

Cost of the adoption is $175, which includes all shots, neutering or spaying and a dental checkup. If a match does not work out, for any reason, the organization requires that the dog be returned for re-adoption.

Eight of the dogs at the Adopt-a-thon already had people coming to pick them up, some from as far away as British Columbia. Although there are greyhound adoption groups around the world, Greyhound Pets, Inc. works the Northwest, from western Montana to northern Oregon and Alberta. They have placed almost 4,000 dogs since their inception in 1985.

All the owners at Saturday’s event had nothing but praise for the breed. Most of them had more than one.

“They’ll steal your heart,” said Chuck Totten of Olympia, who has adopted four greyhounds.

The organization shows dogs every weekend at sites around the Northwest. For more information check out their Web site at: www.greyhoundpetsinc.org

You can reach News-Times reporter Marcie Miller at mmiller@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611