A greyhound charity in Wimbledon is holding its annual Great Global Greyhound Walk this month.
Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare are using the walk, on Sunday June 11, to raise awareness of its work caring and rehoming retired racing dogs.
WGW has been running for 40 years, but the recent closure of the Wimbledon greyhound track has increased pressure on its waiting list.
The charity cares for around 80 greyhounds at its kennels in Hersham. The animals are handed over by owners or trainers when their racing days are over.
Laura Fewell, who has been organising the walk, said that dogs from the kennel as well as rehomed dogs will take part in the fundraiser. Dog-owners from the Surrey Sight Hound Walking Group are also invited to attend.
There are around 20,000 greyhounds in the UK waiting to be rehomed.
Ms Fewell said: "A lot of them are have gone straight into training, and they don't know what it means to be a dog.
"But with a little love and attention we can train it out of them."
All greyhound and sight hound owners are welcome to join the two and a half mile charity walk, which will start at The Sportsman pub in Mogador at 11am. There will be a shorter, one mile walk for older dogs that will take 45 minutes.
The greyhound track in Wimbledon closed in March this year after 89 years of racing. The track is being demolished to make way for a new multi-million pound AFC Wimbledon stadium. Additional housing will also be built on the site in Plough Lane.
Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare expressed concern at the time about the influx of dogs it would receive. The kennels are open to the public every day from 11am to 2pm for people to visit and learn more about rehoming, as well as to help care for and walk the dogs.
The first Great Global Greyhound Walk was held in 2016 at 151 locations including in Canada, New Zealand and the Philippines. Around 5,021 dogs participated. The event began as the Great British Greyhound Walk, and was started in Essex 11 years ago with just six greyhounds.
Charity manager Denise Durbarbier said: "We are an independent greyhound charity and it is thanks to the general public’s generosity and the kindness of our supporters that we are able to care for these gentle, affectionate dogs and find them loving homes.
"The Great Global Greyhound Walk is just one of many events we run throughout the year to raise funds and to promote greyhounds as great pets.”
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