Dear Blogger
Message from Maggie Lokier, Baschurch
©Rich
An annual walk celebrating and raising awareness of greyhounds as great pets.
One day, across the world, united for greyhounds!
The Great Global Greyhound Walk (GGGW) aims for another record-breaking event and to spread the love of sighthounds across the world in 2024!
2023 was the most successful GGGW yet, with 36 countries taking part in 458 registered walks, with a grand total of 11,718 hounds participating. On Sunday 29th September this year the hope is to push the boundaries even further. With less than 3 weeks still to go, over 407 walks have been registered across 36 countries. It is well on target to break more records! Some of the walks registered for the GGGW have in excess of one hundred sighthounds participating, the record being 503 hounds in Yorkshire, UK in 2023 – quite a sight to behold! In 2023 we welcomed China, Falkland Islands, Finland, Greece, Mauritius, Poland and Hungary for the 1st time!
The aim of the event is to raise awareness of retired racing greyhounds, and their sighthound cousins, as great pets. Originally held just in the UK, the walk is now very much a global affair, hosting a worldwide celebration and awareness day for these much under-rated and often misunderstood dogs. Greyhounds are affectionately known as 40 mph couch potatoes due to their amazing bursts of speed and love of sleeping! They are very gentle, quiet-natured dogs and can fit into a wide range of lifestyles.
Each year the GGGW has a theme. 2024 is celebrating the fact that the event is becoming ever more global by selecting flags as the subject. Hounds and humans are invited to dress up brightly with their countries' colours or maybe drape themselves in flags. Regardless of what this year will have in store, it's always a colourful fun experience.
Registrations for walks can be made via the website, where you can also find more information - www.greatglobalgreyhoundwalk.co.uk
Originally named the Great British Greyhound Walk, this annual event was begun by the charity Greyhound Walks. Founded by Janet Peacock, who wanted some company walking with her greyhound, the charity organises walks primarily across East Anglia to unite sighthounds and their owners, giving both the chance to relax and socialise together. The idea of a national (and now very much international!) annual walk was sown and has grown to be a very popular date in greyhound lovers' diaries.
The ultimate goal is for the general public to see the hounds out on their walk, meet them, and learn about their lovely characteristics – and maybe feel inspired to give one a home in the future. In the past, the GGGW has been proven to find forever homes for hounds that needed them and it is the hope that this side of the event will also increase.
