How to Visit and Walk Greyhounds at Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare

Updated

To walk a greyhound at Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare (WGW), you must book by phone first — walking is by appointment only. Call 01932 251894 and leave a voicemail to reserve your slot. On the day, arrive between 11am and 1pm (walking continues until 2pm), and if it's your first visit, bring proof of identification. Before you attend, watch the kennel's walking video so you know what to expect.

Who WGW is and what a visit involves

Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare is an independent, self-funding charity that cares for retired racing greyhounds and finds them homes. It relies on supporters and the public rather than statutory funding, so volunteer walkers are part of how the kennels keep the dogs exercised and socialised.

A visit is a hands-on volunteering activity, not a drop-in tour: you are walking a retired racing greyhound at the kennels under the charity's guidance.

Booking and arrival: the practical steps

  1. Call 01932 251894 and leave a voicemail. The site states walking is by appointment only and asks visitors to book this way. Expect to wait for a call back rather than getting an immediate answer.
  2. Agree your slot. Homing appointments are separate: the charity asks people with a homing appointment to arrive at their appointment time even if it falls outside walking hours.
  3. Arrive between 11am and 1pm on your walking day, with walking continuing until 2pm.
  4. Bring photo ID on your first visit. The site explicitly asks first-time visitors to bring proof of identification.
  5. Watch the walking video before you go. WGW publishes a short video to watch before walking greyhounds at the kennels; it covers how to handle the dogs safely.

Quick reference

Item Detail
Booking method Phone only: 01932 251894 (leave a voicemail)
Walking window Arrive 11am–1pm; walking until 2pm
First visit requirement Proof of identification
Preparation Watch the kennel's walking video beforehand
Homing appointments Attend at your appointment time, even outside walking hours

What to check before you travel

  • Confirm your booking is held. Because booking runs through voicemail, don't assume a message left is a confirmed slot until you've spoken to someone.
  • Check the opening times update. The site flags an "Opening Times Update" section, so re-read it before travelling in case hours have changed.
  • Dress for a kennel and a walk. You'll be outdoors with large dogs; the charity's video is the best guide to handling and expectations.
  • Bring ID even if you're unsure. If there's any doubt about whether you've visited before, bring it — the requirement applies to first visits.

Beyond walking: adopting and supporting

If your interest is rehoming rather than volunteering, WGW lists greyhounds looking for homes in its gallery and in "Homeless Hounds" and "Looking for homes" video posts. Homing enquiries go through an appointment booked the same way, by phone.

Supporting the charity doesn't require a visit: WGW runs an Amazon Wish List and a small shop (for example, a WGW mug at £5.00 and a baseball cap at £10.00), and its news posts describe fundraising events such as a summer BBQ and meet-ups at Sandown Park and West Wittering beach. These are ways to help if you can't get to the kennels during the walking window.

Common sticking points

  • Turning up without an appointment. Walking is appointment-only, so an unbooked arrival may not get you a dog to walk.
  • Arriving after 1pm. The arrival window closes at 1pm even though walking runs to 2pm.
  • Forgetting ID on a first visit. This is the most avoidable reason to be turned away.
  • Skipping the video. It's the charity's own preparation step and is worth the few minutes before your first walk.