What Is Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare?

Updated

Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare (WGW) is an independent charity, based at hershamhounds.org.uk, that cares for retired racing greyhounds and finds them permanent homes. It is self-funding and relies on donations and support from the public rather than statutory funding. The site is useful if you are considering rehoming a greyhound, want to volunteer as a dog walker, or are looking for a way to support the kennels.

What WGW Does

The charity's stated purpose is summed up in its tagline: "Because there is life after the track." Its work centres on two things:

  • Caring for retired racing greyhounds at its kennels.
  • Finding them homes once their racing careers are over.

Because it is independent and self-funding, the charity depends on the generosity of supporters and the general public to keep operating.

Visiting and Walking the Dogs

If you want to walk greyhounds at the kennels, the site sets out clear conditions:

Item Detail
Walking hours Arrive between 11am and 1pm; walking continues until 2pm
Booking By appointment only — call 01932 251894 and leave a voicemail
First visit Bring proof of identification
Homing appointments Arrive at your appointment time, even if it falls outside walking hours

Before your first walk, the site asks you to watch a short video guide on walking greyhounds at the kennels. There is also a separate "Top Tips" video aimed at present and future greyhound owners.

Adopting a Greyhound

The site maintains a gallery of hounds currently looking for homes, along with compilation videos showing some of the dogs at the kennels. If you are considering adoption, browsing the gallery and the "Looking for homes" video is the natural starting point, followed by a homing appointment booked by phone.

Supporting the Charity

WGW lists several ways to help beyond adoption or volunteering:

  • Amazon Wish List — the charity maintains a WGW Wish List, and its news section highlights current deals on dog food (for example, a barking heads multipack reduced from £14 to £6.70 at the time of writing).
  • Shop — merchandise includes a WGW mug (£5.00) and a baseball cap (£10.00, available in multiple variants).
  • Events — recent fundraisers reported on the site include a summer BBQ that raised over £1,500, a beach walk attended by 75 hounds at West Wittering, and a meet-and-greet at Sandown Park.

Practical Notes

Opening times are posted as updates on the site, so check the current notice before travelling. All walking visits require a booked appointment, and homing visits run to the appointment time rather than the general walking window. For anything time-sensitive, the phone number above is the contact route the charity provides.