hershamhounds.org.uk

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:

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.

Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare (WGW) offers practical owner guidance mainly through short videos on its website: a "Top Tips" video for present and future greyhound owners, a guide for new and existing greyhound parents, and a video on the common walking problem of a hound that stops and won't move ("Stopping shouldn't be a show stopper"). These are general orientation and everyday-care tips rather than a written training manual, so they are best treated as a starting point before or just after you bring a greyhound home.

What the tips cover

The site groups its owner advice into three video resources, listed under the "Top Tips" heading:

The third item is the most specific: stopping on a walk is framed as a normal, manageable behaviour rather than a reason to give up on the dog. The site does not publish the detailed content of these videos as text, so watch them directly on the WGW site before relying on any particular technique.

Why these tips matter for retired racers

WGW is an independent, self-funding charity that cares for retired racing greyhounds and finds them homes. Its guidance is written from that experience — dogs that have lived in kennels and on tracks, not in houses. That context shapes the advice: new owners are typically managing a dog that is learning stairs, household noise, lead manners and unfamiliar routines for the first time.

For example, a hound that freezes mid-walk is a familiar scene for anyone rehoming a racer; the "Stopping" video exists precisely because it is common enough to worry new owners.

How to use the tips alongside a visit

The owner guidance sits alongside WGW's hands-on visiting arrangements, and combining the two is the most practical approach:

1. Watch the videos first. Review the Top Tips and new-owner guide before your first visit so you know what to expect from a retired racer.
2. Book a walking appointment. Walking is by appointment only — call 01932 251894 and leave a voicemail to book. First-time visitors should bring proof of identification.
3. Arrive within walking hours. The site states walking arrivals are from 11am to 1pm, with walking continuing until 2pm; check the current Opening Times Update on the site before travelling, as these details can change.
4. Watch the pre-walk video. WGW asks visitors to watch its kennel walking video before walking greyhounds at the kennels.
5. Ask about homing separately. Homing appointments are at your booked time even if it falls outside walking hours.

Expected result: you arrive prepared, handle the dog according to the charity's guidance, and get a realistic sense of life with a retired racer before committing to adoption.

Common sticking points

• Turning up without an appointment. Walking is appointment-only; without a booking you may not be able to walk a dog.
• Skipping the videos. The pre-walk video is a stated requirement, not optional background.
• Assuming the tips are a full training course. They are short orientation videos. For ongoing behavioural work, especially with a dog that stops or freezes, plan to build on them with your own trainer or behaviourist.
• Relying on cached opening times. The site carries a dedicated "Opening Times Update" notice, which signals that hours change — confirm before you go.

Where to go next

Start with the Top Tips and new-owner videos on hershamhounds.org.uk, then call 01932 251894 to book a walking appointment. If you are considering adoption rather than a visit, the site's homeless hounds gallery and homing information are the natural next step, and the owner tips will make more sense once you have met the dogs in person.

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

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.

To adopt from Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare (WGW), start by calling 01932 251894 and leaving a voicemail to book a homing appointment. Before you call, browse the hounds on the charity's online gallery so you know which dogs interest you. On the day, arrive at your appointed time — even if it falls outside the general walking hours — and expect to meet the hounds and discuss their needs with the team. WGW is an independent, self-funding charity that rehomes retired racing greyhounds, so the process is personal rather than an online form.

Step 1: See which hounds are looking for homes

WGW publishes a gallery of the greyhounds currently at its kennels. The site's "Homeless Hounds" news item links to this gallery, and a video montage also shows some of the dogs awaiting their forever homes. Use these to shortlist the hounds you would like to meet.

• Gallery: the full list of hounds available for homing.
• Video: a quick overview of some of the dogs, useful if you want a first impression before reading profiles.

Step 2: Book a homing appointment by phone

Homing appointments are arranged by phone only. Call 01932 251894 and leave a voicemail with your request. The site states that for homing appointments you should come at your appointment time, even if it is outside of walking hours — so the appointment time you are given takes priority over the general visiting schedule.

Step 3: Prepare for your visit

If this is your first visit to the kennels, bring proof of identification. The charity also asks visitors to watch its short videos before walking greyhounds at the kennels; these cover visiting information and tips for present and future greyhound owners. Watching them first means your appointment time can focus on meeting the dogs rather than on induction.

What to expect at a homing appointment

The site does not publish a detailed homing checklist, but the appointment is your chance to meet the hounds and talk through their needs with the team. Come with questions about the individual dog's temperament and daily routine, and be ready to describe your home and lifestyle so the charity can match you with a suitable hound.

After adoption: support and supplies

WGW describes itself as supporting greyhound owners beyond homing, with a "Top Tips" video guide for new and existing greyhound parents. The charity's shop sells branded items such as a WGW mug (£5.00) and a baseball cap (£10.00), with proceeds supporting its work. It also maintains an Amazon wish list for supporters who want to donate supplies directly.

Common sticking points

• Calling instead of emailing: appointments are booked by phone, so a voicemail to 01932 251894 is the route in.
• Turning up without an appointment: general walking runs from 11am to 1pm (walking continues until 2pm), but walking is by appointment only — book ahead.
• Forgetting ID: first-time visitors need proof of identification.
• Assuming the charity is publicly funded: WGW is self-funding and relies on supporters and the public, so adoption enquiries and donations both help keep the kennels running.

You can support Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare (WGW) in three main ways: buy items the kennels need from its Amazon Wish List, purchase merchandise from its online shop, or take part in its events and fundraising activities. The charity describes itself as self-funding and dependent on supporters and the public, so all three routes matter. The right choice depends on whether you want to give goods, buy something for yourself, or give time and take part.

Buy from the Amazon Wish List

WGW runs an Amazon Wish List ("WGW Wish List") for items the hounds need. This is the most direct way to give practical goods rather than money.

• What to do: Open the Wish List link on the WGW website, choose an item, and complete the purchase through Amazon as normal. The item is sent to the charity.
• Expected result: The kennels receive the specific food, accessories or supplies listed.
• Check first: The site does not state delivery arrangements, tax treatment or whether the list is updated regularly, so confirm the current list before relying on a particular item.

The site also highlights an Amazon Prime deal: Barking Heads multipacks reduced from £14 to £6.70, described as a favourite of many of the hounds. Prices and availability on Amazon change, so treat this as an example of the kind of deal WGW flags rather than a fixed offer.

Shop for WGW merchandise

The online shop sells branded items, with these examples from the site:

The cap listing notes that variants can be chosen on the product page. The site does not publish payment methods or shipping details, so check these at checkout. Buying merchandise supports the charity and gives you a visible way to talk about greyhound welfare.

Join events and fundraising

WGW's news section shows the kinds of activities supporters take part in:

• Beach walks – 75 hounds reached West Wittering beach, organised with a Surrey sighthound walking group.
• Show stands – a group represented WGW at Sandown Park, with interest from the public.
• Summer BBQ – raised over £1,500, with thanks to people who planned, set up, sold and attended.
• Amazon Prime sign-ups – the site promotes Amazon Prime as a way to help WGW.

These are past examples, not a calendar. To find current events, check the Latest News section of the site or call the kennels.

Volunteer time: walking and homing help

Support does not have to be financial. WGW is open for dog walking from 11am to 1pm, with walking continuing until 2pm. Key conditions:

• Book first: Walking is by appointment only. Call 01932 251894 and leave a voicemail to book.
• First visit: Bring proof of identification.
• Homing appointments: Arrive at your appointment time even if it falls outside walking hours.
• Before you walk: Watch the short video on walking greyhounds at the kennels.

Walking gives the dogs exercise and gives you direct experience of greyhounds, which is useful if you are considering adoption. The site also offers a "Top Tips" video for present and future owners, including one titled "Stopping shouldn't be a show stopper."

Which route fits you?

• Want to give practical goods: Use the Amazon Wish List.
• Want something in return: Buy from the shop (mug £5, cap £10).
• Want to meet the dogs and help hands-on: Book a walking appointment by phone.
• Want to join a community activity: Watch the news page for walks, shows and fundraisers.

The site does not mention membership schemes, direct debit giving or sponsorship programmes, so do not assume these exist. For anything not covered online, the kennels phone line (01932 251894) is the stated contact route.