GREYHOUND May will be taking things at a more leisurely pace than she is used to at a special event to highlight what great pets ex-racers can make.
May is only three-and-a-half but ran in 82 races under the name of Lily’s Princess. When her form dipped and she came last in her final eight outings, she was placed with the Greyhound Trust home at Merrybent, near Darlington, last December.
However, she now has a new home, with Sheila Wylie, one of the organisers of the annual Hutton Magna Great Global Greyhound Walk (GGGW). Ms Wylie said she had taken in May after one of her other greyhounds, ten-year-old Gem, had been put down as the result of a tumour in her nose.
“May had been in the kennels for about five months. She is very curious – much more so than my other two have been. She was straight in the rubbish bin,” she said.
Ms Wylie, May and her other grey Sky will take their places in the Hutton Magna GGGW, which this year takes place on Sunday, June 10, leaving the village hall at 10.30am (meet at 10am).
Joining them will be fellow organiser Carroll Trevor and her lurcher Amber, along with local residents Richard and Glynis Laidler, with their grey Bess. They hope other dog owners will join them for the walk. Mrs Trevor said that as well as raising awareness of how greys, lurchers and other sight hounds make good pets, money would be raised to support charities which help rehome the
dogs.
“Many people have said they would be interested in attending with and without dogs and hounds and the more interest we have the better,” she said.
The Great Global Greyhound Walk began in Essex 12 years ago with just six greyhounds taking part.
It went global five years ago and in 2017 surpassed all expectations with almost 100 walks organised across the UK and 79 elsewhere – from Dublin, Ireland, to Auckland, in new Zealand. In all, more than 5,700 dogs took part in the walks.
Mrs Trevor added: “These much underrated dogs make fabulous pets. Often referred to as 40mph couch potatoes, greyhounds have very gentle natures, can curly up surprisingly small and can adapt to many people’s lifestyles.
Anyone wishing to join the Hutton Magna Great Global Walk will be made most welcome. For more details, contact Mrs Trevor on 01833 627489, or Ms Wylie on 01833 660802.
More information about the wider GGGW event is available at www.greatglobalgreyhoundwalk.co.uk
