Delaware greyhounds participate in a global walking event

On Sunday, Sept. 19, 28 greyhounds and their caretakers participated in the Great Global Greyhound Walk, an international event to spread awareness about greyhound adoption. The event took place at Blockhouse Pond behind Beebe Healthcare in Lewes. The participants were joined by other greyhounds and their adopters from around the world, who were all walking at the same time.

Sandi Roberts, the president of Greyhound Adoptions of Delaware, organized the Sussex County event. Greyhound Pet Adoptions of Delaware is an organization dedicated to providing retired racing greyhounds their forever home. A sister event took place in New Castle County. The event drew a total of 343 walks in over 20 different countries, including Serbia, Spain and New Zealand. In total, 7,509 greyhounds walked on Sept. 19. The eventual goal of the yearly Great Global Greyhound Walk is to have 10,000 greyhounds participate.

“The aim of the walk is to promote retired racing greyhounds and what wonderful pets they are,” Roberts said. 

Roberts owns two greyhounds herself, an 11-year-old and a 2-year-old. Her passion started several years ago when she saw several greyhounds walking in Dewey Beach for the annual Greyhounds Reach the Beach event that takes place from Oct. 6 to Oct. 10, now in Rehoboth. “I thought they were gorgeous,” she said. After attending the event herself with another greyhound owner in 2015, she adopted one a month later. “Adopting one instilled my passion and I would never have another breed,” she said.