Global greyhound walk comes to Inverloch

Twenty-four sighthounds joined their owners in Inverloch on Sunday, September 27, as part of the Great Global Greyhound Walk.

The group set off from the Inverloch boat ramp at 10am, passing the yacht club and then heading along the beach before returning through the Glade.

After plenty of stops for photos, and an hour later, they returned to the boat ramp for coffee and refreshments.

Bass Coast Greyhound Walks organiser Sharon Kraehenbuehl said most of the dogs were greyhounds, joined by an Italian greyhound and a deerhound-wolfhound cross.

“I’m just super happy that we had 24 turn out,” she said.

It was the third time Ms Kraehenbuehl had registered a local walk for the worldwide event.

Rain had affected the previous two years, but Sunday’s sunny weather gave the group a chance to move the outing to the beach.

Residents were stopping to ask questions about the dogs and take pictures, which according to Ms Kraehenbuehl, was part of the point.

She said it was important to give people the chance to meet greyhounds and see what they’re like as pets.

“They’re the laziest dogs in the world, they are so quiet, they’re funny,” she said.

She chose Inverloch because of the coastal scenery and wanted to share photos of the town with the international walking community.

The annual Great Global Greyhound Walk brings together locally organised walks to raise awareness of sighthounds and encourage adoption and responsible ownership.

Greyhounds and other sighthound breeds were all welcome.

For Ms Kraehenbuehl, the smaller walks are important as well.

Bass Coast Greyhound Walks has about 40 members and meets every two weeks, visiting places like Wonthaggi, Kilcunda and Cape Paterson.

It gives an opportunity for owners to ask questions while their dogs spend time around other dogs of the same breed.

“This is why walking groups are so important for new greyhound owners,” she said. “They can come along, the dogs are walking with their own kind, and people can ask questions.”

Locals interested in a future walk can request to join the Bass Coast Greyhound Walks Facebook group.