Thankful Tuesday: Greyhounds Reach the Beach

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. - Retired racers reached the beach last week, but they didn't arrive on just two legs. The annual event that celebrates greyhounds was held virtually in 2020. Greyhounds Reach the Beach returned to the Nation's Summer Capital on Wednesday, giving greyhounds and their humans a reason to be thankful. 

"A lot of people think because of their speed and all that that they're very active and high-strung, but greyhounds are actually short distance runners, so they get that short burst of speed and then they live up to their nickname for being couch potatoes," says Public Relations Director Sarah Dougherty. 

The 27th anniversary of the event came with new activities.

"We have partnered up with Cape Water Tours to charter up some boats, so we have greyhounds going out on the bay," Dougherty says. 

Ann Marie Savini of Newark, Delaware brought greyhounds Jenna and Lacey Buttons for their 5th year at Greyhounds Reach the Beach. Savini says the girls like coming every year so they can interact with their own pack and check out gifts for themselves and for their humans. That's all in headquarters, the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. It's the second time this event has ever been held here.

"We don't have to worry about our tents getting blown over is the one thing," Dougherty says. "It seems that we always end up with some sort of nor'easter or weather event of some sort and back in its infancy when Greyhounds Reach the Beach was in Dewey Beach, they would set up vendor tents along the bay."

Now wide aisles and a roof keep greyhounds comfortable as they try on clothes and try out snacks.

"They like to lay in the sand, put their feet in the water," Savini says. "They do like the other dogs too. When they were at the track, they were around a lot of dogs."

Lacey Buttons did about 30 races. That number is over 130 for Jenna, but Savini has another fun fact for potential greyhound adopters. 

"They don't have the oils in their skin like a lot of the other dogs have, so they don't have that doggie smell," Savini says. "They can actually go a long time in between baths."

Speakers answered greyhound health and behavior questions, but the main goal is to raise money for greyhound and other site hound adoption groups that help hold the event.

"That then helps them to be able to transport greyhounds and other site hound breeds from wherever they may be to bring them in, provide them with their veterinary care, to get them set up in foster homes and eventually be able to re-home them," Dougherty says. 

Over 500 owners showed up. Many with multiple dogs, not just greyhounds to reach the beach.

Click here for more groups that help greyhounds or if you're looking to adopt one.