Sighthound Spotlight Day

30th April - Celebrating Sighthounds

Get Involved

Official Hashtag #SighthoundSpotlightDay

What is Sighthound Spotlight Day?

Illustration of cartoon sight hound dog faces with a banner reading 'Sighthounds Forever!', celebrating Sighthound Spotlight Day on April 30th.

Sighthound Spotlight Day celebrates greyhounds, whippets, lurchers, salukis, galgos, longdogs and more.

Created by me, Clare Ware of Insight Hounds, it shines a light on their unique traits, the joy they bring, and raises awareness of those still looking for homes.

It’s here to show how wonderful life with a sighthound can be, bust the myths about them, and celebrate the people, rehoming centre, rescues, volunteers, businesses, brands, and communities who love and support them.

I created this day to give sighthounds their chance to shine, celebrating them for who they are and getting them into the spotlight where they belong.

How to Get Involved

On 30 April use the hashtag #SighthoundSpotlightDay

A pink background with a close-up of a whippet dog wearing a harness, extending its paw forward, promoting Sighthound Spotlight Day on April 30th with a hashtag and website link.

A greyhound black dog with gray fur on its face, wearing a colorful collar and an orange harness, sitting in front of a teal background with white text for #SighthoundSpotlightDay on April 30th.

Ways to get involved:

You can download and share a graphic below using the #SighthoundSpotlightDay
• You can share a photo or video of your sighthound and / or your story.

• You can share why sighthounds make great pets.

• Rehoming centres and rescues can showcase sighthounds hounds looking for homes

• Businesses and brands can spotlight sighthounds using their products or services

• Sighthound businesses can share their story or spotlight sighthound-inspired or sighthound-friendly products or services

• You can celebrate volunteers who make a difference to sighthounds.

• You can share a sighthound myth and the reality for you.

• Celebrate the sighthound community, what it means to you, the people, the support, the charities, the businesses, and the shared love of these incredible dogs.

A sleeping Greyhound with a black and white coat, part of its head and ears visible, lying down on a dark background. The image promotes Sighthound Spotlight Day on April 30th, with the hashtag #SighthoundSpotlightDay and a Insight hounds web link.

A promotional poster for Sighthound Spotlight Day featuring a brown and white Lurcher / saluki cross sighthound dog lying on its back against a green background, with the event date of April 30th and the hashtag #SighthoundSpotlightDay.

• Download ready-to-use graphics and captions from the Cheerleader Pack below.

Please feel free to tag me in @insight_hounds on Instagram or @insighthounds on Facebook

What Sighthound Spotlight Day Stands For SIGHT

S – Sighthound Spotlight Day
30 April, the annual day to shine a light on sighthounds.

I – Insight
Growing understanding and busting myths through education, training and breed knowledge.

G – Great Sighthound Stories
Celebrating the journeys and stories told by sighthound people – those who know and love them best.

H – Homing and Adoption
Raising awareness of the thousands who need homes. From breed-specific rescues to all-breed centres, there is almost always a sighthound waiting. This is also a chance to celebrate the incredible volunteers who dedicate their time to these wonderful dogs.

T – Together
The more time I spend in the sighthound community, the more I know it’s a very special place full of brilliant people. Together, with this community and the wider dog-loving world, we can make a difference.

Why I Created It

A poster promoting Sighthound Awareness Day with a photo of a happy, smiling sighthound and text that reads 'Sighthounds Less Myth More Truth'. The date '30th April' is in a starburst shape, and there is additional text with hashtags and a website.

On 30 April 2009 we adopted our first greyhound, Ellie, a date that changed the course of my life.

Since then I’ve shared life with sighthounds and supported many more through volunteering and Insight Hounds. Over the years I’ve found myself busting the same myths and answer similar questions time and time again, as I’m sure many of you have too. People often say they must need hours of exercise, that they aren’t smart or can’t be trained, that wearing a muzzle must mean they are dangerous, or that they don’t really need a coat.

I wanted to create a day that busts those myths and gives every sighthound their chance to shine. Above all, it’s about celebrating sighthounds for who they are and getting them into the spotlight where they belong.

Cheerleader Pack

Downloadable Graphics

To download:

On a laptop, open the image and right click on it. You should then see the option to download the image or save it to your photos.

On an iPhone, tap the image, then tap the three dots at the bottom of the screen. Select Share, and you should see the option to Save Image, which saves it to your Photos, or Save to Files if you want to store it there instead.

Thank You & Inspiration

Sighthound Spotlight Day wouldn’t be what it is without the amazing creativity and support of others.

A special thank you to:

The very talented Tim Holmes, for creating so many of the graphics you’ll see relating to the day and the illustrations below. Tim.
The genius that is Richard Skipworth, whose sighthound artwork and humour bring joy to thousands. Richard has kindly agreed to share some of his work as part of the day. You can purchase his items via this Redbubble link.
The wonderful Milly from Hounds Greetings Cards for her fabulous drawings.
The families who have kindly allowed me to share images of their fabulous sighthounds, helping to bring this day to life.
The people, the businesses, rehoming centres and volunteers who support them in so many ways.

And most of all, thank you to the sighthounds themselves, who are the daily inspiration behind it all.

Courtesy of Downloadable Graphics

To download:

On a laptop, open the image and right click on it. You should then see the option to download the image or save it to your photos.

On an iPhone, tap the image, then tap the three dots at the bottom of the screen. Select Share, and you should see the option to Save Image, which saves it to your Photos, or Save to Files if you want to store it there instead.

FAQs

What is Sighthound Spotlight Day all about?
It’s a celebration dedicated to sighthounds of all kinds – from greyhounds and whippets to salukis, lurchers and beyond. The day shines a light on their beauty, quirks, and needs, while raising awareness about homing and adoption.

Why do sighthounds need their own day?
Sighthounds are often misunderstood. Many people don’t realise how gentle, affectionate and funny they are. At the same time, thousands of ex-racing greyhounds and other sighthounds are waiting for homes. This day helps bust myths, celebrate stories, and highlight the support they need.

How can rehoming charities and businesses take part?
On 30th April, share your stories, promote the hounds in your care, talk about your sighthound-friendly products or collaborate on spreading the message. The more voices we have, the stronger the spotlight. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #SighthoundSpotlightDay.

What’s a sighthound and does my dog count?
Sighthounds are a family of breeds built for speed and guided by sight. Greyhounds, whippets, salukis, lurchers, galgos, deerhounds, borzois, Italian greyhounds and many more are all part of the group.
But Sighthound Spotlight Day isn’t only for pure breeds. If your dog has sighthound in them, or any sighthound heritage, you’re very welcome to join in and celebrate together.

My sighthound isn’t adopted, can I still join in?
Yes! While a big focus of Sighthound Spotlight Day is adoption, because so many hounds are waiting for homes, this is a celebration of all sighthounds. Whether your hound came to you through adoption, rescue, rehoming, or from a breeder, they are very much part of the day.

Who can take part?
Anyone who loves sighthounds! Whether you live with one (or several, we know they can be addictive), volunteer with a rehoming centre, foster, or simply admire them from afar, you’re welcome to be part of the day.

A cartoon illustration of a black dog dashing across a grassy area, wearing a colorful collar, with motion lines indicating speed, and a surprised expression.

Illustration of various dogs with the text 'Sighthounds Forever' and a mouse silhouette, celebrating Sighthound Spotlight Day on April 30th.

Cartoon illustration of a black dog lying on its back on a white furry rug with its eyes closed, tongue out, and paws up in a relaxed pose.

Other Awareness Days You May Enjoy

I’ve also been inspired by many other awareness days and the people behind them. They’ve shown what’s possible when we come together to celebrate and support dogs.

• 1st February - World Galgo Day
• 19th February - National Whippet Day created by Debbie Humphreys Redhound for Dogs
• 20th March - Dogs in Yellow Day created by Sarah Jones from My Anxious Dog
• 2nd April - Don’t Walk Your Dog Day created by Niki French from Pup Talk
• 2nd June - National Greyhound Day
•26th July – National Pet Photography Day created by Kerry from Fur and Fables
• 24th August - National Brindle Dog Day created by Maria and Pete from The Sighthound Savoy
• 1st October - National Black Dog Day

Illustration of many sighthound breeds, greyhound, whippet, saluki, lurcher, resting together on beds and the floor. Some dogs are lying down, some are sitting, and others are standing, with a green background and an orange and beige colour scheme.

A cartoon illustration of a forest scene at sunset with several sighthounds hunting, squirrel chasing.. The scene includes trees, fungi, a ball on the grass, and animals interacting peacefully.

Three sight hounds running on a beach at sunset with large pink and white clouds in the sky.

Work With Clare

Alongside Sighthound Spotlight Day I run Insight Hounds, specialising in training for ex-racing greyhounds and sighthounds.

Free Resource: Join my newsletter link below.
Signature Course: Sighthound Skills – Insight to Make the Difference
1-to-1 Support: Work with Clare

📧 clare@insighthounds.co.uk | 📞 07814 566657