This Sunday, the RSPCA is encouraging locals to don their best cape and become a hero for dogs in need at the annual Million Paws Walk.
Held at Cathy Freeman Park in Sydney Olympic Park, the Million Paws Walk will see hundreds of dogs and their owners walk to fight animal cruelty.
“We are excited to see our superhero supporters and their super-pooches unite at this year’s Million Paws Walk to fight animal cruelty,” RSPCA NSW Community Fundraising Manager Ben Wilheim said.
“The Million Paws Walk is an extraordinary day out for the whole family, with a wide range of activities and entertainment for everyone and their pooch!”
Starting at 10am, participants will have the option of either a 2km or 4km walk. Plenty of fun can be expected after the “best dog walk ever” as well, with plenty of stalls on offer, games to play and a doggy drinks bar.
Last year, nearly 20,000 dogs turned to the RSPCA for help, with many being the victims of cruelty, bred to turn a profit, or abandoned by the humans they loved. The Million Paws Walk aims to help bring that number down.
In 2022, the RSPCA were able to raise a whopping $1,303,993, which was enough to care for 5,174 pups in the shelters for a week.
With 10 events in NSW alone and around 6000 people expected to hit the pavement this Sunday, Wilheim said the biggest one will be at Sydney Olympic Park, where the RSPCA is hoping to see over four thousand people turn up with their dogs.
“For NSW, we’re trying to achieve half a million dollars this year, and that money goes towards keeping our shelters open, our inspectors on the road and our education programs running, as well as our community programs,” Wilheim said.
“They’re all focused on trying to break that cycle of abuse and neglect that RSPCA fights for.”
And the timing of the Million Paws Walk has never been more fitting, with RSPCA revealing that its shelters are at capacity and are in desperate need of future pet owners to “adopt not shop.”
“We’ve had a few large animal seizures of both cats and dogs, so we’re absolutely at capacity and we’re just trying to move animals around where they’re best suited and have the best chance of being adopted and finding their forever home,” Wilheim said.
“There are so animals out there that are so well deserving of a happy, loving home.”
To find out more visit www.millionpawswalk.com.au/sydney.
Ellie Busby is Parra News’ senior journalist. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other projects.