The 14th annual Million Paws Walk 2009 was the most successful yet with an estimated 22,000 participants taking part in 13 walks across Victoria. We are thrilled to have surpassed our fundraising target, achieving estimated funds of $358,000.

On Sunday May 17, walkers arrived in their thousands to the beautiful surrounds of Albert Park Lake and regional walks at Ballarat, Bendigo, Castlemaine, Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, Sale, Shepparton, Swan Hill, Wangaratta, Warragul, Warrnambool, and Werribee. Dogs across Victoria made the most of sunny weather to take their owners for a walk and raise vital funds for the RSPCA.

Participants at Albert Park Lake were treated to a day of family fun and entertainment. A jam-packed arena program included dog obedience and flyball demonstrations from the German Shepherd Dog Club, the Eastside Flyers Flyball Team and the Casterton Kelpie Association and there were many amusing and competitive moments in the Mascot and Celebrity challenges!

Thank you to our fabulous mascots and celebrities Suzie Wilks, Tony D’Alberto, Chelsea Butler and Scott McGregor for being such good sports. Congratulations Scott and Baxter for taking first place! Our MC Tim Campbell did a wonderful job of entertaining the crowds throughout the day and at one point even took on the Casterton Kelpies in a sheep droving challenge!

The Million Paws Walk also aims to raise awareness of RSPCA’s work for animal welfare and to educate people about responsible pet ownership. Free pet advice was on offer from RSPCA animal behavioural and vet staff, and people were able to find out more about how they could support the RSPCA through fundraising and bequests, the Animal Ambassador program, becoming a friend of the RSPCA on Facebook and volunteering. A John Brumby look-a-like was ‘Dunked for Ducks’ in an effort to highlight the plight of ducks affected by duck shooting in Victoria.

Participants were able to satisfy their appetite at sausage sizzles, purchase fabulous merchandise from the retail marquees and visit exhibitors offering a variety of services for animal lovers!

Similar success was experienced at regional Walks with an increase in numbers and funds raised across all Walks. Support was received from local dog clubs, community groups running sausage sizzles, local business who donated prizes for raffles and of course, the local communities who once again turned out in their thousands to support the RSPCA.

Our biggest thank you should go to the hundreds of volunteers who gave up their time to help at the Walks – without their support events such as Million Paws Walk would not be possible.

An estimated $350,000 was raised at Albert Park Lake and regional walks and left organisers with no doubt about the possibility of growth for this fantastic event. Remember that you can continue to fundraise online until the end of May. If you have raised funds via a sponsorship form, please return the form by May 29.

Thank you for helping us get even closer to our goal of one million paws across Australia and we look forward to seeing you in 2010.

We would like to thank our sponsors, this event would not be possible without their ongoing support:

Major Sponsor:		Supporting Sponsors:

Our feline friends can still enjoy all the fun that our pooches had at Million Paws Walk!
Visit RSPCA's  Million Purrs online virtual event, designed with your cat in mind and it's free!