I don't have a dog, I have 4 cats, but I thought that seeing thousands of dogs walking with their owners and families to raise funds for the RSPCA would be a fun outing!
Besides that I also wanted to donate a few dollars towards the cause.
At 10AM, I was at Sir James Mitchell Park in South Perth, ready to watch the start of the RSPCA Million Paws Walk.
The weather alternated between showers and sun, but luckily the sun prevailed for most of the walk.
The starting point |
In Western Australia this is the 18th year this event is run, with the aim of raising $250,000 to fight animal cruelty. Sadly cruelty to animals also happens here in this 1st world rich country! I guess there are cruel people everywhere...
Ten thousand people attended the event in Perth, with 5000 dogs participating, and around another 2000 people attended regional events in smaller towns of Western Australia. This event is also held in all the other States.
In Perth, the participants had a choice of walking a 1km, 2.5km or 5km course.
I could see a lot of tired dogs at the end, some even needing to be carried...some were a bit overweight, so they weren't used to the exercise!
My owner wanted a lion instead of a dog!! |
Some dogs were dressed for the occasion |
Some of the RSPCA adopted dogs |
Large and small |
A lovely pink bow for a huge Newfoundland |
The city centre on the other side of the Swan river, and the food stalls |
There were dogs in baby prams and in bicycle trailers and some on their owners wheelchairs.
It took a while to get these 12 dogs ready for the photo! I think there were more photographers than dogs for this one. Aren't they just so adorable? |
After the long walk dogs could get a wash for $20 from the City Farmers wash stations.
There was a "Dog Dance Demonstration" - which was very interesting and a credit to their trainers.
This dog danced to a "Spanish Bolero" |
After their win over the Geelong Cats (from Victoria) the previous night, some of the Fremantle Dockers players participated in the walk with their dogs today.
(Fremantle Dockers and their dogs do the walk - photo from net) |
After the walk Matt de Boer (left in this photo with his border collie) who is an RSPCA spokesman, was interviewed on stage about their win and about his love for dogs and the need to protect animals from cruelty. Afterwards the players signed autographs for their supporters.
Sadly by this stage my camera's batteries had gone flat!
There were still a few events to go, but the next event after the Docker's interview was still 40min away, so I decided to go home.
One of them would be the presentation of the prizes to the "Best dressed dogs", by Narelda Jacobs, one of Channel 10's newsreader, which would have been fun to watch. Next year!
Of course I also loved it!!
Do they have this type of event in your town?
Love the pic of the "Lion-Dog, very cute! Other than that I´m sadly afraid of dogs, so I also can´t say if such an event takes place here, too.
ReplyDeleteAs for the chicken... too many scandals over here. You find so many "bio" and "free range" eggs and oh so often they find out it´s the normal cage hens producing them... The fines for this aren´t high enough...
That's sad about the chickens Iris. I haven't heard that happening here, but who knows, anything is possible...
DeleteLoooooove this post Sami. What a wonderful event. Brilliant series of shots you have here, I was sorry not to make it but I don't feel like I missed it at all now. I especially like the shot with the city in the background, excellent..
ReplyDeleteThanks Grace, it was great fun, also my first time there.
DeleteAmazing event. I have never heard of such in Poland.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit Rick. Maybe the local RSPCA can institute such a walk.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the pictures. Should have been a lively event.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was fun Celeste, for the people and the dogs too/
DeleteUma nobre causa. Com a proximidade do Verão aqui, começam também as campanhas contra o abandono de animais. Há "gente" que não merece ter nascido!
ReplyDeleteConcordo totamente Jose, infelizmente ha muita "gente" assim por todo o mundo!!
ReplyDeleteNunca tinha ouvido falar de um evento assim, mas alguém devia importar a ideia aqui para a Republica Checa. Toda a gente adora cães aqui e os animais podem entrar em todo o lado, incluindo restaurantes, pubs, etc. Adorei o cão/leão!
ReplyDeleteAinda bem que os caes sao bem tratados na Repubica Checa. Sim o cao/leao estava o maximo!
ReplyDelete