WITH their four-legged friends straining at their heels, more than 100 people headed to Swan Hill’s Riverside Park yesterday morning to take part in the annual RSPCA Million Paws Walk.
All money raised by the event is directed to helping the RSPCA care for the many lost, abandoned or mistreated animals they rescue all over Victoria.
Veteran event coordinator Lisa Thompson said the turnout was similar to previous years.
“We had a really good day, the weather gods were kind to us … we were really pleased with the numbers,” she said.
Rescue dog Melon the fox terrier led the walk, leash-in hand with her young owner Matilda Guymer.
“Some people walked with one dog, some people walked with three,” Ms Thompson said.
“It’s always a good vibe having all the dog lovers together — everyone pats each other’s dogs and the dogs say hello.”
Popularity of dog breeds varies every year but 2016 appeared to be the domain of German shepherds, huskies and dachshunds, according to Ms Thompson, who has been involved with the walk since its inception in 2004.
“We didn’t see dachshunds for years and now there is a whole lot of them,” she said.
For more on this story, grab a copy of Monday’s Guardian (May 16, 2016).
