The RSPCA Million Paws Walk has been crowned the winner of the Best Charity or Cause Related Event at the Australian Event Awards 2010;
The Million Paws Walk is Australia’s premier pet event and the RSPCA’s major national fundraiser. The event started in Queensland in 1994 and in 2010 over 80,000 people and 45,000 dogs hit the pavement to raise much needed funds for the RSPCA. It’s a fun day out for the whole family and helps the RSPCA extend a helping paw to animals in need. Held on the third Sunday of May each year, there are over 80 walks around Australia and one in every capital city and attendance and support continues to grow.
Think about what that means; of all the amazing non-profit cause related events held around the country, the one that has been crowned Australia’s favourite is the one held by an animal rescue charity, that people get to bring their pets to.
A lot of people spend a lot of time running down pet owners uncompassionate and irresponsible. Many animal advocates see the pet problems of our country as insurmountable without the enactment of a host of draconian laws. But maybe the Million Paws Walk’s success is a symptom of a compassionate society desperate to improve the situation for pets.
Could it be that as animal rescuers and welfare advocates we have simply failed to engage and activate our public?
