Media releases

When dog-lover Chris brings his Rhodesian Ridgeback cross McGee along to RSPCA’s Million Paws Walk on Sunday 17 May, he will be walking to help stop other dogs going through what his “best mate” endured.

Chris adopted McGee last October, not knowing the happy, healthy four-year-old dog had almost starved to death. Three months earlier, when seized by an RSPCA South Australia inspector from a property in regional SA, McGee had weighed just 10.88 kilograms and had a body condition score (BCS) of 0.5/9. (A BCS of 5/9 is ideal, while 9/9 is obese and 1/9 is severely emaciated.)

A second dog seized at the same time, a three-year-old female Corgi cross, was given a BCS of 1/9.

Million Paws Walk is RSPCA’s most important fundraiser of the year. Four thousand people (and dogs) will walk to fight animal cruelty across South Australia at our flagship event in the CBD and several regional walks. Funds raised through the event will go towards the vital care and rehabilitation of animals just like McGee. Through a careful feeding plan, both dogs steadily gained weight, with McGee more than doubling his weight to 23.8 kilograms in nine weeks.

After extensive veterinary care at RSPCA South Australia’s Lonsdale animal shelter, both dogs fully recovered. The Corgi cross was adopted last September and a few weeks later McGee found his forever home with Chris.

Apart from the two dogs, fourteen cats were also surrendered. RSPCA South Australia’s veterinary team gave them all a clean bill of health, and they have also gone to new homes.

(The owner of the animals pleaded guilty on 16 December 2019 to two counts of Ill Treatment of An Animal, due to failure to provide appropriate and adequate food. Taking into account the defendant’s early guilty plea, cooperation with RSPCA South Australia inspectors and several mitigating factors, the magistrate sentenced the defendant to two weeks’ imprisonment, suspended upon entry into a $400 good behaviour bond for nine months. The defendant was also prohibited from having or acquiring any animalsuntil further order, save and except for four cats.)

Due to his experience of extreme emaciation, McGee is smaller than would be expected for a dog of his breeding. Nonetheless, he is now living an idyllic life on a five-acre bushland property in the Adelaide Hills with Chris, a retired public servant who has a particular affinity for Ridgeback dogs.

According to Chris, McGee is like most Ridgebacks in that “he likes to be the boss”.

“He loves being the centre of attention,” Chris says, adding with a laugh that McGee “shares his bed with me”.

“I didn’t know about his past and I don’t want to think of what he’s been through.

“No animal should be left to suffer like that, and that’s why we’ll be at RSPCA’s Million Paws Walk at Mount Barker – he’s walking proof of what RSPCA does for animals let down by their owners.

“I’m just so grateful I’m the one giving this magnificent animal a second chance.”

The flagship RSPCA Million Paws Walk is taking place for a second year at the Victoria Park Racecourse in Adelaide’s east parklands. The Adelaide event attracted about more than 3500 people and their dogs last year.

Million Paws Walk events will take place nationally and simultaneously on Sunday 17 May in Adelaide and at six regional locations around the State – Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Pirie, Berri, Mount Barker and Wallaroo.

Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.millionpawswalk.com.au