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Adelaide Botanic Garden opens its gates again to RSPCA’s Million Paws Walk

Dog owners will be encouraging their pooches to be on their best behaviour as Adelaide Botanic Garden management again grants them the keys to the popular city oasis.

The heartwarming gesture of support for animals in need means the state’s leading animal welfare charity will again hold its main annual fundraising event, the RSPCA Million Paws Walk, inside the walled garden where dogs are not normally permitted.

The national event is taking place at multiple locations around Australia on Sunday 26 May and coincides with Botanic Gardens Day, an annual celebration in Australia and New Zealand of the work done within botanical gardens to conserve plants for future generations. RSPCA South Australia’s walk

is being officially launched at 11am this morning (details below), with AFLW star and RSPCA SA ambassador Chelsea Randall and her dog Koda among a group giving the trail a test run.

“It’s the third year that the Botanic Garden authorities have given us the green light, and this year is particularly special as it’s now 30 years since the very first Million Paws Walk was held,” RSPCA SA CEO Marcus Gehrig said.

“That first walk in 1994 was the brainchild of RSPCA Queensland vet Dr Cam Day, and three years later the RSPCA in South Australia held its first Million Paws Walk at Victoria Park racecourse.

“We’re extremely grateful to again have our walk in the Botanic Garden amidst the autumn colours.”

Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium director Michael Harvey said the Garden team was delighted to host the event again for what will be a special 30^th anniversary celebration for RSPCA.

“We look forward to participants exploring the garden with their beloved companions on this one day of the year that we open the gates to Adelaide’s dogs,” Mr Harvey said.

“As participants make their way through the garden, our aim is for them is to connect with nature, bond with their dogs, and discover the various attractions the garden has to offer.”

Participants can choose from six start times, with the first walkers setting off at 9:00am and the final group at 11:30am. There are two distance options – a 2.3km walk or a 3.5km walk. Food, beverages and pet-related services and merchandise will be available to purchase in the Million Paws Walk village, located across from the garden in the Botanic Park.

There are currently around 700 animals in RSPCA SA’s care, with 300 housed at the Lonsdale shelter, the oldest RSPCA shelter in Australia. In five weeks, the organisation will relocate to new, purpose-built facilities located within Glenthorne National Park at O’Halloran Hill.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for the RSPCA in SA, but also a very challenging time as we prepare for this move that will have us all located on the one site for the first time,” Mr Gehrig said.

“Rising costs of living and the tight rental market are impacting people’s ability to keep their pets, and demand for our animal rescue and care services is high – now more than ever we need our community to get behind us in any way they can and that includes participating in our Million Paws Walk.

“Even more important than the ticket sales are the fundraising pages that participants can set up, and I urge everyone who registers to also set up a page.

“Every dollar raised will benefit vulnerable animals in very practical ways, from being rescued to receiving expert care – including vet treatment – so they can recover and find loving new homes.”

Among this year’s walkers will be current AFLW player and former captain Chelsea Randall. The football champion and RSPCA SA ambassador has been an animal lover all her life and shares her family home with Koda, a Border Collie cross and Lenny, a Kelpie cross.

Both dogs will join Chelsea at the walk on Sunday May 26, together with Chelsea’s fiancée and former AFLW player Marijana Rajčić and their four-month-old son, Tomi.

To register and set up your fundraising page, go to: https://www.millionpawswalk.com.au/adelaide