Shocking development as Western Australia challenges Eastern States in Million Paws showdown!   

 

20 April 2009

The RSPCA of Western Australia has today issued a challenge to its sister Society’s in NSW, Queensland and ACT for this year’s Million Paws Walk. The Malaga-based charity is calling on every dog owner in Perth to help ensure the Eastern States don’t steal our thunder at this year’s event by having more feet and paws walking the walk on May 17.

“Look, it’s like this,” said Richard Barry, spokesman of the RSPCA in WA, “ACT, Queensland and NSW think they’re the best and really it’s time they understood that there simply isn’t another State in Australia whose owners love their pets the way we do. Western Australia has laid down the gauntlet, and NSW, Queensland and ACT have accepted, so as they say ‘Game On’.

ACT’s CEO, Michael Linke – well known for his bluster - suggested WA would suffer an humiliating defeat: “Last year an estimated 10,000 people attended the walk in Canberra, we can easily double that this year and leave WA in our dust.  Come on Canberra, get online today and register.”

Mr Barry was quick to hit back through clenched teeth: “While we applaud their sporting bravado we do genuinely feel bad for them as it is abundantly clear to us that this year’s Million Paws Walk in Perth will be the biggest in the country. There’s no way we in Western Australia are going to let them beat us. Not now. Not ever!

“We’re calling on everyone in Perth with a dog to help us on May 17 at Sir James Mitchell Park. Get down there, walk your dog and make sure your friend, your friend’s friend and their friends all come along with their dogs too. Even if they don’t have a dog, get them to come along!

“Western Australians are going to walk the walk this year to show the nation just how much our pets mean to us all.

Last year estimates on the number of people who attended the Million Paws Walk in Perth were around 15,000 people and their dogs (and horses and camels, geeps, ferrets and a host of other wonderful pets).

This year’s event will be bolstered by the presence of Brent Staker, Candice Falzon, Michael Braun, Michael Schultze, Jessica Bratich and Mitchell Johnson as well as Mix 94.5’s ‘The Couch’ who will all be attending to show their support for the RSPCA and its record breaking attempt.

“It’s an amazing day for everyone, regardless of whether they have a pet or not,” said Mr. Barry. “There’s much more to do than any previous year, we’ve got more celebrities, more stalls and entertainment and we’ve even got a kids train that will wind its way through the entire event.

“We’re calling on the entire State to take up our challenge and show that in Western Australia, our pets are family…”

 

Have you registered for Million Paws Walk this year? Click here to register now

 

 

Who:                          Brent Staker, Candice Falzon, Michael Schultze, Jessica Bratich, and Mitchell Johnson, ‘The Couch’ 
What:                         Million Paws Walk – The challenge year!
Where:                       Sir James Mitchell Park
When:                        Sunday May 17 2009 – starts 8am