ONE of the RSPCA’s largest fundraisers nationwide, the Million Paws Walk, is having its final hurrah with the 2025 walks to be held on May 25 set to be the last.
For the last 30 years the fundraiser has attracted nearly 800,000 people and more than 400,000 dogs across the country, with proceeds of the walk going to local and nationwide RSPCA projects.
RSPCA NSW branch manager Joshua O’Donnell manages volunteer branches and supporter groups across New South Wales, including the Broken Hill Supporter Group which organises the Million Paws Walk for the town.
“We started planning pretty much when last year’s event ended,” Mr O’Donnell said.
“We start to get an idea of what we want to do, what worked, what didn’t work last year to make the next year bigger.”
Mr O’Donnell said there was good support for the event in Broken Hill.
“The walk has been in Broken Hill for a number of years,” he said.
“The turnout is usually pretty good, it can vary depending on what’s happening in Broken Hill.”
Despite the event being one of the RSPCA’s biggest fundraisers of the year, this year’s events will be the last.
“Million Pools Walk is one of the biggest fundraisers, especially for our branches and supporter groups,” Mr O’Donnell said.
“RSPCA has made the decision that this year will be our last Million Paws Walks nationwide.”
According to Mr O’Donnell, the reason for the cancellation is mainly rising costs.
“Just because of the difficulties with fundraising and the cost of everything,” he said.
“There’s just a few challenges at the moment.”
Mr O’Donnell said that larger events held in major cities are very costly to run, but that similar projects will most likely happen in the future in regional areas.
“These regional events such as the one in Broken Hill are being run by our volunteer supporter group there,” he said.
“So all the proceeds from the event in Broken Hill go directly to our volunteer supporter group, which goes back into the community.
“That’s why the Million Paws Walks are good events for them because they’re locally run by volunteers, so it’s a really good fundraiser for them.”
Mr O’Donnell said that the proceeds go towards subsidised emergency veterinary assistance programs for animals in need, as well as supporting the local vet clinic in Broken Hill, with all funds from the regional events staying locally.
“But, if you went to the event in Sydney, the funds raised there will go directly to RSPCA NSW,” he said.
“Nationwide it’s the last one because larger events like in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, cost a fair bit in this day-and-age.
“So they’re just going to move in a different direction with our fundraising.”
To attend the Broken Hill Million Paws Walk, tickets can be purchased online via millionpawswalk.com.au or purchased on the day directly from the volunteer supporter group.
Registration opens at 10am and the walk will kick off at 10.30am at Sturt Park in Broken Hill.
Mr O’Donnell also said that the RSPCA is always looking for new volunteers, with no set time commitment needed.
“Hundred per cent, we will take any hours that people want to do as long as they’re happy to volunteer with us,” he said.
