Animal lovers around the province are urged to slide into their favourite pair of walking shoes and get moving to help a furry friend.

Registration is open for the annual Scotiabank & BC SPCA Paws for a Cause walk held annually to raise funds for homeless and abused animals in B.C. Each year participants in 37 communities around the province walk with colleagues, friends, family and with their dogs to raise $1 million to help animals in need.

“This is the largest single event supporting animals in B.C.,” says Denise Meade, the society’s director of development. “Participants are already signing up and will be fundraising in their own communities all summer long,” says Meade.

“The creativity and passion that people show each year is remarkable. People in every region of the province — the Lower Mainland, Coast, Island, Interior, Kootenays and Northern B.C. — gather together each September to go on walkathons and also hold many interesting all-ages events and activities to raise money to help animals in their community.” 

In addition to the walk, some of the many activities this year will include: pooch parades, BBQs, bowl licking contests, best dressed owner and dog contests, dog agility demos, puppy races, live entertainment, bobbing for wieners, doggy games, kid’s activities, community and vendor booths, auctions, raffles and even a waggiest tail competition. Previous event participants have come up with interesting and even unusual ways to find sponsors.

Last year, Katie, the amazing can-collecting canine, raised hundreds of dollars by collecting cans on her daily walks and returning them for refunds.  “As far as we know, Katie was the only non-human to personally sign up. And what's more, she actually did her own fundraising," says Meade.

Scotiabank & BC SPCA Paws for a Cause will be held in September in 37 communities across B.C., including urban centers as well as far afield — west to Haida Gwaii and north to Fort Nelson. Dates vary by location. For registration, walk times and event details, please visit spca.bc.ca/walk.

The event is generously sponsored by Scotiabank, Bosley’s Pet Food Plus, Petsecure Pet Health Insurance, PwC, See Ya Later Ranch Winery, Coast Hotels & Resorts, Global TV, TV Week Magazine, CKNW AM980 and 99.3 The Fox.

Photo caption: Scotiabank & BC SPCA Paws for a Cause participants get ready for the annual walk (top) and Katie, a can-collecting canine, is one of many helping to raise funds for animals in need.

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.