millionpawswalk.com.au
RSPCA WA requires $9.2m each year to operate our Inspectorate and animal care services, with just 5% of that coming from the government. Why fundraise? We rely on you, the animal loving public to continue our lifesaving work. Apart from helping RSPCA WA fight animal cruelty, there are many other great reasons to get out there and start fundraising! Want to get the royal treatment & mingle with VIP s? This year the first 50 people to raise $500 will receive a double pass to our exclusive VIP tent at Sir James Mitchell Park. So start fundraising today, visit http://www.millionpawswalkfundraising.com.au/event/mpw-wa-2014 For more details and terms and conditions, please visit www.millionpawswalk.com.au
Fundraising tips and ideas Pawsonalise your online fundraising page Research shows that if you include photos, videos and blogs on your fundraising page, people will give more money. Make sure you update your page regularly and thank those who have donated. Your supporters will know this is important to you and you will raise more funds. Let supporters know where their money goes Let your supporters know that 100% of the funds you raise go straight back to supporting our shelter, education services and Inspectors. With 2,500 cruelty complaints investigated in 2013, we rely almost entirely on the generosity of the community to continue our vital work. Tell everyone you know! Make sure you let everyone in your contact book know that you are walking to fight animal cruelty at this year s RSPCA Million Paws Walk. Send out an email to everyone you know, share your fundraising page on Facebook and post a link on Twitter or other social media platforms. Set a fundraising goal - aim to be top dog! Setting a fundraising target helps you and your friends stay motivated. Don t give up! Sometimes it s a numbers game. For every 100 people you ask, you will only get a percentage of those to donate. Every donation counts! Don t be afraid to follow up with those who say they will donate. Most of the time, they just genuinely forget.
R aised: $1,240 MPW All Star Fundraising Stories This is Laura Moss and her dog Bella fundraising champions from MPW 2013. Laura raised $1,240 for animals in need in WA. Laura set up an Everyday Hero fundraising page and then emailed her friends and colleagues to ask for their support as an incentive to get big donations she ran a competition - whoever gave her the largest donation got to choose what her gorgeous dog Bella would be dressed up as for MPW! As you can see the winners chose a bumble bee! Laura s employer also runs a matched giving program so all of the donations that her colleagues made to her were matched $ for $! Matched giving is a great way to quickly increase your funds! [Contact your employer to check if they do this].
Meet Hayley Armstrong and her dog Slayer, they raised a fabulous $1,400 for Millions Paws Walk 2013! I read somewhere that the registration fee for MPW only covers the cost of putting on the event and I love animals and wanted to help says Hayley. Fundraising was easy, I emailed my friends with a link to my online fundraising page and told them why I was raising money for RSPCA WA and the donations came flooding in! We also held a raffle at work which was a great way to increase the donations. Hayley & Slayer s top tips: Don t give up! Don t be disheartened if you don t get a response from the people that you email, some people may prefer cash donations, I would take the cash donations and process them myself to add to my fundraising tally. Follow up with people who have said that they are going to donate, at first this maybe a bit awkward but most of the time the people had genuinely forgotten! Ask everyone you meet, where ever you go, your dentist, mechanic... if you don t ask you don t get and the worst they can say is no! Raised: $1,400
Is your pooch ready? 1 2 3 Get physical! Start now to prepare your pooch for the event by increasing the length of his daily walk until he can comfortably walk the 1km, 2km or the 5km. If your pooch is a puller why not enrol in an RSPCA dog training course to learn how to train him how to walk appropriately on lead. RSPCA dog training can offer advice on an appropriate harness to assist owners whose pooches are very strong on lead. Put down those snacks! If you find you have to explain that your pooch is just big-boned, now may be the time to get him into shape. Shedding a kilo or two, if needed, will help him get the most out of his big day out. Why not offer your pooch carrot or apple instead of commercial treats or work out how much food he needs to maintain a healthy weight and hold back some of his meal to use as rewards. Get Social! If your dog is not used to large crowds it would be worthwhile taking him to your local dog exercise area so he can get used to being around lots of dogs and people. If he is a bit apprehensive, keep him on the outside of the group and gradually work your way closer as he becomes more confident. Never force him into a crowd, if he is uncomfortable it will only make him more fearful. IMPORTANT INFORMATION We advise that all owners of dogs with medical conditions, or those that are physicallychallenged and/or mature-aged, should take the shorter walk option if available at your local walk. If you are uncertain about your dog s current condition, please ensure you visit a vet prior to attending the 2014 Million Paws Walk.
On the day Make sure you and your pooch have a fun and successful day Whether you re coming along as a four-legged or two-legged participant, we need to make sure that while you have fun, you also have a safe Million Paws Walk. OO Please keep your dog on a leash at all times. The leash should be long enough to give him some space but no more than 2 metres. OO RSPCA WA does not condone the use of chocker chains, retractable or multi dog leads for safety reasons. OO Please make sure your dog is socialised and generally non-aggressive to people and other dogs. OO Your dog must be fully vaccinated, registered and up to date with flea & worming treatments. OO Remember to bring money to pay for parking, lunch and to purchase some fantastic pet products on sale. OO Don t forget your poop bags! OO Hydrate! Make sure you pack enough water for you and your pooch (and portable water bowl if you have one). OO Make sure you pack sunscreen, sunglasses, hat and wear appropriate outdoor weather clothing. OO Bring along your doggy sunscreen for those who lack pigmentation around the eyes and nose areas or have skin which is exposed to the sun. OO Wear comfortable walking shoes. OO Strictly NO other types of animals (cats, ferrets, pigs, etc.) are permitted to participate in the Million Paws Walk.
If you have not participated in Million Paws Walk before it is advisable to get your dog prepared. If your dog is not used to walking on lead or being in a crowd you should start to get him used to both. 1 Walk your dog on lead to his dinner bowl, then on lead around the house before you feed him, walk him around your yard, around the block and then down the park away from other dogs. 2 Once he is walking nicely on lead take him closer and closer to distractions rewarding good behaviour. Prep your pooch with RSPCA Dog Training RSPCA Dog Training classes can assist you in teaching your dog to walk nicely on lead and how to behave in public. Give our friendly team a call on (08) 9209 9309, drop them a line Dogtraining@rspcawa.asn.au or visit our website www.rspcawa.asn.au for more details. All proceeds from dog training help fund the RSPCA in its animal welfare activities. 3 Now he is good on a lead, start to take him to areas where there are crowds and gradually get him closer and closer as long as he does not show any fear.
1 Always ask the owner if it is ok before you attempt to greet a dog. Do not approach the dog, turn side on and bend a little to encourage him to come to you. Allow the dog to come all the way over to you before attempting to pat him. When you do pat him rub him gently under the chin, making sure you movements are slow. Don t go over the head or block his vision as this can scare most dogs. Never put your hand in the dogs face to allow him to sniff - this can be quite confronting to most dogs. Have respect for those who keep their dogs on lead, never allow your off lead dog to approach a dog on lead without asking the owner first. The dog on lead may be scared of other dogs, may be reactive toward other dogs or may be in training with its owner. If your dog is on a retractable lead, make sure it is locked at no more than 2 metres so you have your dog under control as the on lead dog passes by. 3 2 If you want to allow your dog to interact with another dog whilst it is on lead make sure the lead is not tight so the dog can approach or move away at will. If both dogs are on lead make sure both leads are loose and make sure you keep a constant eye on the dogs to ensure the leads do not get tangled.
Event information Telephone enquiries 08 9209 9300 millionpawswalk@rspcawa.asn.au Parking will be available for a gold coin donation in nearby areas. Visit millionpawswalk.com.au for more details. Proudly supported by Conditions of entry 1. The walk will be held rain, hail or shine! Entry fees are therefore not refundable. 2. You are participating in our walk at your own risk. You agree to indemnify and will not hold RSPCA (Western Australia), its employees, volunteers, agents, sponsors and/or independent contractors liable in any way for any injury to you or any loss or damage to your personal or third party property. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Western Australia)