Dog breeds of all kinds took to Victoria Park on Sunday for the annual Million Paws Walk to raise cash for the RSPCA in Ballarat.
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More than 400 dogs – with more than 1600 paws in total – joined their owners and friends for the walk.
Money raised from the event supports the many initiatives run by the RSPCA.
The group is the only body which prosecutes cases of animal cruelty, with cash helping to pay for inspectors and the court costs.
In Ballarat the RSPCA also runs Pet Place and helps to find homes for abandoned pets.
Pet Place assistant manager Lyn Zboril said the Million Paws Walk was the biggest fundraiser for the year.
“It gives us much needed funds for animals and it is basically put towards where funds are required the most,” she said.
“The RSPCA is the only organisation that prosecutes cruelty towards animals, we take in surrendered animals and get them right and we find pets their forever home.
“The event funds those things.”
Money is also used for education campaigns the RSPCA runs for adults and children.
Ms Zboril said the event was getting bigger every year because it drew a lot of support from the Ballarat community.
“There is a common theme here that everyone loves animals,” she said.
“We really do thank the people of Ballarat for their support of the event.”
Nick Hoare and Brooke Murnane were joined for the walk by Knox, their impressive and very friendly dogue de Bordeaux.
The pair were attending their first Million Paws Walk with the one-year-old Knox.
Ms Murnane said they had finally decided to come after wanting to join for years.
“We are huge animal people so anything we can do is great,” she said.
As for Knox, the big puppy was keen rub shoulders with some new friends.
His owners said he was like a big rug, who just wanted to lay around all day.
Another larger than life pooch was Oz, a friendly Bernese mountain dog from Delta Therapy Dogs.
Oz’s owner Frank Jones said he supported the RSPCA’s efforts to look after rescue dogs and maintain breeding controls.
“Oz is very gentle and an eye catching rock star at the school he visits,” he said.
“He brings smiles wherever he goes and always supports children.”
