Leading the way: GAWS announces inaugural community walk

RESIDENTS and their furry companions will get the chance to celebrate Geelong’s largest animal shelter next month as part of a new regional fundraising initiative.

The Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS) has announced its inaugural PAWS for GAWS Charity Walk will be held on Sunday, March 3, promoting the welfare and value of companion animals while raising valuable funds for the important not-for-profit service.

PAWS for GAWS is a relaxed 4km mass community walk starting from Eastern Park’s BBQ Area on the Geelong Waterfront. It will then travel along the foreshore of Eastern Beach and back to the original starting point.

GAWS fundraising and marketing coordinator, Alexa Hayley, said the new initiative will bring GAWS to the forefront of the Geelong community, creating a large presence for the shelter in one of Geelong’s busiest areas.

“Each year we run several fundraisers, and what we’re finding is our animal population is increasing year,” Ms Hayley said.

“The needs of our animals are becoming more complex and they’re staying with us for longer.

“Our site facilities are aging also and there needs to be improved upgrades constantly, so we’re finding there are growing costs associated with maintaining our charity.

“To remedy this, we decided we needed to do something bigger and better once a year to give our income a boost – but also to remind Geelong we’re here.”

The local community donated enough funds in 2023 to help provide 575 animals with care last year, as well as 1,909 essential foster care stays, and 219,571 meals for sheltered animals.

In 2023, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) held an annual walk in Geelong named The Million Paws Walk.

The RSPCA raised funds for its programs through this walk, but Ms Hayley says while the RSPCA’s work is important nationwide, none of those funds raised remained in the region, inspiring GAWS to form its first community walk.

“All of the funding we raise from our walk will go back into our shelter, helping animals we have here in our region.

“It will go towards the healthcare of animals, proper food and nutrition for the animals, and ensuring they are safe, secure, exercised and well-enriched during their stays at our Moolap shelter.”

Participants in next month’s community walk do not need a dog to participate. Adult admission is $25, child admission is $15, and it is $10 admission per dog.

The walk will begin promptly at 11am on the day and tickets can be purchased HERE now.

Event hashtags include #GAWS #AnimalWelfare #CommunityLove #PAWSforGAWS2024 #GAWSCharityWalk #PawsWalkGeelong #GeelongDogLovers and #SupportGAWS