A ‘paw-fect’ ending: The final Million Paws Walk in Cairns

The final Million Paws Walk took place around Australia on Sunday, with more than 160 Cairns residents and their furry friends raising vital funds for RSPCA Cairns.

John Henderson, 9, Zara Henderson, 9, Luna, Peita Tippett and Megan McQuillan with Sadie all participated in the RSPCA's Million Paws Walk fundraiser, held along the Cairns Esplanade. Picture: Brendan Radke

The final Million Paws Walk took place around Australia on Sunday, with more than 160 residents raising vital funds for the RSPCA’s Cairns shelter.

The RSPCA’s Million Paws Walk has been held annually since 1994, but according to the RSPCA, cost of living pressures and rising event costs made the event unviable moving forward.

“Since the pandemic in 2020, the community fundraising landscape has dramatically changed, and events are becoming increasingly difficult,” the RSPCA said.

“Coupled with current cost of living challenges … the financial strain on animal lovers and increasing event costs has meant Million Paws Walk is no longer able to provide what it once could.”

RSPCA Cairns vet nurse Ashlee Raymond and animal attendant Christie Maes said Cairns had a “great turnout” for its final event.

Ms Raymond said the funds raised, which were still being tallied on Sunday, would be crucial for the shelter’s operation.

“We have lots of animals up for adoption at the moment, so (the funds) cover a lot of their vet treatments, their desexing, any surgeries they might need,” Ms Raymond said.

“We have some great programs too – we have vet services now that do a lot of work with the local council, desexing animals, so it’s really helpful.”

The event also marked the end of National Volunteer Week, and Ms Raymond said RSPCA Cairns was “always looking” for new volunteers, and foster carers.

“We rely so much on volunteers to do the work we do and are very grateful for them,” she said.

“If anyone wants to come in and help out, it’s great – it’s very rewarding.”

Originally published as A ‘paw-fect’ ending: The final Million Paws Walk in Cairns