Pet Walk an important part of this weekend’s OUTsurance Gun Run

by Stephen Granger

As thousands of runners and walkers put the finishing touches to their training programmes and running gear in preparation for this weekend’s OUTsurance Gun Run festival of running, thirteen special participants will be making sure their collars are shining and that they’re bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the occasion.

Runners will be taking part in the OUTsurance 15km Trail Run or 5km Fun Run on Saturday or the 21km or 10km on Sunday, but thirteen specially selected canine participants will be proudly trotting around a 5km Green Point course on Saturday in the inaugural OUTsurance Pet Walk.

The dogs have been chosen by the event beneficiary, Animal Welfare Society (AWS), from the many for which AWS seek homes and adoptive families. “We are all excited – this is a huge event and opportunity for us and we are so grateful,” said AWS Inspectorate Controller, Shannon-Lee Beukes.

“We can’t wait for Saturday.  We would love to see more of our dogs homed – and this is a good opportunity to get them out there and meet people who might adopt them. It will also be a fun activity for them to get out for the day.

“We have almost 50 dogs up for adoption at AWS and Lawrence Nkotha, who is in charge of our  adoption programme, selected thirteen dogs who will get along best with other dogs and people,” Beukes continued.  “I understand that several hundred have entered the Pet Walk and we’re hoping some of them might use this as an opportunity to consider expanding their family!

“And we would love it if some of the participants would follow up after the event and visit our dogs at AWS in Philippi.”

Animal welfare will be setting up an activation at the Start and Finish precinct on both Saturday and Sunday, with the slogan ‘Let’s give them a new leash on life’ displayed.  “We are determined to take full advantage of the Pet Walk,” said AWS Head of Communications, Resource Development and Fundraising, Allan Perrins.

“On both days our team will leave our headquarters at Philippi at 5am to ensure we are well prepared and positioned. Eight male and five female dogs have been chosen for the walk and will be conspicuous, displaying ‘Adopt Me’ logos either on AWS branded overcoats, in the case of rain or, if the weather warms, on brightly coloured bandanas.”

“I will be walking with Shannon-Lee (Beukes) and Lawrence (Nkotha) and we are delighted that volunteers from one of our key partners will assist with the other dogs on the walk. We plan to get their early to be in the front and lead the procession. I’m hoping that participants in the fun run, which starts later, might also slow down to engage with our dogs as they overtake us.”

Money raised for Animal Welfare Society by the 2022 OUTsurance Gun Run will partly be used to support the nutrition and care for their adoption dogs but a significant portion will go towards the implementation for a mass-pet sterilization project in Gugulethu. “Our CEO Dr McMullen is passionate about that project,” said Perrins. “There is clearly a big need there and this project will leave a great legacy.”

Canine Team Animal Welfare Society for the 5km Pet Walk

Females: Luna, Jewel, Skye, Bambi and Pepper

Males: Moose, Wink, Pluto, Blaze, Carter, Snow, Roudy, Diesel

The Pet Walk starts in Stephan Way in Green Point at 08h30 on Saturday and finishes on the Green Point Common opposite the Green Point Cricket Club. The route follows an out and back loop along the Green Point–Sea Point Promenade, with the final kilometre through the Green Point Urban Park.

Entries have closed for the half marathon,10km and trail race but limited entries for the 5km Fun Run and 5km Pet Walk will be taken only on Friday 16^th September at the following 6 Sportsmans Warehouse Stores – Tygervalley, Sea Point, V&A Waterfront, Rondebosch, Somerset West and Paarl.