Promenade pooches to raise funds for Khayelitsha animal clinic

Humans and their four-legged friends are invited to join Cape Town’s fifth annual Paws on the Promenade event – a fun dog walk organised by the Mdzananda Animal Clinic in Khayelitsha.

“Each year our event grows in attendance, raising significant funds for the clinic,” says Marcelle du Plessis, Mdzananda’s fundraising and communications manager, and organiser of the event.

The clinic is a veterinary council registered NPO serving an average of 700 animals a month through consultations, hospitalisation, general and orthopaedic surgeries, sterilisations, mobile clinics and an animal ambulance.

Held in partnership with Vondi’s Holistic Pet Nutrition, the walk will take place on Sunday March 15 at 9am, starting at the Mouille Point lighthouse.

The 5km route will extend to the Sea Point swimming pool and back, but shorter turnaround points for old, tired and injured pets (or humans) will also be available.

“Our 2019 Paws on the Promenade was a great success, with an attendance of 539 humans and 352 dogs,” Du Plessis says.

“On a budget of just R3,500 we raised R48,400. We hope to raise even more funds with this year’s event. This, however, all depends on how many wonderful dogs and humans join us for the walk.”

There will be dogs of all shapes and sizes, she says, and pet owners are encouraged to dress up like their favourite animal or to wear something orange.

“People get very creative, dressing themselves and their dogs up in costumes.”

Expect to see Dalmatians in tutus, Dachshunds in hot-dog outfits and Pomeranians with bow ties, she chuckles.

Vondi’s owner Paul Jacobson says the route is one of the most scenic in Cape Town, “making it a wonderful walk for dogs and owners alike”.

“We support Mdzananda because of their excellent professionalism and the impact they make in the Khayelitsha community, educating pet owners and treating sick pets that would otherwise have little to no help,” Jacobson says.

The brand has partnered with Mdzananda on the event since its inception.

Everyone is invited to join in – even humans without four-legged friends – and a small number of homeless dogs will be available for adoption at the event.