Earlier today, we were surrounded by hundreds of wagging tails, joyful chaos, and a whole lot of love at the Million Paws Walk in Wollongongโand what a brilliant day it has been.
Alongside my daughters and our Cavoodle superstar Tilly, we joined a sea of dog lovers all walking to support an incredible cause. Organised by the RSPCA, Million Paws Walk helps raise funds to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals in needโespecially dogs whoโve had a rough start and are getting their second chance at life. It's one of those events that manages to be both fun and deeply meaningful.
We didnโt just walkโwe entered some competitions too. Do we know what the categories were? Absolutely not. Do we care? Not even a little. In one, we didnโt win. In another, we somehow podiumed. Weโre still laughing about it because no one seems to know why, but weโll take it!
And then there was the weirdest thing Iโve ever seen at a dog eventโsome kind ofโฆ creature. Costume? Mascot? Cryptid? Honestly, the longer you looked, the stranger it got. But it wanted love, and thatโs exactly what we gave it. Because thatโs what today is all aboutโkindness, connection, and celebrating every kind of creature.
The weather holds up, the vibe is joyful, and walking alongside so many like-minded folks (and their pups) is genuinely heartwarming. Seeing dogs in tutus, bandanas, tiny sunglassesโeven one in a lion maneโjust adds to the magic.
The whole event is a reminder of how much animals bring to our lives, and how important it is that we show up for them too. Every dollar raised today goes toward veterinary care, shelter, and rehoming services that quite literally save lives.
As the sun sets and we head homeโmuddy, happy, and probably with a few paw prints on our clothesโI canโt help but feel grateful. For the cause, for the community, and for days like this.
If youโve never done the Million Paws Walk, trust me: put it on your list for next year. Youโll walk away smiling.
