Last year, hundreds of people, dogs, and even a cat showed up for the 1000 Paws Walk for SPCAs in the KZN Midlands. This year, the event hopes to bring even more numbers and raise vital funds to support three SPCA branches.
Midlands, South Africa (25 April 2025) – It’s almost time to get ready for wagging tails and happy trails in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands!
Now in its 16th year, the 1000 Paws Walk for SPCAs fundraising programme is getting ready for the event on Sunday, 1 June.
It is the culmination of over six months’ worth of planning and hard work by the 1000 Paws Walk steering committee.
“We are so excited about this year’s Hill’s 1000 Paws Walk for SPCAs event, which takes place on 1 June at Highgate Wine Estate (next to Piggly Wiggly near Howick) in the KZN Midlands,” says Gaynor Lawson, member of the 1000 Paws steering committee.
“It brings together hundreds of animal-lovers, walkers, families and their dogs. They love the two pet-friendly routes around this beautiful wine estate as well as the dog-focused arena events, stalls, good food and live music in this magnificent Midlands’ setting. Last year we welcomed an impressive 581 people, 332 dogs and even a cat!”
Funds raised by the 1000 Paws programme, which includes a school collection-tin competition and a well-supported raffle with luxury getaways as prizes, are shared equally between the three SPCA branches that assist the animals and communities of the KZN Midlands, namely the Pietermaritzburg, uMngeni, and Mooi River & District SPCAs (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).
“The multi-faceted nature of the 1000 Paws programme means that even if the event is hit by bad weather that puts people off attending, the raffle, schools campaign and corporate and individual support still make it a significant fundraiser for the three SPCAs,” explains Gaynor.
“We are very lucky to once again have our wonderful principal donors, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and N3TC aboard, and Safire Insurance Company, whose team hosts the water tables on the walks, as well as many other local businesses, both large and small. If you are in the Midlands area, please come along on 1 June and make this a bumper year for raising funds for animal welfare in this vast and largely rural area.”
For further info or to offer support to this year’s 1000 Paws campaign, contact Gaynor Lawson via email at glawson@global.co.za
Banking Details for Donations:
Bank: Nedbank
Account name: uMngeni SPCA
Account number: 1133 791 700
Branch Code: 198765
Reference: company name or, in the case of an individual, your own name + 1000 Paws 2025
Sources: Supplied
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