Melissa Parke (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This morning I attended the national launch of the RSPCA Million Paws Walk for 2011 at the Hounds on the Hill event together with many parliamentary colleagues, including my fellow co-chair of the RSPCA Parliamentary Friendship Group, Senator Gary Humphries; as well as Heather Neil, CEO of RSPCA Australia; Michael Linke, CEO of RSPCA ACT; and a number of RSPCA staff and volunteers and many four legged friends. It was wonderful to see MPs and senators from all parts of the political spectrum put aside their political differences to support the RSPCA while also spending some happy moments with the puppies and dogs who are some of the present residents of the local RSPCA shelter.

The Million Paws Walk is the RSPCA's biggest annual fundraising event for the highly important, unique job that it does around the country in protecting and caring for our domestic animals, wildlife and livestock. Last year the RSPCA took in over 159,000 stray, injured or unwanted animals and investigated more than 53,000 complaints of animal cruelty and neglect. Most of the funding for this work comes from generous private and corporate donors and fundraising, whilst just 1.8 per cent of funding comes from governments around Australia. The Million Paws Walk will take place in all states and territories this Sunday, 15 May. As the RSPCA says on its website: 'brush off your walking shoes, pull out your pet's leash and bring along your best friend to Australia's premier pet event'. In doing so you will be extending a helping hand—or should I say paw—to animals in need.