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Dogs day out at Paws in the Park

Thursday 17 November 2011, 3:37PM

By Hamilton City Council

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HAMILTON

Hamilton Lake will be no place for cats next weekend when the city’s annual Paws in the Park dog walk event is held.

One of New Zealand’s largest canine events, Paws in the Park draws hundreds of dog owners and their pooches to the dog exercise area at Innes Common adjacent to Hamilton Lake Domain. This year the event is on Saturday, 26 November – election day – and is hosted by Hamilton City Council with the support of Pet Doctors, Masterpet and More FM.

Fiona Sutton, Council’s Animal Education and Control Manager, says the event is planned as an attempt at New Zealand’s largest dog walk, and Council’s way of acknowledging responsible dog owners who love their hounds and follow dog ownership rules.

“Owning dogs can be a truly rewarding experience, and Paws in the Park is a celebration of the connection between people and ‘man’s best friend’. It’s a really fun event, and we’ve got prizes for categories including loudest bark, pointiest ears and best behaved dog,” Ms Sutton says.

Mayor Julie Hardaker, owner of dogs Poppy (a King Charles Spaniel) and Fifi (a Chihuahua) and chair of the Waikato branch of the SPCA, is a strong supporter of the event.

“Taking the dogs out for a walk in Hamilton is such a treat during my busy weekends. Last year Paws in the Park was excellent so I am looking forward to heading to the lake next weekend and attempting to set the record for New Zealand’s largest dog walk. It is a great day for everyone - the dogs especially,” she says.

Paws in the Park starts at 1pm, and runs until 4pm. Dog owners are asked to keep their pets on leads at all times, and bring plastic bags to clean up after their dogs if necessary.

Further information is available at www.hamilton.co.nz