Pups enjoy a paw-some day of fun

Amy Clark from Havelock North with Billy, competing in a dog food and spoon race during the Hastings and Districts SPCA Doggy Day Out Walk yesterday. Photo / Duncan Brown

There were waggly tails aplenty during yesterday's Doggy Day Out Walk.

About 30 beloved pet pooches of all shapes and sizes joined dogs available for adoption from Hastings and Districts SPCA on a 50-minute walk to raise funds for the shelter.

Joining forces with Snap Fitness, the annual event took on a new format for 2015, said fundraising manager, Faye Johnson.

"It's about keeping it fresh, having fun," she said.

"We wanted something nice and relaxed where people could get out and walk their dogs - keeping themselves fit and their dogs fit as well."

Walkers took off from Hawke's Bay Racecourse in Hastings for an easy 3.5km trek to the Heathcote road shelter about 12.30pm yesterday.

On arrival, there were activities like an egg and spoon race, a dog/owner look alike competition and a musical sit-and-stay with the added bonus of a guided shelter tour.

"Not only do we want to encourage people to get out with their dogs, we want people to be able to see what it is that we do here."

Once group activities finished, people and pooches returned to the racecourse tired, with tummies full of treats.

There were demonstrations by the Ridge Runners Sled Dog Racing Club with Huskies Hawke's Bay.

A $10 entry fee included a barbecue, while games cost a $2 donation. The fundraiser comes at a time when the SPCA is packed to capacity with puppies and young dogs looking for new homes.

"We have loads, we are really busy at the moment. We have five medium-sized pups, six smaller pups, a lot of adult dogs too - we are full," she said.

"We still have Emmie. She had been with us since October and she is just delightful. She's a sheep dog and we don't understand why she hasn't been taken home - she did the walk with one of our shelter volunteers."