Your dog can make a difference to those in Edinburgh without a home, just by doing what they probably love best – walking!
On Saturday 25 May 2019, your four-legged friend can earn £5 for the famous Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, just by joining them in the Agria Dog Walk! The Agria Dog Walk is a fabulous Europe-wide event, this year taking place in Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Hermes in France, England, and thanks to Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, there’s one right here in Edinburgh!
There will be thousands of paws walking on the same day – all with one common aim; to raise money for the rescue that’s local to them. And for us in and around Edinburgh, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home would love you to join them!
The walk is a wonderful 3.4-mile stroll from the Home along the promenade to Joppa. Afterwards there will be food, stalls, entertainment and dog competitions taking place at the Home – so it is set to be a brilliant family day out!
It’s well-documented that responsible pet ownership can have a profound effect on our mental health, making us happier and healthier. When our pet is a dog, we get the additional boost of physical and social benefits as we join them on their walks!
The Agria Dog Walk is the ideal opportunity to remind ourselves of just how good for us walking our dogs is, whilst doing something amazing for Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home.
Meditation and mindfulness expert, Andy Puddicombe, well-known as the voice of mindfulness app, Headspace, said: “Going for a brisk walk is one of the best things we can do for our mental health. It not only helps improve our physical fitness, but in being more present in the body, it also helps us to step out of all the inner chatter in the mind.
“So, it’s perhaps no surprise that we might feel less tense, less stressed, and more optimistic after a good walk. And if we can do all that while helping to raise money for an important cause like this, then that’s even more reason to step outside and get some fresh air.” 
Dr Carri Westgarth, Lecturer in Human-Animal Interaction at University of Liverpool, says: “The Agria Dog Walk is a great opportunity to remind ourselves of just how beneficial getting out and walking is, while raising money for some very good causes.
“Research shows that walking with your dog not only has a huge impact on your physical activity levels, it makes you feel better too! It’s also been shown that watching your dog having a good time is a huge stress reliever; while walking also helps us connect with nature and with other people out walking – other factors well-known to bolster positive mental wellbeing.”
We hope to see as many of Edinburgh’s dogs there as possible, every single set of paws that joins the walk will make a direct difference to a dog without a home.
So, give your dog the chance to do their bit and register for the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home Agria Dog Walk!
Visit the sign-up link at: https://www.edch.org.uk/agria-dog-walk
All dogs (and their humans) must arrive at Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home at 10am to be registered in time for a prompt 11am start. If you haven’t yet registered you can still do this on the morning, but please arrive as close to 10am as possible.
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