Paws for a Cause is a fundraising walk and festival for people, dogs and other pets in support of the BC SPCA. It takes place in Vancouver in September.
Paws for a Cause Walk in Vancouver
The Paws for a Cause Walk is an annual event to raise funds and awareness for animals. It takes place in downtown Vancouver in early September every year. The walk is usually a short one, and accompanied by a small festival, food options and a beer garden.
The whole event is dog-friendly, so bring your four-legged friends along to enjoy the day!
Where and When
The Paws for a Cause Walk takes place in September.
In 2019 the walk took place on September 8th. Registration opened at 10:00 am while the actual walk started at 11:30 am. The walk began at David Lam Park in Yaletown in downtown Vancouver. From there, the route went for about 3 km down the seawall.
Unfortunately, the event was cancelled in 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It doesn’t look like the event is happening in 2022 either. 2023 details are to be confirmed.
Paws for a Cause Event Details
The main part of this fundraising event is the walk. In Vancouver, this is a 3-km route that starts at David Lam Park and follows the seawall.
Along with the walk, there are several other family-friendly activities taking place throughout the day.
The festival area is usually open from around 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. There are a few vendors and interactive booths for folk to check out, as well as kid-friendly activities such as face painting.
Four-legged friends are welcome throughout the festival. Even the beer garden is dog-friendly! Canine companions also have their own dedicated activities including a “bowl-licking” contest and “Temptation Alley”. Ironically, under normal circumstances, dogs aren’t allowed at Dam Lam Park, even when on leash.
For folk wanting to learn more about their pets, AnimalKind usually has trainers on-site to answer questions about animal behaviour and to provide live dog-obedience demonstrations.
The last time we went, a vegan-friendly barbecue was also offered from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Paws for a Cause Video
The following video was taken at the event in 2019. As you’ll see, hundreds of dog owners and their four-legged friends turn out for the walk. It’s a fun event to participate in, and fun to watch too.
In the video, look at the sign at the very end. Despite the presence of hundreds of dogs, it’s funny that dogs are apparently prohibited in the area! The organizers must get a special exemption for the day!
About the BC SPCA
The BC SPCA is a local animal shelter and charity that advocates against animal cruelty. They have branches in Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Vancouver and West Vancouver, as well as various other educational centres and animal hospitals across the Lower Mainland.
The BC SPCA runs a variety of animal welfare programs and services. These include cruelty investigations, medical treatments for animals, animal shelters and adoption services. It’s a great cause!
All of the funds raised from Vancouver’s Paws for a Cause go directly to support animal care at the BC SPCA branches in Metro Vancouver. The Vancouver Walk directly benefits branches in Burnaby, Vancouver and West Vancouver.
Other Information
For more details on this event, click Paws for a Cause Vancouver.
To learn more about the organization that benefits from the walk, see the BC SPCA website.
Other animal-related Lower Mainland events include the following:
- Pet-a-Palooza – a “Day of the Dog” street party in Yaletown in August.
- Pet Lover Show – a pet and animal products trade show at the Tradex Centre in Abbotsford in February.
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