UPDATE

Rio and Louis McBuddy joined their owner Gerry Lougheed Jr. to kick off the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' (SPCA) biggest fundraiser of the year, Paws for a Cause, on Aug. 16.

The 17th annual SPCA fundraiser is set for Sept. 12, and helps raise money to care for the animals the SPCA has surrended to them or rescues. The SPCA helps more than dogs and cats. They also help farm animals, wildlife, and rabbits and ferrets.

“We're hoping, with Louis' assistance and Rio's assistance, that we'll have more walkers and more pledges raised," Lougheed said. "We know how good the work is of the SPCA. We know our local SPCA certainly can use the funds to help those dogs and cat that need to be adopted.”

And Lougheed is "ponying up" a big prize for participants. For every $25 raised, a person's name is entered into a draw for a Walt Disney all-star resort holiday for two.

Lougheed said he became involved in the walkathon in its first year because animals have always been a part of his life.

“I was raised with the issue that responsibility to animals and love of an animal certainly makes a better person,” he said. "My experience in life is if animals love you, then likely people love you too.”

Along with the grand prize, New Sudbury Shopping Centre gift cards will also be up for grabs.

Dogs and their owners can participate in the walk, which begins at the main beach gazebo in Bell Park at 11:30 a.m. Registration opens at 10 a.m.

To pick up a registration form, visit the SPCA at 760 Notre Dame Ave., Lampinen Fine Art and Custom Framing at 1350 Regent St., Lougheed's Flowers at 252 Regent St., most Greater Sudbury pet stores or www.sudbury.ontariospca.ca. For more information, visit the SPCA website at www.sudbury.ontariospca.ca or phone 705-566-9582.