All For Paws was an initiative by the Public Relations team of RACFOSUOC that aimed to celebrate the extraordinary lives of pooches, regardless of whether their adventurous tales begin under the comfort of a material roof, or under the clear blue sky. The project consisted of three phases, of which the main event was the largest-ever communal dog walk in Sri Lanka; Walk For Paws.
While celebrating our beloved best friends, we were also hopeful of raising awareness about the common issues that they face which are often not acknowledged or aren’t very well known or discussed by the general public.
The first phase of All For Paws was an art competition organized to enable the youth and mature minds of the country to convey their emotions not through words, but by creative lines, and unique colours. Having given the artistic and creative minds the opportunity to showcase their impeccable flairs we were blessed to experience astonishing works of art through our own eyes.
Yet another remarkable milestone was achieved through the second phase of the project, with the commute to Animal SOS Sanctuary in Ahangama that widened our hopes of lending a helping hand to the little paws in need of care. A precious reminder that it is given to those that cannot appreciate those acts through words that leave the most beautiful notes in our hearts. Although our volunteering journey was only for hours, the memories made will be cherished for many years to come.
The Animal SOS Sanctuary in Ahangama is home to over 2000 pooches and 100 kitties and is a not-for-profit animal haven that depends on the philanthropy of generous advocates. We are grateful to have been a moment in their lives, and they too will forever be in our memory.
To learn more about the Animal SOS Sanctuary please visit: https://www.animalsos-sl.org/
The third and final phase of the project was Walk For Paws; a fun-filled day out with puppies of all shapes, colours, and sizes along the hustling streets of Colombo. The event with Polydime Exports (PVT) Limited as the platinum sponsor, TV Derana as the official media partner, Happy Pet Vet Clinic as the official pet care partner, Colombo Municipal Council as the official healthcare partner, Pet Talk as the official digital media partner, The Island Newspaper and Daily Mirror Newspaper as the official printed media partners, FOS Media as the official photography partner, and American Water as the official refreshments partner, was held on the 12th of February and was a massive triumph for our RACFOSUOC journey!
Organized with the main goal of raising awareness, Walk For Paws focused primarily on raising awareness regarding immunization, celebrating all dogs regardless of origin, and treating all creatures with unconditional love and care. The Viharamahadevi Bands Stand Ground was decorated with an art gallery consisting of all the beautiful creations submitted to the art competition. And of course, no dog walk is complete without the gorgeous dogs wagging their tails and trying to make friends!
With one paw at a time to raise awareness and to let the world know that each of them is deserving of the same love, their smiles made our worries fade away. And when they all merrily made their journey back home, we all knew that every paw leaves the same imprint.
All For Paws was a one-of-a-kind entry to our RACFOSUOC diaries and we are certain that we may never come across such an adventure within our lifetime once more; while it was an absolutely unique project it was also the most fun! We, in the project organizing committee, have much pride to have had a role in this journey alongside the innocent paws.
By Rtr. Amashi Jayasena and Rtr. Dilki Fonseka
Beautiful ♥️