Charity walk raises thousands for PDSA
Max the Miracle dog celebrated his 14th birthday in style.
A charity walk held in honour of Cumbria’s most famous canine has raised more than £30,000 for the PDSA.
Some 500 people and 400 dogs attended the walk in Derwentwater on Saturday (14 August) to celebrate 'Max the Miracle Dog', who turned 14 earlier this month.
The walkers made their way to Hope Park, where they got to see the recently-erected stature of Max, before returning to the old Pencil Factory building, where the dogs were treated to a birthday buffet.
Max’s owner, Kerry Irving, said: “Max has changed so many lives, so it seemed fitting to enjoy his 14th birthday walk with as many people and their dogs as possible. We asked everyone to wear orange, which is Max’s colour, and I was blown away by the response. And to top it off by raising so much money for PDSA, a charity that helps thousands of owners and their pets every day is wonderful.”
English springer spaniel Max was adopted by Kerry in 2008 after he sustained serious injuries in a traffic collision. While struggling with chronic pain and depression, a chance encounter brought Max into Kerry's life, and they have been best friends ever since.
Kerry credits Max with saving his life, and their photos together quickly made him a social media star. Max went on to make public appearances, school visits and charity walks and even met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!
During the pandemic, Kerry and Max broadcast their daily walks online from the Lake District, providing a vital source of comfort for hundreds of people across the world.
The videos led Max to becoming the first-ever pet to receive a PDSA Order of Merit since its inception in 2014. All 32 other dogs and horses that have previously received the medal have been specifically trained to perform roles in society, such as Police Dogs and Horses, Medical Detection Dogs and Search and Rescue Dogs.
Commenting on the day, Ruth Lister, Philanthropy Manager at PDSA, said: “It was truly joyful to spend the day celebrating Max’s birthday with hundreds of people whose lives he has had such an enormous impact on.
“Along the walk, I had the chance to chat with some of those people and hear their personal experiences about why they had travelled from far and wide to join this special celebration. The fact that their love and appreciation of Max is able to shine a light on the work of PDSA and encourage such generosity is humbling. We are extremely grateful for all that they do to support our work treating poorly pets in need.”
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
