‘Shaking Paws Around the World’
Willie has worked hard to raise money for local charities and has helped highlight the health benefits of dog ownership.
Over the last 36 years Willie Nugent, 61, from Northern Ireland has raised over £1m for charity in his spare time by undertaking some wacky challenges including:
- crawling 16 miles on his hands and knees
- walking 81 miles backwards in 24 hours
- pushing a pea with his nose for 3 miles
Despite approaching retirement age Willie is still going strong with his fundraising and he attributes his good health and fundraising success to owning his two dogs, Whiskey and Lady:
“The secret of my years of good health and always being fit to complete my fundraising events is my dogs. Every day of my life they have taken me for three walks a day, seven days a week, in sunshine, rain and snow.
People thank many things for their good health, I thank my canine friends. Without them I would never have been able to raise so much money for charity.”
Keen to raise money for dogs less fortunate than his, Willie launched the ‘Shaking Paws Around the World’ campaign in 2007. Paying for all trips out of his own pocket, he travels all over the world visiting dog rescue centres to ‘shake paws’ with a canine ambassador from each country, raising money for local charities and highlighting the health benefits of dog ownership.
In the last three years Willie has visited shelters in Russia, Greece, Romania, Ireland, England, America, Israel, Romania, Barbados and Spain. Today was his first ever stop in Scotland.
Sandra Downie, Dogs Trust Glasgow centre manager, adds:
“We were delighted to welcome Willie to the rehoming centre and honoured he chose Dogs Trust as his first Scottish charity stop off! He has raised an incredible amount of money over the years and it’s wonderful that at the same time he is highlighting the health benefits of owning a dog.”
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.
