Join the PAWGUST Challenge This August...
This August, Kiwis are being encouraged to leash up, step out, and walk for a good cause as PAWGUST returns to support the next generation of Blind Low Vision NZ guide dogs.
With the core message “Walk for them, so they can lead the way,” PAWGUST invites people across Aotearoa to walk 60km, 100km, or 125km during August, while fundraising to help breed, raise, and train guide dogs for New Zealanders who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision.
Whether you’re walking solo, with friends, whānau, workmates, or side-by-side with your dog, PAWGUST is a simple way to get moving through winter while supporting guide dogs who will one day help their handlers move through the world with greater confidence, safety, and independence.
PAWGUST client story
Sally was born prematurely with retinopathy and total blindness in one eye. Later in life, she had multiple retina detachments, developed cataracts, glaucoma and macular atrophy, leaving her with about 10 degrees of blurred vision. As a result, her vision has been up and down all her life. Nevertheless, it didn’t hold Sally back.
When she first joined PAWGUST with her first guide dog, Sienna, she saw it as a chance to support a service that has shaped her independence and daily life.
Everyday travel through busy or unfamiliar environments can feel mentally demanding and tiring.
Now with her new guide dog Priya, a calm and highly perceptive black Labrador, helps make those moments easier to navigate.
“She notices everything,” Sally says. “Small shifts in my pace or confidence, and she adjusts straight away. That changes how I move through the world.”
Their partnership was carefully matched, taking into account lifestyle, communication style, and personality. Sally says building that trust took time.
“It isn’t just mobility,” she says. “It’s learning to collaborate so you build a relationship, not just a skill set.”
A typical day starts early, with Priya joining Sally’s morning routine before they head out to work and daily activities. Together they move through the city, around campuses, meetings, and community spaces using buses, taxis, and walking.
“This reduces the mental fatigue that comes with constantly processing information through both my vision and hearing,” Sally says. “By reducing that effort, she frees up energy so I can focus more on my work, social interactions, and everyday life.” After her first dog retired and during a period without a guide dog, Sally says that working with a guide dog in partnership has strengthened her independence and confidence in everyday life.
Sally is taking part in PAWGUST again this year. “If you’re on the fence, I’d say: start small, start where you are, and make it your own. You can walk solo, with friends, with or without a dog, or as a workplace ‘pack’. The beauty is that it’s not about being an athlete, it’s about showing up consistently, asking people to get behind you, and helping create a world where everyone who needs a guide dog can have one,” she says.
“For me, PAWGUST is a simple way to turn support into something real.”
Ready to Do Walkies for a Good Cause?
Participants can choose their PAWGUST distance, gather sponsorship, and complete their kilometres throughout August. It’s free to register, and you don’t need a dog to take part – just a pair of walking shoes and the motivation to make every step count.
Every dollar raised helps train the next generation of guide dogs. A $30 donation can cover a puppy’s leash, while $100 can fund a specialist training session. Higher-tier fundraising can help provide something life-changing: the gift of independence to a New Zealander with vision loss.
Why PAWGUST Matters
Unlike pet dogs, guide dogs are highly trained working dogs who support people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision to navigate busy footpaths, road crossings, e-scooters, road signs, public transport, and other everyday hazards.
By taking part in PAWGUST, participants are doing more than embracing daily movement, they are helping create a future where more New Zealanders who need a guide dog can experience the freedom, confidence, companionship, and independence these extraordinary dogs provide.
“Every step taken in PAWGUST helps raise the funds we need to train and support dogs,” says Andrea Midgen, Chief Executive, Blind Low Vision NZ. “These dogs give our clients freedom, confidence, and companionship.”
So don’t fur-get: leash up and get walking this August. Register and fundraise at www.pawgust.co.nz
