La Perrotón, The Dog Marathon Held In Madrid
3500 people took part, together with their furry friends, in the Perrotón 2016, the dog marathon. Among the many objectives of this initiative, there is that of encouraging adoption.
Thanks to canine sports that have become a trend in recent years, events similar to this have been born that associate Canicross with solidarity.
Madrid, the perfect city for the dog marathon
The Spanish capital, thanks to its track record in animal protection, is the perfect city for this initiative.
It is large enough for more than 3000 people with their dogs to compete, assist and finish the marathon successfully. Here are some comments from attendees:
“In my case,” Miguel commented, “I brought Rufus to play with the other dogs. I’m not here to win, and I don’t want to force him to. The noble aim and the fact that he can be in contact with his fellow men is already a reward for me ”.
“Running with your pet helps to create a special bond”, says Abba, owner of a Dalmatian, “but if the aim is to encourage adoption and make sure that everyone understands how important dogs are, it is even more important” .
“This marathon pushed my husband out of the house,” said Irina. His partner is a disabled person with a great passion for animals.
Everyone saw this event in their own way. It is nice to note that there was not an air of competitiveness but of affection for the animals.
The marathon is a message for adoption
In Madrid alone, around 20,000 animals are abandoned every year. It is therefore necessary to take steps to curb this phenomenon, and the marathon has this purpose.
According to Alejandra Botto, who presided over the event, this initiative is aimed at fostering adoption and encouraging people to take care of animals responsibly. People need to understand that they are like family members.
There were artists such as Sofía Cristo, Carlos Goñi and Sara Sálamo. The latter stated that it is not necessary to buy animals, as there are many who need our help, and besides, they are free! She herself adopted a little dog three years ago.
A further gesture during the marathon
A US ambassador was also invited to Perrotón this year . The aim was to reward the good work that has been done by the Americans regarding the abandonment and mistreatment of animals.
In America, new laws have been created with which all those who treat animals badly are severely punished.
Thanks to these new rules, to mistreatment and abandonment, the same importance is given to a premeditated murder or fire. We hope that they will soon spread all over the world.
As you may have seen, this marathon has many noble aims. If you want to participate, you must consult the official website of the Community of Madrid. Here you can find out about upcoming dates. It will also be useful for doing some physical activity with your dog.
