Dogs invited to join in shortened version of walk

by Irene Taylor
ONE of the most popular events on the island, which attracts more and more people each year, is the annual walk from the Plaza Güell in Palma to Lluc monastery, a distance of some 48 kilometres.
This year, pet owners are being encouraged to walk with their dogs in a reduced version: from Plaza Güell (Calle Aragon) to the Son Bonet aerodrome, a distance of just 4.5 kilometres.
The walk to Lluc was founded by Tolo Güell, a popular bar owner, and was originally completed by a small group of friends. But numbers have grown until the walkers are now counted in thousands.
Tolo and his group of organisers love animals, and that is why they are keen to get pet owners to join in.
This first “dogwalk” is also a promotion of canicross, a sport with its own European Federation and which will celebrate the first Canicross National Circuit with a stage in Palma in January 2007.
Canicross is described by enthusiasts as “a healthy fun sport in which both dog and owner enjoy the open air together, showing their sharing of feelings by means of such a natural and necessary activity for dogs as running.” Project Animal Culture, chaired by Fany Magraner is organising the canicross in Majorca and has the collaboration of the Friends of Animals group of Esporlas.