Frequently Asked Questions

What is PAWGUST?

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PAWGUST is a fundraiser that encourages people and their pooches to brave the cold and walk or run at least 60km in August to raise funds for Guide Dogs.

What are the dates?

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The PAWGUST Challenge starts on 1st August and finishes on 31st August.

Can I still get involved if I don’t have a dog?

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Yes, absolutely! We’d love you to!

You can still sign up to take part in PAWGUST even if you don’t have a dog. Just be prepared to receive lots of dog puns!

How can I register?

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Registrations for PAWGUST 2023 will open in June 2023 and will stay open over August. Alternatively, you are welcome to make a donation to Guide Dogs or anyone currently fundraising for PAWGUST here - https://www.pawgust.com.au/sponsor. All donations over $2 are tax deductible in Australia and over $5 in New Zealand. All donations are greatly appreciated. 

Does it cost to register?

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There is no registration cost for PAWGUST.

I'm under 18, can I still register?

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Yes, absolutely! We love to see under 18s getting involved in this event and we welcome your involvement. We do, however, need a parent/guardian to complete the registration form on your behalf.

How much do I have to walk or run?

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We suggest walking or running a minimum of 60km across the month of August (which is roughly 30 mins a day!). You can, however, choose to walk or run 100km or even challenge yourself to go for 125km!

Please note: all dogs are different, so it’s important to keep in mind the fitness, age and size of your dog when walking or running during PAWGUST. If you are unsure about your dog’s capacity to walk or run for this amount of time each day, please consult your local vet.

How can I fundraise?

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Online via your PAWGUST fundraising page which is set up for you when you register. You will be sent a free PAWGUST pack which will have some great tips and hints to assist you. There are also downloads available online which will greatly assist you on your PAWGUST journey. You can check out our Fundraising Top Tips page.

How do I update my fundraising goal?

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Simply login and edit your fundraising goal on your profile page.

Do I have to wait until August to start fundraising?

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Definitely not! You can start fundraising as soon as you register. Check out our Fundraising Top Tips and get started now (the sooner, the better)

Where does the money I raise go?

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Money raised supports Guide Dogs Australia and Blind Low Vision NZ.

The money raised during PAWGUST will go towards providing orientation and mobility training, Guide Dogs, adaptive aids, counselling, case management and other vital services to people living with vision loss or blindness. All these services are provided at no cost to our clients. 

If someone donates to my page online, will they get a tax receipt?

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Yes. If they donate more than $2 they will receive a tax receipt which will be sent to the email address they put into the online donation form. It's sometimes a good idea to also check your junk mail in case it has gone in there for some reason. 

I need help updating my online profile – who can I call?

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You can call us on 1300 00 PAWS (7297) and the team will be able to talk you through updating your online profile. If we cannot assist, we will discuss it further with the website customer care support team.

How do I get my PAWGUST Poop Bag Holder and Roll?

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After you have successfully registered for PAWGUST, you make or raise a donation within the first 48 hours of registering to receive a PAWGUST Poop Bag Holder and Roll. Make sure you fill out your full address details when you register so that we can send it to you. The PAWGUST Poop Bag Holder and Roll is only available to people who register and raise a donation within the first 48 hours of registering. Pawgust Poop Bag Holders are only available to eligble fundraisers who register before 15th July 2023 or until stocks last. You will recieve an email when it has been dispatched, which is scheduled to be in July

How do I input my steps, distance and minutes walked online?

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Login to your PAWGUST dashboard, click on 'Log My Walk/Run'. There are 4 fields that you can complete. 'Date', 'Duration (mins)', 'Steps' and 'Distance (km)'. Then click 'Log Activity'. These will now display on your PAWGUST fundraising page and in your dashboard.

How long does registration and fundraising stay open?

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Registration stays open until Wednesday 11th August. Fundraising stays open until Friday 30 September.

I’ve set up a Facebook Fundraising Page – how does this work and why doesn’t it link to my PAWGUST Fundraising Page?

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Whilst we believe Facebook Fundraisers are a great way to raise funds, unfortunately due to limitations out of our control, we are unable to link any Facebook Fundraisers with PAWGUST. Any donations made through Facebook Fundraisers will not be attributed to your PAWGUST page.

If you are prompted to create a Facebook Fundraiser when sharing your PAWGUST Page on Facebook, we would recommend you do not proceed with this as you are unable to set up PAWGUST as the beneficiary.

It is therefore best to only use your PAWGUST page link when sharing online and to only collect donations through this page.

Is the registration form accessible by a screen reader?

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Yes. However if you're having any difficulties please contact us on 1300 00 PAWS (7297) and we are more than happy to help.

I’ve participated before, do I have to sign up again?

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Yes, we require all repeat participants to sign up again. Please remember to use the same email address, contact PAWGUST@guidedogs.org.au  if you need assistance. And welcome back by the way! We are SO excited to have you back on board! 

Can I still participate if I don’t live in Australia?

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Yes, absolutely! And Hello from wherever you are joining us from! We welcome your participation and you are in good company. We have participants walking and running from all parts of the world – from the UK, USA, New Zealand and beyond! 

I haven’t received a donation receipt.

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That’s not good at all and we have our tail firmly between our legs. Have a look through your junk folder and if it still hasn't shown up, please email us straight away at PAWGUST@guidedogs.org.au and we will resend it to you asap! 

What if I have more than one dog?

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You can register more than one dog during the registration process. 

Still have a question?

Contact Tash from the PAWGUST team

Call us on 1300 00 PAWS (7297) 

Email us at PAWGUST@guidedogs.org.au 

We will be glad to help you!