Woof! Come walk with me...

REPORT & PICTURE	"These boots are made for walking-and that's just what I'll be doing during The Big Walk. Don't I look cool? In case you didn't notice, my fashionable footwear matches my red cap and my red chequered leash.
FLORENCE TAN

They will help keep my paws cool when I walk on the hot ground and the cap can shade my eyes from the strong sun.

I'm so excited to be going for The New Paper Big Walk next Sunday, May 21. It will be the first time I'm going for such a long walk.

The longest I've done so far is 20 minutes with my 23-year-old owner, Sylvia Chang. We walked from our house in Simei to her workplace in Simei's Eastpoint Shopping Centre.

I'm 12 - which for a dog is getting on in years - but I'm still healthy and strong.

The best part is, during the walk I'll have company. They are : Xena, 3, a cross between a bull mastiff and a boxer, the furry year-old chinchilla Coco and Jojo, a guinea pig, a rabbit and my feathered friend - a six-month-old budgie.

We're all representing Pet Safari, where my owner works.

Since we're precious animals, our owners are going to be extra-careful when they take us to the National Stadium.

Sylvia will be carrying a water bottle, small towel and an ice pack to cool me down.

Sean Quek, 27, manager of the chinchilla section, said Coco and Jojo will be traveling in a carrier, with water and hay, and will be shaded by an umbrella. Now that's comfort!

I'm told there will be lots of people at the walk. But I'm not scared. Because I love people, always have Sylvia always takes me downstairs to the kindergarten to meet the kids.

She taught them the right way to pet me. So you can ask her if you're not sure.

Us animals won't be walking all 10km as Mr. Vernon Chua, 35, supervisor of the puppies and kittens section, said that with Singapore's weather, we can only walk for 15 to 30 minutes.

After the walk, Mr. Chua said I'll have to be checked for cuts, scratches, ticks, fleas and dirt.

And pebbles that get in between my toes will have to be removed.

I'm looking forward to the big day and I hope to make lots of new friends. See you there."

REGISTER NOW

PUBLIC registration for the Big Walk ends tomorrow.

You can register either for the fun walking ($4) or competitive ($5) category. Fun walkers can sign up at any of seven registration centres - Takashimaya Square, Jurong Point, Tampines Mall, NorthPoint, OUB Centre, SAAA and News Centre.

Competitive walkers can register only at Takashimaya and SAAA in any one of six categories.

Participants who sign up online at http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/bigwalk/ will get free e-mail and win attractive prizes.