Dog owners and their pets gathered in the Botanical Gardens yesterday for a festive fundraiser to help out an animal charity.

Animals were dressed in Christmas-themed costumes for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Paws to the Park event, which attracted more than 100 people.

April Augustus, the charity’s executive director, said the annual gathering was the group’s flagship cash appeal and drew the most attention.

She added: “It’s nice to get animals out to socialise with each other and then also obviously humans.

“So there’s a sense of community to get everyone out and also support us as well.”

Paws to the Park, where tickets cost $25, had several pop-up tents in the equestrian arena of Botanical Gardens where free treats were offered for pups as well as breakfasts for their owners.

Ms Augustus said such gatherings were important to balance out the SPCA’s lofty operational costs.

She explained that the charity’s annual budget was more than $1.2 million because every animal taken in required several check-ups with a veterinarian.

Ms Augustus added that, because costs quickly piled up “every little bit counts”.

Daria Melchenko, 31, and Vasyl Semenov, 40, said they came to the event to celebrate Christmastime with their four-year-old Pembroke Welsh corgi, Percy.

Ms Melchenko said that many areas around Bermuda were not dog friendly and that she saw Paws to the Park as “a great opportunity for us to go out as a family”.

She added: “He loves it here. We’ve already bought a lovely pup cup with treats.

“He loves the presents and he loves talking to other dogs a lot.”

Quay Tucker, from Southampton, was joined by French bulldog siblings Soso, an eight-month-old girl, and Yayo, a three-month-old boy, to meet other dogs and show off their reindeer costumes.

The 25-year-old said that she enjoyed the Christmas atmosphere and the chance to bring dogs and their owners together.

She added that “we need more events like this”.

Adrienne Smatt, 36, took her seven-year-old Jamaican rescue dog, Siena, to socialise her.

She said that it was important to bring dogs around the community to break any stigma around the animals.

Ms Smatt added: “There’s just not that many events that you can bring your dogs to.

“I think it’s good to be able to socialise your pets.

“There’s a big fear in Bermuda around dogs, so then people don’t take their dogs out because people are afraid and then the dogs don’t get socialised.

“I think it’s great to integrate the dogs, get them socialised and do something about that fear.”

Photo gallery