La Kalibo 5K Canine and Family Walk It has become a must-attend event in Zaragoza for dog owners and outdoor enthusiasts. The fourth edition of this gathering once again filled the Expo area and the vicinity of the Water Tower with families and their pets, all eager to enjoy a unique morning combining walking, leisure, and a strong charitable component.
This year, the public response has been especially remarkable: Nearly 900 families had registered days before The event began early, and by the morning of the walk, the number of participants had risen to around 1.100, with more joining along the way. All of this confirms that this popular walk has become one of the city's most well-attended events focused on animal welfare.
A 5-kilometer sporting event for charity
Organized by the Zaragoza City Council, through the Environment and Mobility Department, and Kalibo Insurance BrokerageThe Kalibo 5K Canine and Family Walk offers a route of approximately five kilometers through the Expo area. It's not a typical competitive race, but rather a walk where the focus is on sharing the journey as a family, at each person's own pace, always accompanied by their dog.
Registration, which can be completed through the official Kalibo website, has maintained a fully supportive character since the first edition. This time, all proceeds from registrations will go to Alborada Public Special Education School, located in the Actur neighborhood, to launch and strengthen therapy programs and interventions assisted with dogs aimed at its students.
These sessions will be developed by Apache InnovationThe organization specializes in animal-assisted interventions and already regularly collaborates on projects of this kind. The aim is to support the development, emotional well-being, and inclusion of the school's students by using the bond with dogs as an educational and therapeutic tool.
Throughout the day, municipal authorities emphasized this social component. The mayor of Zaragoza, Natalia Chueca, has highlighted that initiatives like this pursue a dual objective: to promote animal welfare and strengthen family life around pets, while supporting a particularly sensitive educational project like that of the Alborada school.
Activities for the whole family at the Water Tower
Once the route is completed, the Kalibo 5K Dog and Family Walk transforms into a great leisure day in the area around the Water TowerThat's where the bulk of the parallel programming is concentrated, designed for both adults and children, always with dogs as the main characters.
Among the most striking proposals are the creative play spaces directed by the visual artist NoemiCalvoconPeloUnder suggestive titles such as "Dog Names", "Leave Your Mark" or "Dog Makeup", families can participate in playful activities that mix art, play and participation with their pets, generating very visual and relaxed moments.
The morning program is completed with a Children's storytelling by Javier Carillain which the AntÃgona Bookstore collaborates. This bookstore also carries out a donate 10% of your sales linked to the Walk itself, thus reinforcing the social impact of the event.
For those looking for something more active, one of the most anticipated activities is the road safety gymkhana with petsIn it, families and dogs participate in tests and circuits designed to learn basic rules of coexistence on the street, all with a very special touch: the presence of the 501st Legion Spanish Garrison, a squad of Star Wars fans who participate dressed as characters from the saga.
Music also has its place at this canine party. On the occasion of 125th anniversary of the Official College of Veterinarians of ZaragozaThe musical show Clio & Pablo offers a selection of well-known covers, providing a soundtrack to the morning and livening up the atmosphere in the finish line and activities area.
Animal shelters, pet spaces, and veterinary professionals
One of the key aspects of the Kalibo 5K Canine and Family Walk is its commitment to raising awareness about the care and protection of animalsTo that end, the event has a Pet Space which brings together various exhibitors related to the world of pets and numerous animal protection associations.
In this edition, the Espacio Pet once again features six commercial stands focused on products and services for pets, and with a specific area where around ten animal protection organizationsAmong the associations involved are, among others, ZARPA (Zaragoza Animal Protection), the 4 Cats and You Protection Association, the Are Adopta y Rescata Animal and Plant Protection Association, AZAR (Zaragoza of Rescued Animals) or Animañicas, along with the Zaryhuellas animal shelter.
Along with them, the Municipal Animal Protection Center of the Zaragoza City Council (CEMPA) It has its own exhibition space. This municipal resource showcases some of the work it does daily with abandoned animals or those rescued from situations of abuse, while also providing information about the adoption process.
The institutional presence is complemented by the participation of Official College of Veterinarians of Zaragoza and from Kalibo itself, as well as Apache Innovation, who remain available throughout the day to answer questions related to animal health, behavior or insurance, and even to offer help with any incident that may arise with the participating dogs.
During her speech, the mayor also took the opportunity to make an appeal to the responsible adoptionShe has encouraged those thinking of adding an animal to their home to first visit the Municipal Animal Protection Center, where they work with dogs of different breeds and ages waiting for a family and where they carry out constant work in recovery and adoption management.
Hospitality, collaborators and a great citizen response
The Kalibo 5K Canine and Family Walk experience is completed with a hospitality space designed for taking a break along the wayThe Ginam Food Truck offers snacks and drinks for the human attendees, but also remembers the four-legged protagonists: for every snack sold, a small tasting menu is given to the dogs, so that they too have their reward.
The event is made possible thanks to the collaboration of a wide range of companies, media and entitiesAmong the logistical support and sponsors are 100pies eventos, Agroveco, Apartamentos 3000, Aragón TV, Aragón Radio, Coca-Cola, Boehringer Ingelheim, Elanco, Dr. Zoo, El Corte Inglés, Frutos Secos El Rincón, Grupo Lacasa, Preventiva Seguros, Puerto Venecia, Sphere Group Spain or Tekko, in addition to Kalibo CorredurÃa de Seguros itself.
The organization also wanted to express its gratitude for the involvement of all participating animal protection associations and the College of Veterinarians, which has been described as a key partner in every municipal activity related to animals. This combination of public institutions, community organizations, and private companies allows the event to grow year after year in terms of services and quality.
Regarding public reception, the data speaks for itself: Thousands of people have passed through the Expo area Throughout the morning, you can either walk the official five kilometers or head to the area around the Water Tower to enjoy the activities, exhibitors and festive atmosphere.
Those who were unable to participate this year can follow the latest news, schedules and future events through the Kalibo website, where information on registration, route and updated program of the Kalibo 5K Canine and Family Walk is centralized.
The fourth edition of the Kalibo 5K Canine and Family Walk thus confirms its role as a meeting point between sport, solidarity and respect for animalsThe success in terms of participation, the boost given to dog therapy projects at the Alborada school, the increased visibility of the work of animal shelters, and the family atmosphere at the Torre del Agua reinforce an event that has been gaining importance on the Zaragoza calendar and that contributes, step by step, to building a city more committed to its pets and the people who live with them.
