Dogs, Humans Jog To Help Watauga Humane Society By Mike Shands Watauga’s Olympian, Brenda Taylor, was out front in the beginning of last year’s Dog Jog 2k race, but Donna Thackway’s dog, Chinook, let Taylor know that he was close on her heels. Carter Smith entertains the crowd with his cello music during last year’s Dog Jog while his dog, Memphis, patiently waits. Harley meets Isaac during last year’s Dog Jog. Photos by Marie Freeman. The Watauga Humane Society will hold one of its most popular fund-raisers this month. The humane society will hold its ninth annual Dog Jog and 9K 4 K9s Saturday, Oct. 22 along Boone’s Greenway Trail. Proceeds from the event will benefit the humane society. Last year’s Dog Jog raised more than $9,000 for the humane society. All proceeds from the event will benefit the animals at the humane society’s shelter by paying for operating expenses. This year’s Dog Jog will include a 9K race for humans only and a 1-mile dog jog/walk for pets and humans. Both races will begin and end at the Watauga County Parks and Recreation Complex. “We want anyone and everyone to come out and participate and enjoy the fun,” said Kathie Billing, a humane society board member and co-chairwoman of the event along with Bencita Moore. “It tends to be a big, family event with kids and all the different dogs out there. It’s a fun, informal event. It is for runners, walkers, joggers and people in wheelchairs.” Billing said many of the dogs that participate in the event are animals that have been adopted from the humane society’s shelter through the years. “You get to see a lot of the good homes that a lot of the shelter’s dogs have gone to, and they get to reunite with shelter volunteers who cared for them,” she said. The humane society will provide shelter dogs for those who don’t have dogs but want to participate in the Dog Jog with one. “We will bring the dogs to the event so people won’t have to stop by the shelter to pick them up,” Billing said. Those wishing to walk or jog a shelter dog during the event should call the shelter as soon as possible to request one. The Dog Jog will also feature a wide variety of music, contests, activities and information booths. Some of the contests will include costumes and owner/dog look-a-likes. The 9K race begins at 8:30 a.m. while the 1-mile event starts at 11 a.m. The 9K race will take place on a combination of easy trails and pavement with one water station. Cash prizes for the 9K race will include $100 apiece for the first-place male and female, $50 apiece for the second-place male and female and $25 apiece for the third-place male and female. Prizes will also be awarded to first-, second- and third-place finishers in a wide variety of age groups. Pet owners should not bring dogs younger than 6 months of age. All dogs should be wearing current identification and rabies vaccination tags and should be kept on a 6-foot or shorter leash at all times. Owners should also clean up after their dogs. The humane society will provide water for humans and dogs at the event. Entry fees are $20 for one human and one dog and $5 for each additional dog. Children 12-and-under can enter for $10 while college students can enter for $15. Entry forms are available at The Pet Place, Bare Essentials, the Watauga Humane Society shelter, The Wellness Center, Sage Sports, Watauga County Parks and Recreation and local veterinarians. Early packet pick-up and registration will be Friday, Oct. 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Sage Sports in Boone Mall. On-site registration will be Oct. 22 from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. for the 9K race and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. for the 1-mile dog jog/walk. For more information about the Dog Jog call Moore at (828) 297-2774, Billing at (828) 262-0098 or the humane society’s shelter at (828) 264-7865. For more information about the humane society look online at www.wataugahumanesociety.org Those who can’t participate in the event but who want to donate to the humane society can do so by making checks payable to Watauga Humane Society and mailing them to P.O. Box 1835, Boone, N.C., 28607.