CENTRE HALL — Pets Come First’s 10th annual Dog Jog 5K Run/Walk fundraiser was held April 28 at the Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall. The event was different than most 5K fundraisers, with participating runners taking their dogs along for the journey. The 1.5K walk was designed for smaller, older or slower dogs — and people.
Pets Come First is a no-kill animal shelter located at 2451 General Potter Highway in Potter Township. According to manager Deb Warner, the shelter adopted out 622 animals in the past year.
Warner lined up about 100 human and canine runners to start the race at 10 a.m. With plenty of barking and cheering, the runners took off on a serpentine loop around the fairgrounds, returning to the finish line near the Grange exhibit buildings. In about 20 minutes, the first runners crossed the finish line, cheered on by spectators. Other runners soon followed, with the humans seemingly more exhausted than the dogs.
Many of the runners were local residents, but some came from out of the area. Amanda Loscar made the trip from Ebensburg with her mixed-breed dog Rue. She and Rue crossed the finish line in fifth place in the female runner with dog category.
Prizes from local businesses and organizations were awarded to the top male and female finishers.
Following the race, runners socialized while enjoying music and refreshments. Wading pools and buckets of drinking water were set up to cool off the dogs, who had already done a lot of barking and socializing in their unique ways prior to the race.
A silent auction of items donated by local businesses was conducted to raise additional funds for Pets Come First, and agility training also was available. Vendors of pet-related merchandise were housed in an exhibit building.
One vendor, Terry Irwin, “The Pig Lady,” brought pot-bellied pigs to the event. Headquartered in Danville, Irwin takes in pet pigs whose owners end up with buyer’s remorse.
“They’re cute when they’re small, but when they get big, some owners realize they’re in over their heads and want to get rid of them,” she said. “I take them in and find new homes for them. It’s often hard to find them good homes
