Dog Jog races forward

By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com

Charles City dog owners will have the chance to take their dogs and puppies out for a run — or a walk, or a jog — next month.

The PAWs Dog Jog will begins with registration at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 19, then the two-legged and four-legged participants will take off at 8:30 a.m. on their choice of 5 kilometers (a little over 3 miles) or 1 mile.

“We moved it a couple weeks earlier than usual,” said Julie Taylor, PAWs director. “We thought that way it will still be while school’s going on, before things get too crazy with summer schedules in June.”

This year will mark the seventh Dog Jog. Shane Warnke, a local tattoo artist, helped PAWs with the logo for this year’s event.

“We encourage people to pre-register,” Taylor said, but people can also register the morning of the event.

The Dog Jog goes to fund PAWs and helps with vet care for the animals the group houses.

“Before the event we’re going to have some informational tables set up having to do with dog-related topics, like grooming and places that have dog boarding,” Taylor said. “If people need to get their dog licensed with the city, or if the license has been expired, we will have those registration forms for people to take.”

The tables will be set up before the race and immediately after the run from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Dog microchipping will be included in the dog jog registration for $30, and also available for dogs that aren’t entered in the run.

“Microchipping is a really tiny chip that is inserted with a needle,” Taylor said. The chips generate a special number when a reader is passed over them, so the owners can be identified if a pet is lost.

Dogs with a microchip get a price break in Charles City when licensed.

The race will begin near the labyrinth at Riverfront Park and go on the trail running parallel to the Cedar River, with signs at various points showing the runners where to go with their dogs.

“There’s a lot of parking in the grassy area at I.C. field,” Taylor said.

Dogs that participate will get a colorful PAWS handkerchief. People that participate will receive a race T-shirt and water bottle.

“We’ll have some refreshments, too,” Taylor said.

There are registration forms available online by clicking the link at www.pawscharlescity.com, and with pamphlets available at PAWs.

“The deadline for pre-registration is May 7,” Taylor said.

Participants don’t have to have a dog to participate.