More than 200 participate
in 31st annual Dog Days Run

From left to right are Barb Linnehan, ’15, with her dog Koko; Erin Dickerson, ’15, and Jeanne Thompson, ’15, SCAVMA president, with her dog, Mal.
On your bark, get set, go!
The 31st annual Dog Days Run was held on Sept. 29 with more than 200 runners participating in either a 5k or 1-mile dog run. The 5k included a stretch of 16th Avenue, dubbed by runners as the “Bacon Strips” due to its hilly peaks, and the 1-mile run circled the park, with both races starting and ending at Westside Park.
“Despite having three other competing events in Gainesville that morning, there was still an impressive turnout of canine and human athletes,” said Dr. Jeremy Delcambre, who assisted in coordinating the event.
“The UF CVM was well represented, including students from all four current classes, graduate students, faculty, residents, and staff,” Delcambre said.
Student race director K.C. Croy, ’14, and her “big sib”, 2011 race director Megan Manzie, ’14, ” worked tirelessly to ensure a successful and family friendly atmosphere,” Delcambre added. Also working on the event were other veterinary students and members of the Florida Track Club.

Senior UF veterinary student Ben Carter added to the fun by serving as the official “Pace Cat” for the dog run.
Multiple sponsors from the veterinary community attended, and more than $7,000 was raised for the UF Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Alachua County Humane Society, and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.
Michael Rosato won the 5k for the third year in a row with a time of 16:56 and Jeff Curtiss, ’15, with his dog, Sheila, won the dog mile race in a blazing 5:55. Several veterinary students won age group, raffle, or costume awards, with outfit themes including a tortoise and hare, Mississippi State, UF, a Yorkshire terrier “princess,” and a character from the TV show Firefly.
“New to the event this year was a bugle ‘call to post,’ initiating the dog run and an official ‘pace cat’ hilariously played by Ben Carter, ’13,” Delcambre said. “We really want to thank all the volunteers and runners who made this event a success.”