Sign-ups open for 10th annual 5K benefiting animal shelter

Mar. 20—The 10th annual Run/Walk for the Paws 5K is approaching, and community members, and their dogs, are invited to come out and support the shelter.

The race begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, in the parking lot across from Bode Ice Arena. Participants can park at Phil Welch Stadium, the REC center of the grass lots across the street.

Registration is $30 before March 22, and racers will be guaranteed a T-shirt. After March 22, registration bumps up to $35 and a shirt will not be guaranteed.

"People usually get there a little before the event and browse some of the vendors we have there. And then you can browse them after the event as well," said Aubrey Swofford, race director and volunteer with Friends of the Animal Shelter. "We're looking to just keep growing each year. Yeah, it's a really fun event and people bring."

Swofford emphasized that while some people run, walking for fun is perfectly fine, too.

"We have some people that run competitively and then a lot of people just bring their dogs and walk the race," Swofford said. "It's a really good time seeing all the dogs of all shapes and sizes."

All of the proceeds for the 5K will go toward medical expenses and adoption specials the shelter does for the animals.

"If we have a dog that comes in and needs heartworm treatment, it would cover that," Swofford said. "If we had dogs or cats coming in with injuries that needed vet treatment to cover that or in the adoption specials that we do."

For more information or to sign up for the event, visit runsignup.com/runforpaws.

"I just love seeing it grow each year. We just have a great community that comes around and supports us and we have about 350 participants last year," Swofford said. "We would love to see that number grow this year and to keep growing each year."