Second annual IRONDOG 5k Run/Walk raises money for injured dogs.
On Saturday, the second annual IRONDOG 5k Run/Walk featured more than 500 participants and hundreds of dogs. The participants raced around campus raising money for the IRONDOG fund. The IRONDOG fund was created last year by Matt Beal and Christian Weder to help fund surgeries for injured dogs.
Big dogs, small dogs, fluffy dogs and scrappy dogs joined to help fellow canines get medical treatment Saturday morning in the second annual IRONDOG 5K Run/Walk.
More than 500 participants, some of which ran alongside their furry friends, accompanied hundreds of dogs to help raise money for the IRONDOG fund.
The IRONDOG fund was created last year by Matt Beal, an associate professor in MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and Christian Weder, a fourth-year veterinary medicine student. Their goal was to help dogs in need of emergency surgery the dogs’ owners weren’t able to afford.
“We are just thrilled at the growth of the charity so far,” Weder said. “The more participants just means more animals that are going to benefit from the fund.”
Kristen Flory, director of marketing and communications in the College of Veterinary Medicine, said the fund covers about $1,000 toward each dogs’ treatment and surgery. Since the fund was started, about 15 dogs and one cat have been helped, according to the IRONDOG website.
Both the race and fund have grown in the last year, raising about $25,000 and featuring about 315 more participants than last year’s race, which had about 185 participants, Beal said.
Katie Pitt, a fourth-year veterinary medicine student, was among the 500 people participating to help raise money for the IRONDOG fund.
“Since I want to be a surgeon, helping animals that need emergency surgeries is important to me,” Pitt said.
Jake Flynn participated in the race both years, and continues to support the IRONDOG fund. Flynn is a resident doctor at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, Mich. Munson partners with MSU’s College of Human Medicine and the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
“They did such a good job (last year),” Flynn said. “It’s such a good cause, I had to be a part of it again.”
The co-founders decided to incorporate the race to promote healthy living and exercise among the participants.
“(This event) is for people for all abilities,” Beal said. “Also, just to get people off the couch.”
IRONDOG also held a 5k last month in North Carolina, and a team of participants raced in the Detroit Marathon in October 2011.
Because medical treatments for dogs can be so expensive, Flory said the race is a great way to ease the costs for pet owners.
“In this economy it has been very helpful,” Flory said. “(I would) hate to see people have to lose their pets. It’s heart wrenching.”
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