The Seattle Animal Shelter’s eighth annual Furry 5-kilometer Fun Run & Walk will take place at 10 a.m. Sunday in Seward Park, 5902 Lake Washington Blvd. S. I’ll be there leading Team IGGY Ambassadors-Emerald City (Italian Greyhounds of the NW).

I began as a volunteer at the Seattle Animal Shelter in 2005, shortly after adopting my Italian greyhound, Sophia. I did it in part as personal therapy to get over my fear of dogs. I wanted to be a dog walker, but the scheduling didn’t work for me, so I became a MatchMaker instead – someone who works with the public introducing them to the adoptable dogs and cats and other furry and feathered friends residing at the shelter. After 6 months of feeling guilty for leaving my dog at home on the weekends, and also living with a 16 year old ailing cat I was afraid to pack home something contagious to, I instead joined the Pet Therapy Team, and got to take Sophia to visit residents at a local convalescent home. They loved her since she was small enough to get up on their beds. She did really well, I was proud of her.

Anyway – the Seattle Animal Shelter counts on the Furry 5K to make money to be able to cover veterinary expenses for incoming orphaned pets (among other things). Many animals are brought to the shelter due to medical problems, or perhaps a broken leg, and the family doesn’t have money to pay for the animal’s care. Because of the shelter’s Help the Animals Fund, the shelter is able to take the pet, send it to the vet for care, foster it during its recovery, and then help it find a new home.

It’s important to know that all money raised at the Furry 5K will benefit the Help the Animals Fund, which supports the shelter in providing veterinary care to sick, injured and abused animals, and finding them new homes.

Pre-registration for the race is available until midnight Saturday at http://www.furry5k.com/ or during operating hours at the following stores: Seattle Running Company (Capitol Hill), Sound Sports (downtown Seattle), Super Jock and Jill (Green Lake) and Footzone (Bellevue, Issaquah, Redmond). Registration will also be available the day of the race from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m.

For more information, call 206-386-4286 or visit http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org/

See you at the Furry 5K!