Dog owners, fitness enthusiasts and local pet lovers are invited to Belmont Shore for the 2nd Annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run on Feb. 17 to raise money for Long Beach Animal Care Services.
The Rotary Club of Signal Hill hopes to build on the success of last year’s inaugural event, which had roughly 100 participants on race day and raised nearly $1,000 for LB Animal Care Services.
Les Young, president of Signal Hill’s Rotary Club chapter, came up with the idea for a dog-friendly fitness event after coming across a Canicross event in the Midwest. Canicross is a form of cross-country racing where humans and one or multiple leashed dogs team up for a run.
The Mutt Run was named in honor of Bob Long, a Long Beach civil servant and Rotary Club member deeply committed to protecting the welfare of animals, who passed away in 2022.
In the spirit of Long’s humanitarian efforts, the Mutt Run is a beacon of animal appreciation, as Young says his favorite part of the event is “seeing the community getting together, rallying around their love of animals.”
This year’s event will feature three race options: a humans-only 5K beginning at 8 a.m., a dog-friendly 5K at 9 a.m. and a dog-friendly 1 kilometer race slated for a 9:45 a.m. start.
Racers who won’t be running with a dog are still welcome to join the dog-friendly races, but the classic 5K option allows runners to race unencumbered by leashes or paws on the beach path.
Though this event is aimed at dog owners, especially those who enjoy exercising with their pets, the Mutt Run is also welcome to dog enthusiasts who may not have canines of their own. Young says they hope to double last year’s fundraising total and get 250 race participants in the Mutt Run.
This year the Mutt Run will have student rotary club volunteers from Long Beach’s Sato Academy as well as students in a dog-centric Paws Club from a high school in La Palma.
Young is hopeful that greater community involvement in this year’s event will help spread the word.
In addition to the racing, attendees will be able to enjoy several local dog-themed vendors selling treats and accessories, free coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts and a pet adoption event organized by Long Beach Animal Care Services.
The 2nd Annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run will take place Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Claremont Launch Ramp, located at 5350 E. Ocean Blvd. To register for the Mutt Run, or to learn more about the event, visit the Rotary Club’s website.
[A previous version of this article was published that incorrectly stated that the 1K race was for humans only. The Signal Tribune regrets this error.]
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