The 34th annual Dog Days Run, hosted by the University of Florida’s Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Association, took place Saturday, April 2, 2016, at Westside Park. It was an event filled with dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes, panting and sprinting through the neighborhoods surrounding Westside during the 5K race and the 1-mile fun run.
Some owners donned costumes in order to match their dog and basked in the glory of awards, such as Dog and Owner Look-A-Like. The fastest and biggest dogs were recognized at the ceremony along with their slower, smaller peers who in contrast received awards such as smallest dog and slowest dog.
The event allowed for all dog lovers to come together and give back to the community. The donations received will be given to the Josh and Friends project, which gives hospitalized children a plush dog named Josh that serves as their “hospital buddy.”
UF DOG DAYS 5K — Maggie Ewald, 25, a vet student at UF finishes the 5K with her dog on Saturday, April 2, 2016. (Photo by Samuel Figuera)
RUN LIKE A DOG — At the Dog Days 5K, owners are challenged to keep up with their dogs on Saturday, April 2, 2016. (Photo by Samuel Figuera)
DASH TO THE FINISH — Megan Harris, 38, and Tyler Stubblefield, 30, have a strong finish at the end of the Dog Days run on Saturday, April 2, 2016, with Mowgli, a dog brought in by animal control who unfortunately was found missing a paw when rescued. (Photo by Samuel Figuera)
THE LOOKALIKE AWARD — Amanda McClain, 22, of Live Oak, goes up to recieve the award for Dog That Looks Most Like Their Owner with her dog, Juno, on Saturday, April 2, 2016. (Photo by Samuel Figuera)
DALMATIAN LOOK ALIKE — Amanda McClain, 22, of Live Oak and her dog Juno bask in the glory of receiving the award for Dog That Looks Most Like Their Owner on Saturday, April 2, 2016. (Photo by Samuel Figuera)
FASTEST FEMALE TEAM — Becky Gomez, 24, of Lake City, recuperates with her roommates’ dog, Darla, after finishing the 5K on Saturday, April 2, 2016. Gomez and Darla trained 6 days a week in preparation for the 5K. (Photo by Samuel Figuera)
ADOPT A PITBULL — Katherine Rivera, 22, of Bradenton, Florida, is a vet student at UF who is currently a foster parent for her pitbull, Mila, who was rescued from a dog fighting circuit. Rivera feeds Mila at the Dog Days run on Saturday, April 2, 2016. (Photo by Samuel Figuera)
WATER BREAK — Chris Connolly, 28 and Sam Campos, 28, both of New Jersey, give Grits, a rescue dog who was found wandering the streets, water after the 5K on Saturday, April 2, 2016. (Photo by Samuel Figuera)
CEASAR — Bryant Silva, 28, of Hollywood, FL, and a rescue dog named Ceasar sit underneath the tent for Second Chance, a rescue and rehoming organization for dogs on Saturday, April 2, 2016. (Photo by Samuel Figuera)
DELILAH — Justin Allen, 27, of Titusville, who works at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, holds his dog, Delilah, who is wearing a sombrero given to Allen by his roommate on Saturday, April 2, 2016. (Photo by Samuel Figuera)
DOG DAYS FINISH LINE — The finish line of the dog days 5K on April 2, 2016. (Photo by Samuel Figuera)
FASTEST FEMALE TEAM — Becky Gomez, 24, of Lake City recieves the award for Fastest Female Team with her dog, Darla, on Saturday, April 2, 2016. (Photo by Samuel Figuera)
Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary, the largest bovine farm sanctuary in the country, is a place where animal families find their forever homes. The Gainesville sanctuary was started by Erin and Chris Amerman and has 161 cows, 22 pigs, 10 donkeys, 10 horses, three water buffalo, two turkeys and one bison.
WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
