At the sound of a siren, a rush of paws and sneaker wearing runners stampeded down Armorcast Road, Birdsboro, with hopes of crossing the finish line first.
Owners and their four-legged friends made their way out to join the annual Doggie Dash and Walk to support the Animal Rescue League of Berks County Saturday, Sept. 6.
The event, hosted by Breakaway Sports year after year, saw a great turnout with 120 people and their dogs pre-registered, and even more signed up the day of the event.
‘We had more people this year than ever,’ Michelle Ulrich, Breakaway Sports, said. The group has been holding the Doggie Dash for more than 15 years, which has always donated proceeds to the ARL.
Many people came out specifically to support the ARL, one of whom was Exeter resident Carly Attanasio and her dog Lance, a 2 1/2 year old German Shepherd who she adopted from the Berks rescue organization.
For Attanasio, Lance serves as a fitness partner.
‘He loves anything involved with running,’ Attanasio said, who signed up for the run to ‘support the ARL.’
Runners met at the Birdsboro VFW and took off for the 2-mile route down the Schuylkill River Trail.
‘It’s a great location,’ Ulrich said. Both Birdsboro and Union Township worked with Breakaway Sports in organizing the event.
Maddie Perry, Douglassville, came to run with her 7-year-old dog, Mindy.
‘We just came to have fun and to get out and walk with her,’ Scott Perry, said.
Sara Wright, Kutztown, made the trek to Birdsboro for her puppy Kuda, 4 mo., to ‘support the ARL and so he can have fun.’
Prizes were awarded overall to the first male owner and first female owner, and for the top three places in each dog weight division.
Communal dog dishes were provided for dogs after the run, where the pups could go to hydrate themselves. For more on Breakaway Sports visit makebreak.com.