Home » Posts tagged 'walking with your dog'
In celebration of Halloween, Lager completed the Nightmare on Elm Street 5k!
Part of his miles were completed on 𝙀𝙡𝙢 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙩 in Moorestown, NJ.
He completed the rest of the distance by visiting all the scarecrows on historic Main Street in Medford, NJ.
Way to go, Lager!
This event was hosted by Gone For a Run Virtual Race Series . A portion of our race registration was donated to American Red Cross .
Note: this post is back-dated. I am currently attempting to catch up on many missed memories that I failed to post over the last 2-3 years). I appreciate your patience as I attempt to bring my diary of “special moments with my dogs” up-to-date!
I completed Do More With Your Dog’s “2K-9 Ruff Run” with Jägermeister. For this Do More With Your Dog challenge, we had to run or speed-walk 2 kilometers (1.24 miles). Proof could be submitted in the form of a photo, video, stopwatch, GPS, or a written statement from a spectator.
You don’t have to run or even walk fast to participate in this challenge with your dog. Fitness is for everyone! …So if either you and/or your dog is only capable of a slow walk, you can complete this challenge at your own pace.
You can click HERE to read more and to sign up with your dog!
This year for St. Patrick’s Day , Jägermeister and I got into the Irish spirit and hit the pavement! We participated in the Lucky Dog Virtual 5K, which supported some amazing animal shelters! We chose our donation to go to Pets with Disabilities Rescue, based out of Prince Frederick, MD.
It was nice to get outside and out of the house after a much needed break from the cold/rain/snow…but it was quite an eye-opener that Jäger and I have much work to do together as a team. Spring is definitely in the air… Loose-leash walking and commands such as “heal” escaped Jäger’s mind once we got started and the sights/sounds/smells became way more exciting to him! Although we didn’t have the smoothest team effort, or the fastest time, it was great to be back in 5K mode! We walked the miles for this one around our home town.
On November 7, 2020, Margarita and I hiked in Bass River State Forest with our friends Jen and her English Pointer, Pearl as we completed the MY Running Buddy Rocks 5K hosted by Run Pups.
A percentage from this virtual 5K’s race fee 10% of your registration went to abandoned dogs being cared for by Charming Pet Rescue.
Way to go, Reet!
On November 5th, 2020, Margarita & Whiskey combined efforts to complete the United for the Fight 5K hosted by Flex it Pink. We completed this 5K at Atlantic Shore Pines Campground. This event donated a percentage of our race fee to Stand Up To Cancer .
On 10/15/20 and 10/18/20, Margarita and I completed the Paws for the Law 5k – a special “Thank You!” to Law Enforcement Officers everywhere.
Police Officers wear ballistic vests as part of their daily uniform, however, the K-9s who are putting themselves between officers and an armed suspects are often not provided the same protection. 100% of the funds raised from this event were used to purchase:
The charity that hosted this event was The Delisle K-9 Officer Safety Foundation. The DeLisle K-9 Officer Safety Foundation began raising funds for K-9 Officer ballistic vests in the fall of 2016 after hearing of a K-9 shot and killed in the line of duty. These vests cost an average of $1,200 each and are usually not included in police department budgets. Since that time they have become a 501(c)3 and have raised enough funds to purchase 31 bulletproof K-9 vests, helping to protect K-9’s throughout Delaware and across the country. Each vest purchased helps to protect the K-9, which in turn protects our dedicated Police Officers!
On 10/19/20 Margarita and I completed the Stronger Than Cancer 5k. This event donated proceeds to Rethink Breast Cancer.
Rethink Breast Cancer’s mission is to empower young people worldwide through innovative education, support, and advocacy.
We walked this 5k with our dock diving friends, “Team Salty Paws” at Haddon Lake Park.
ZOINKS! Looks like we’ve got another mystery on our hands! …Not to worry though – Margarita is on the case! Only one problem… the Mystery Machine was out of commission, so we had to “take a run at it!”
Margarita enjoyed some Scooby Snacks and Scooby themed toys before completing the Scooby-Doo Family and Pet Run/Walk .
A percentage of our mystery-solving fee was donated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital .
On 9/14/20 Jägermeister participated in his very first 5k: Hoot, Waddle & Stroll benefitting the Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge . The refuge is located in the Pinelands of Medford Township and cares for more than 5,100 wild animals annually. Cedar Run also aims to promote outdoor health and wellness for all ages and is dedicated to educating children about the importance of conserving our shared habitats.
On October 6, 2020 Margarita and I participated in the Chesapeake DockDogs B.A.A.R.K.toberfest 5K, benefiting the The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation, Inc. The B.A.A.R.K. Foundation is 501(c)3 organization which plays a leading role in making grants that enable and strengthen the DockDogs community when members have fallen on hard times.
We walked this one in the historic town of Medford. Medford’s Main Street had their annual scarecrow contest and it was so fun to look at all the scarecrows along the way!
America Runs…Even at a Distance.
Margarita completed the virtual America Runs 5K.
A portion of our race fee was donated back to local communities by supporting COVID-19 recovery efforts through The Gannett Foundation. All funds raised were donated across the United States in the hopes of achieving 1 million dollars raised for COVID-19 recovery efforts.
I no longer watch the timer, and don’t pause the race apps (I use Runkeeper and WoofTrax at the same time) for potty breaks, water breaks, or photo ops.. instead, these days the longer our walks are, the better – and I enjoy every second of every one of our 5Ks!
While the military does not condone befriending animals, dogs and cats alike tend to find their way into the hearts of many, many soldiers stationed in Afghanistan. Rita participated in the Puppy Rescue Mission virtual 5k, which benefited The Puppy Rescue Mission (TPRM).
TPRM assists with requests, logistics, administration and fund-raising for the adopted stray dogs of war, rescued by and bonded with soldiers. This may include vet care, supplies, transport and related issues. TPRM works with or through other organizations that help our soldiers bring their companion animals home from war.
Margarita’s longest challenge yet… 63 miles! Margarita participated in Bishop Shanahan High School ’s “Shanahan Strides” event.
Each mile represents a Bishop Shanahan graduating class. All proceeds were used to provide immediate relief for students who are in need of tuition assistance.
Señorita Margarita proved she is truly Teacher’s Pet as she completed the Back to School Streaker Challenge hosted by Run The Edge .
She walked at least a mile every day in August – for a total of 41.22 miles… what a streak!
September is Back-to-School month for us, but this year, September is also a major milestone for our family.
In March 2019, Margarita was diagnosed with Large B Cell Lymphoma…Stage 4 Substage A. She was a very complex case considering she already had a compromised system due to advanced intestinal and liver disease. We opted to have her go through chemotherapy. Had we not opted for the chemo, we were told Rita had only 1-2 months to live. If she could survive a full round of CHOP-based chemotherapy, Margarita was given 12-18 months to live. (The CHOP-based protocol produces an average disease-free interval {remission} of 9 months, a median survival rate of 12 months, and a 20-25% survival to 2 years). With more roadblocks than most patients prior to even starting chemo, this angel with fur beat most of the odds already by completing a full round of chemo, reaching the remission time of 6 months, 1-year, and now in September….18 months!
We are beyond grateful for every day with this little lady. Margarita will be working towards completing some charity-based virtual 5K’s this fall.
As Covid and The Dog Days of Summer continue, if we can’t dock dive together, we will 5K together (in spirit) …to raise money for animals in need!
The Liver Killers joined forces with a few other dock diving teams to participate in a 3-part Dog Days of Summer virtual 5k series (click HERE to see June’s installment and click HERE to see July’s installment) hosted by j&a racing and presented by Banfield Pet Hospital .
During the August installment of this series, Margarita and I walked Freedom Park to cover our 3.1 miles.
There are 3 medals: June (Retrievers), July (Bulldogs), August (Rescue dogs) that when fitted together form a dog bone!
A portion of our registration fee each month is donated to the Virginia Beach SPCA , who believes that the animal-human bond creates healthier, happier, more connected communities. VBSPCA delivers their compassion by providing pet adoption and sheltering, low-cost public veterinary clinic services, humane education programs, wildlife triage and canine pet training.
Here’s to hoping that every dog finds their forever running/walking partner! 
Margarita celebrated National Dog Day with her cousin, James, by completing a 5K together!
15% of their registration fee for Day of the Dog 5k was donated to Freedom Service Dogs , who rescue dogs and custom-train them for veterans with PTS, and for people with disabilities like autism, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries.
This may be the most fun I’ve ever had doing while exercising!
This event challenged us to collect points for the distance we walked every day in the month of August. The farther you walked (or ran), the more points you earned. We walked a total of 69.9 miles together for the month…But that wasn’t all! Each weekend in August, The Troubled Raccoon sent out the challenges for the following week and we had until midnight on Sunday to complete them!
A portion of each registration was donated to the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center to support its mission to save and protect Long Island’s native wildlife.
Another 5K in the books! Margarita completed the Dog Days of Summer hosted by Medal Dash Virtual Runs .
A part of this virtual event took us through E. Earle Jackson Memorial Park.
Within this park is a canoe that is wrapped around a tree. This canoe is from the flood of 2004 … when several dams broke and the lake water was this high running through the town, flooding houses, knocking buildings off foundations, and causing other severe damage.
A portion of all proceeds from this event went to K9s For Warriors , an organization that provides service dogs to military veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injury and more.
You know what really helps with running? Water… Especially when it’s frozen into ice cubes, and blended with lime and tequila!
This week Margarita also completed the “I Run 4 Margaritas” Virtual 5K! This Challenge was hosted by I Run 4 Movement and supports Stand Up To Cancer in an effort to help SU2C get one step closer to its mission of making everyone diagnosed with cancer a survivor… just like our very own Señorita Margarita! 💖🐶
2020 has been one of the most challenging years ever. The global pandemic of COVID-19 has been difficult for everyone to handle. To combat the stress Rita and I hit the pavement in support of COVID-19 relief. This was a challenge hosted by Will Run For Bling and Charity to cover 20 miles between July 26th to August 8th.
A percentage of our registration fees went to the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) . The mission of the NAFC is to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality health care especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Margarita was on the move again, completing the July leg of the Dog Days of Summer 5K hosted by j&a racing !
This 5K took us on the trails of Camp Ockanickon.
A percentage of our race fee was donated to Virginia Beach SPCA , whose mission is to create a more humane and responsible community by eliminating animal suffering while increasing human compassion.
Here’s hoping every dog finds their forever running/walking partner!
✌🏼❤️🐾
Margarita completed the I Run for Rescues 5K, hosted by I Run 4 Movement. Margarita and I walked this 5K during our stay at Normandy Farms Campground.
Part of the proceeds from this race are being donated to Best Friends Animal Society who’s mission is to end the killing of dogs and cats in shelters.
Margarita crushed another 5k!
“I Run for the Dogs 4th of July 5k” was Hosted by RunSignup .
A portion of our race fee was donated to 25 awesome Animal Shelters across the country that support adoption services, education in our community, and the health and well being of animals! ✌🏼❤️🐾 🇺🇸
We headed out for our 5K but it got too hot too quickly. I decided it was best to stop and do this one in 2 segments to be safe for Sweet Reet. It worked out because our race swag showed up before our second segment photos!
We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable 4th of July!
The Dog Days of Summer are here! Margarita is signed up to participate in a 3-part Summer virtual 5k series! The 2020 Dog Days of Summer is hosted by j&a racing . Rita completed the June part of this series on June 27, 2020.
Margarita and I walked around our local golf course and on a trail through the woods to cover our 3.1 miles.
There are 3 medals (June/July/August) that when fitted together will form a dog bone! June’s medal features Retrievers.
A portion of our registration fee each month is donated to the Virginia Beach SPCA , who believes that the animal-human bond creates healthier, happier, more connected communities. VBSPCA delivers their compassion by providing pet adoption and sheltering, low-cost public veterinary clinic services, humane education programs, wildlife triage and canine pet training. ✌🏼❤️🐾
Here’s to hoping that every dog finds their forever running/walking partner! 🐶🏃🏼♀️