The Daily Record
Dog Jog Returns To Lillington
By TOM WOERNER
Of The Record Staff
A popular event will return to Lillington Saturday raising money for a local animal cause and providing runners and walkers a chance to compete in two events while giving pet owners the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities.
The annual Harnett Animal Welfare Coalition (HAWC) Dog Jog will be held in front of the Harnett County Courthouse in Lillington. The fun will include a 5k run, a dog walk, vendors, music and dog contests.
Dogs are invited to participate in any of the events with their owners, but runners are not required to have a dog in order to participate. All dogs must be on nonretractable leashes in order to participate in any of the events.
Registration for the 5k run will begin at 7 a.m. The fun will continue until noon. The 5k race will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the dog walk will start at 10 a.m.
The 5k run will go across a course that starts and finishes in front of the Harnett County Courthouse, going through the Sandhills Farm Club Exhibition Park on Alexander Drive and then to McKinney Parkway where runners will turn around and progress back to the courthouse. The course is the same one that has been used in previous dog jogs as well as other 5k races.
Awards in the run will be given to overall winners in both the men and women’s divisions as well as winners in individual age groups.
All proceeds will go to benefit HAWC.
The director of HAWC, Lillington’s Kristen Perry, said most proceeds from the event support the group’s spay and neuter program which offers free spay and neutering for local low income families.
“This is a major event for us,” Mrs. Perry said. “It is very important as a way to fund the spay and neuter program and it helps with our other programs.”
Among the other things funded will be community outreach and education, the Chasing See Dog Jog, Page 3A
A crowd similar to this one is expected to gather for this year’s annual Dog Jog to raise money for the Harnett Animal Welfare Coalition, or HAWC. The event will be held in Lillington Saturday morning.
Daily Record File Photo Dog Jog
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Shirttailprogram and the Harnett County Animal Shelter.
Funds will come from registration fees as well as from sponsors. Individuals participating this year are asked to secure personal sponsorships with those funds also going to help animal causes.
The registration fee of $30 for the run covers both the 5k and one mile fun run, a T-shirt and a commemorative medal.
Animals will receive homemade dog leashes, beds, bandannas and treats.
There will also be prizes. There will be face painting and balloon animals.
HAWC has become one of the most active animal rights group in the area.
They are major sponsors of spay and neuter programs and work to make sure abandoned animals find good homes. They feature adaptable pets every week, with pet pictures put on cards and placed in businesses throughout the community and in The Daily Record.
The group’s website says that their goal is to connect the community, animal advocates, county leaders and the local animal shelter in a positive manner for the benefit of all Harnett County residents and animals.
