The fundraising total is in and it shows Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s 46th annual Dr. Skip Jackson Dog Jog, held in late September, raised nearly $8,000 for the College’s PetSafe and Priority 4 Paws Programs. PetSafe is a community service offered by Purdue Veterinary Medicine to meet the short-term housing needs of pets whose owners are affected by natural disasters, domestic violence, or the pet owner’s need for hospice care. Priority 4 Paws (P4P) is a shelter animal mobile care unit providing surgical services free-of-charge to Indiana animal shelters.
Purdue Department of Botany and Plant Pathology Lab Technician Chris Speers finished the Dr. Skip Jackson Dog Jog first with his dog, Surge.
Held on September 22, the Dog Jog provided a fitting conclusion to the week of the Purdue Veterinary Conference. The annual run/walk is named in honor of Dr. Horace (Skip) Jackson, professor emeritus of veterinary physiology and biochemistry, who again was on-hand for the event, which attracted faculty, staff, students, alumni, community residents, and their dogs. This year’s event was a huge success with 170 human participants and 80 canine companions. Prizes were given out to top-finishers.
Chris Speers, a lab technician in Purdue’s Department of Botany and Plant Pathology once-again crossed the finish-line first with his dog, Surge. Dr. Garrett Oetelaar, a resident in diagnostic imaging in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, was the fastest male solo runner. First-year veterinary student Taylor Bolinger came in first in the women’s division.
In hosting the event, the College also partnered with local animal shelters to have adoptable dogs at the race, along with representatives from the animal shelters who were available to speak with event participants and spectators about adopting a pet.
The 2018 Dr. Skip Jackson Dog Jog was sponsored by McAfee Animal Hospital, Purina, Royal Canin, Pooch at Play, Banfield Pet Hospital, Petsburgh Pet Care, Dr. Catharine Scott-Moncrieff, Ashley Bigelow, and Greyhouse Coffee.