Dr. Skip Jackson Dog Jog Draws Record Crowd

September 18, 2015

Dogs and joggers turned out in record numbers for the 2015 Dr. Skip Jackson Dog Jog Saturday morning, September 12.  Nearly 190 runners participated, accompanied by 90 dogs.  The collection of runners and dogs filled Harrison Street at the starting line in front of Lynn Hall.  At the sound of the starting gun, fired by Dean Willie Reed, the canines and their companions charged off on the 5K course that took them around campus.

Two Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty members, Drs. Joe Camp and Debbie Knapp took top honors in the Master’s Men and Master’s Women categories.  The award for Fastest Human Canine Pair went to Chris Speers, a Purdue staff member in Botany and Plant Pathology who has a sled dog racing team called the “Black Road Huskies.”  First place honors in the Men’s and Women’s 5K went to Ryan Schafbuch and Katherine Hutchins.  As for the dog awards, Katie Horzmann’s dogs Keira and Galt won the award for Largest Dog; Kate Merrero’s dog Wendy was declared the Smallest Dog; and Rachel Schurman’s dog Toby stole the show as the Cutest Dog. Click here to view the complete list of award winners.

Two animal shelters, the Almost Home Humane Society and the Cass County Humane Society, were on-hand with displays and adoptable dogs that participants could run or walk with.  The Priority for Paws mobile surgical unit also was set up for participants to tour.

The event is named in honor of Dr. Horace (Skip) Jackson, professor emeritus of veterinary physiology and biochemistry, and is one of the longest-running traditions of the Purdue Veterinary Conference.  Once again, Dr. Jackson, accompanied by his entire family, participated in the race, as he has done nearly every year since the first Dr. Skip Jackson Road Race was held in 1972.  Other participants included faculty, staff, students, and West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis, who joined Dean Reed in welcoming everyone at the beginning of the event.  Supported by long-time sponsor McAfee Animal Hospital, as well as Blair Animal Clinic, Bayer, AVMA/PLIT, Tri-n-Run, Wabash Valley Feed, Pet Supplies Plus and Tractor Supply Co., the event raised funds for the PVM PetSafe Program, which provides emergency shelter for pets whose owners are affected by natural disasters, domestic violence, or severe health issues.

The event was covered by WLFI-TV. Click here to view the story.  Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with the event, and a special thank you to Dog Jog organizers Sarah Fisher (DVM Class of 2018) and Ashleigh Cournoyer (DVM Class of 2017).

Writer: Kevin Doerr, pvmnews@purdue.edu