Skip Jackson Dog Jog on Oct. 1 at Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine's annual Dr. Skip Jackson Dog Jog, will be Oct. 1. The race is held in conjunction with the college's annual conference for veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

"Last year we had over 200 human runners and nearly 90 dogs participate in the race," said Marcus Dela Cruz, a Purdue veterinary student in the class of 2018. "The Dr. Skip Jackson Dog Jog continues to grow, and this year we hope to have more than 400 participants running the streets on campus."

As in last year's race, organizers have partnered with area shelters to have adoptable dogs running. There will be a booth at the finish line to provide additional information about these shelters as well as representatives there to fill out adoption paperwork.

The event, open to the public, is named in honor of Horace "Skip" Jackson, a professor emeritus of veterinary physiology and biochemistry who has participated in nearly every race since the original event in 1972. Initially organized as a run for veterinarians participating in the conference, the event was combined in 2012 with the college's Dog Jog and opened to the public.

Runners can sign their dogs up to participate in the dog jog, which will begin at 8 a.m. at the college's "Continuum" sculpture at Lynn Hall on Harrison Street. The course is entirely on the Purdue campus.

Registration and race information are available at https://purduedogjog.com

Entry fee is $25 per person, which includes a T-shirt, and $5 for each dog, which includes a bandana. Online registration ends at midnight Sept. 30.

Onsite registration will be at 7 a.m. Oct. 1 at the entrance of Lynn Hall, 625 Harrison St. Registration will be $30 per person and $5 for each dog. The race begins at 8 a.m.

All proceeds will go to the PetSafe Program, a community service offered by the college to meet short-term housing needs of pets whose owners are temporarily unable to provide care, as well as Priority 4 Paws, the college's mobile surgery unit that travels to partnering animal shelters to spay and neuter shelter dogs and cats to that they can be adopted more quickly. The Priority for Paws unit will be in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital parking lot during the event and will be open for tours.

The event is sponsored by Blair Animal Clinic, West Lafayette; Pet Supplies Plus, Lafayette; Wabash Valley Feed and Western Wear; McAfee Animal Hospital, Valparaiso, Indiana; Royal Canin; and Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. 

Writer: Greg McClure, 765-496-9711, gmcclure@purdue.edu 

Sources: Kevin Doerr, director of public affairs and communications, College of Veterinary Medicine, doerrkr@purdue.edu

Marcus Dela Cruz, delacrum@purdue.edu