HUTTO — Four-legged racers and their two-legged companions made tracks at the park during the city’s firstever Doggie Dash.
Though the turnout wasn’t high, those who came had a barking-good time meeting new friends and checking out vendors before they ran, walked and waddled their way around the field.
“We wanted to be with our community and have our dogs enjoy a wonderful, fun time,” said resident Matisse Crismon.
She and husband Sergey brought their dogs Hazel and Ace out for the dash, held March 29 at Nguyen Field in Fritz Park, 400 Park Ave.
Kasey Allen, city recreation coordinator, said the event promoted a healthy lifestyle for both pets and their human companions and also fostered a sense of community.
Dogs and their owners also had the chance to meet some unusual vendors, including Brandon Dively, owner of RunBuddy Mobile LLC dog gym (runbuddymobile. com).
Dively invited owners to bring their canines into his specialized van, which is equipped with four non-motorized incline treadmills.
He said the machines are good for dogs that like to run, but also for older dogs or those with arthritis or missing limbs.
“At the end of the day there’s nothing that goes in here that they haven’t been doing their own life, right? Running and walking,” he said. “With a lot of senior dogs they start slowing down and the thought process is to not make them exercise, to not make anything flare up, but what happens is they lose muscle mass and then there is limited support for their legs.”
Other vendors offered pet-sitting services, boarding and training.
Carla Tittle, owner of Texas Ruff House (texasruffhouse. com), said in addition to pet-sitting visits and dog walking, her licensed and certified employees offer doggy field trips, a mentally stimulating activity which is popular with clients.
She also has “employees who are certified in all areas of pet behavior, enrichment, pet health and medication.”
The city expects to continue the Doggie Dash as an annual event.
“We are excited about the possibility of introducing more pet-centric activities in the future.
It’s our hope that the event becomes a staple in the community, offering both pet owners and animal lovers a chance to connect and celebrate our furry friends,” Allen said.
