Fast and Furry Racers Invited to Annual 5K Benefiting Pets at the CSU Veterinary Hospital

Ready to kick off spring with a fun 5K that benefits furry friends? Join the Colorado State University veterinary students in raising money to help pets in need of urgent or critical care at the annual Fast and Furriest 5K. The run, slated for 9 a.m. Saturday, April 17 at the university’s historic Oval, welcomes runners and walkers with two or four legs. Any well-behaved pet weighing less than 500 pounds – dogs, cats, goats, iguanas, bunnies, ducks and the like – is welcome in the race, which also is a qualifier for the Bolder Boulder.

Proceeds from the Fast and the Furriest benefit the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s Companion Care Fund. The fund helps community members who qualify pay for life-saving or emergency procedures performed at the hospital.

The family-oriented day also includes a 1K walk/run for children at 10 a.m. The dog and runner expo is from 8 a.m. – noon and features live entertainment including Angelyne the Amazing Deaf Cattle Dog, doggie demos, informational and vendor booths, free face painting provided by locally owned Best Face Painter, lots of give-aways provided by local businesses and live music performed by Bog Spavin , a band comprised entirely of CSU veterinary students.

Awards and prizes will be given to the top three men and women overall and the top finishers with pets. Separate prizes for pets include the furriest, smallest, biggest and most unusual pet finishers. Prizes also will be awarded in the children’s run for first-place finishers with a pet.

The race is $20 for students with a valid student identification, $22 for adults and $15 for children 7-12 years old. Kids younger than 6 are free. Race-day registration is $25 for adults and $22 for students. Registration includes a T-shirt designed by a veterinary student and one free entry into a raffle.

More information is available at www.fastandthefurriest.com. Pre-race registration is available at local Fort Collins locations including the Runner’s Roost and Foot of the Rockies. Online registration is available at www.active.com or can be accessed through www.fastandthefurriest.com. Pre-registration closes on April 16 but race-day registration is available on site beginning at 7:30 a.m. Packet pick-up for online registrations is available 7-9 a.m. on site the day of the race.

The Companion Care Fund is entirely need-based and is reserved solely for community members. Without the financial assistance provided by the fund, many clients would be faced with the difficult choice of declining care for their animal or relinquishing ownership. The Companion Care Fund provides hope for owners and their animals in need.

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