While McKamey volunteers and staff walk the shelter dogs as regularly as possible, the dogs still lack the opportunity for significant one-on-one time. The center’s Trailblazer program and the events held in conjunction with Front Runner try to alleviate that.Anytime McKamey Animal Center can adopt out over a dozen animals as a result of a single event, the staff of the nonprofit shelter considers it a success.
Having done just that following an event held in conjunction with Front Runner Athletics in mid-November, the two organizations are hoping for another success story Saturday, Dec. 17.
The Front Runner-sponsored model event invited volunteers to Greenway Farms in Hixson to walk or run with nearly 70 of McKamey’s adoptable dogs. Front Runner Marketing Coordinator Laryssa Martinovich said the Hixson sporting goods store saw the event as an opportunity to both raise awareness for the shelter and get people out and active in their community.
McKamey Executive Director Jamie McAloon said the staff had never seen the dogs so excited or happy before.
“Just the awareness the event provided was amazing,” said McAloon. “You see this onslaught of dogs loading out of car after car. It’s hard to look at over 60 animals and wonder ‘Who would abandon these dogs?'”