The 2019 Dog Days 5K and 2-Mile Walk for Hub City Service Dogs is again jumping in with this year’s FestivalSouth events.
As part of FestivalSouth, the fifth annual Dog Days 5K event will be Saturday, June 15 at Kamper Park in Hattiesburg.
“We are very excited about this partnership for the second year,” said Mike Lopinto, artistic director of Festival South. “We do our best to showcase the best of our community, and that includes our incredible furry friends who make our lives better and are lifesavers to those in need.”
Kicking off at 7:30 a.m., the race tours through The Avenues of Hattiesburg, down Mamie and Concart streets, ending near the Hattiesburg Zoo. The event will include breakfast from Topher’s, food from local vendors, door prizes, entertainment by Charles Carter, and a run-by dog pageant (dogs will be judged during the run and identified by participant bib numbers). Additionally, awards will be given to runners and walkers, both with and without dogs. The race will be chip timed by Diva Timing.
Registration is $25 per participant. Event-day registrations will be available for $30 the morning of the race. The event will have T-shirts for sale. Proceeds will benefit Hub City Service Dogs, Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps place and train service dogs with individuals who demonstrate a true need.
“This is our fifth Dog Days Event, and I believe it will be the best one yet,” said Angela Davis-Morris, executive director for Hub City Service Dogs. “Each year, we strive to grow the event while creating more awareness for our organization. I believe our partnership with FestivalSouth has been beneficial not only to our organization but the entire PineBelt community. Last year, we had more than 300 participants and were able to give nearly $20,000 to the organization, which has helped us greatly in meeting the needs of our clients.”
Hub City Service Dogs is the recipient of a $1,000 Tourism Grant from VisitHattiesburg, who is serving as this year’s Platinum sponsor.
For more information or to register for the event, visit www.hubcityservicedogs.org/dog-days-5k. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, call Hub City Service Dogs at 601-596-4495 or email hubcityservicedogs@gmail.com.
Hub City Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) organization that offers professional training for a variety of service dogs, including diabetic alert dogs, anxiety service dogs, and PTSD. For more information, visit www.hubcityservicedogs.org.
