Dog decides to run half marathon for charity
Dozer was a last-minute entry in the Maryland Half Marathon last Sunday.
The three-year-old goldendoodle busted out of his yard and joined the more than 2,000 runners going past his house at about the 5 mile marker.
He was spotted at several points on the race, with runners and spectators unaware he was unescorted. Organizers snapped this shot of him crossing the finish line – at 2 hours and 14 minutes. (If he ran the whole thing, it would have been a very respectible time of just over 10-minute miles.)
Dozer’s owners were frantically looking for him, according to University of Maryland officials. The race benefited Maryland’s Greenebaum Cancer Center. The dog returned Monday morning with muddy feet and limping.
Dozer’s been to the vet and is fine, the owners reported to Maryland.
Normally, running races as a "bandit" or unregistered, is frowned upon. But this race's co-chairmen, Michael Greenebaum and Jon Sevel, plan this week to give Dozer a medal and some dog treats.
He’s deserves it. Since the race, he’s raised more than $800 on his runner’s page set up at www.ummsfoundation.org/dozer.
See more photos from the race here.
Photo courtesy of the University of Maryland