The whistle sounded, and all bets were off. It was more a “rat terrier race” than a rat race to the finish down Skip Bertman Drive, with some participants sprinting, others jogging and a few competing in dresses.
The 18th annual Great Rover Road Run, held on Saturday to raise awareness for animal obesity, featured a one-mile fun run for pet owners and their pets to compete in together.
And, as participants crossed the finish line, it was the human owners — not their four-legged counterparts — who were out of breath.
In addition to the “sprint,” the event also featured a five-kilometer run across campus from the Vet School to the UREC.
Pet Olympics were held after the races finished, and awards were given to dogs for the fastest fetch, the smallest contestant, the fastest tail wag, the highest jump, the best trick and the best dressed.
Gretchen Morgan, the director of annual giving and alumni affairs, has been helping coordinate the road race for four years, but said it was the students who were in charge of organizing the event.
All proceeds from the event go to the Student Chapter of American Veterinary Medical Association, which Morgan said helps in continuing education for students.
Sarah Ainsworth, a Baton Rouge resident who ran the race with her dog Angel, said the pair prepared for the event by running two miles every day.
“I would chase after her while she was chasing after a golf cart,” Ainsworth said.
Katrin Saile, Vet School assistant professor of companion surgery, volunteered at the race and handed out tags to the runners as they crossed the finish line.
Saile said she sees a lot of obese animals in her job and tries to raise awareness by getting pet owners to pay attention to animal diets. Saile said obesity can have as many detrimental effects in animals as it does in humans.
Morgan said animal obesity can cause knee and back issues in pets as well as diabetes.
“Both diet and exercise is critical,” Morgan said. “Exercise is especially important because it gets you active, as well, whether it’s walking the dog or throwing the ball. It also helps you socialize.”
Lindsey Pelych and Sara Bercier, second-year vet students who helped coordinate the event, said about $7,000 was raised from sponsors, but some of it was used to pay for shirts and other expenses of the event.
Pelych said obesity can also cause animals to be more prone to heart disease.
“We try not to say ‘obese’ because people love their pets,” Pelych said. “We say they are ‘very well cared for.'”
Baton Rouge resident Elizabeth Kelsey, who has competed with her dog, Prada, in the road race for eight years, said she didn’t have any problems keeping her dog under control.
“She likes to run fast. I have trouble keeping up with her,” Kelsey said.
Amanda Fulton, Baton Rouge resident, said she walks her dog Nigel two to three times a week but had trouble keeping Nigel under control in his first official race with other pets.
“I had to keep him on a tight leash because he wanted to chase the other dogs,” Fulton said.
 
 
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Contact Kevin Thibodeaux at [email protected]