Thank you for a great event! We had an amazing turnout with some wonderful people and their pooches. We hope to see you in 2025!

Thank you to our generous sponsors!

 


Join the Humane Society of Elkhart County (HSEC) at Ox Bow Park in Goshen, IN for a timed trail run/walk in a pleasant natural environment. Runners, walkers, and their dogs will be gathering to enjoy time together, activities, great music, and sharing with others. After the race is over, stay a while for Elkhart County Parks’ Dogapalooza! Enjoy dog-themed vendors and activities, great food trucks, a beer garden, and so much more!

Don’t have a dog to bring to the event? Consider adopting one! Take a look at all of our adoptable pups here!

Proceeds from this event will be directed toward the daily operations of the Humane Society of Elkhart County. In 2023, over 11,500 animals of over 35 species were impacted by HSEC.

Are you interested in volunteering with the dogs at cats of the Humane Society of Elkhart County? Sign up here!

Race Information

  • Check-in starts at 9:00 am and race starts at 10:30 am
  • Both courses are looped trails
  • 5K Run/Walk – includes t-shirt
  • 1 Mile Strut your Mutt – includes t-shirt
  • 5K awards presented immediately after end of race

Unable to Attend? Join us virtually

  • 1 week before the race, the virtual race will be open
  • Use the run sign software for tracking your time or your preferred software
  • Upload results onto the run sign up site

Packet Pick Up

  • Friday, May 10 from 4pm –  6pm at Ox Bow Park’s Ox Bow Haus
    • Tell the gate attendant you are there for packet pick up, and they will let you in without any parking fees.
  • Saturday, May 11 from 9:00am-10:00am at Ox Bow Park

Parking

  • Due to construction at Ox Bow Park, please plan to park in the Upper Field.

Virtual Silent Auction – Click here to look at and bid on our silent auction items!

  • Opens: Friday, May 10 at 12:00pm
  • Closes: Monday, May 15 at 10:00am

Questions?

Phone: 574-475-4732  | Email:  [email protected]

Registration Fees

Late Registration (May 1 – 9)

  • 5k Run: $35
  • 1-Mile Strut: $23

Last-Chance & Walk-Up Registration (May 10 – 11)

  • 5k Run: $40
  • 1-Mile Strut: $25

Group Registration (4-person minimum)

  • $5.00 discount will be applied to fees listed above

Please be sure to register by April 30 at 11:59pm to be guaranteed a shirt. Parking and admission to the park is included with your registration.

No refunds will be given.

Awards

5k awards will be presented immediately after the last walker/runner crosses the finish line. Medals will be awarded to the top 3 male and top 3 female finishers in each age group. The top 3 male overall and top 3 female overall finishers will each receive the coveted Paws For A Cause dog bowl trophy… a true stand out among race awards! Most importantly, as the stars of the day, the top 3 dogs overall will receive their very own unique medal on a dog collar!

Guidelines for Dogs Attending the Event

All dogs must be kept on a NON-retractable leash and under supervision at all times. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their dogs. Any dog displaying aggressive behavior toward people or other dogs must be immediately removed from the park by its owner.

Virtual 5k

We want to ensure everyone who wants to participate in Paws for A Cause is able to do so, including out-of-town runners. By registering as a virtual runner, you can run the 5k anywhere (e.g. your neighborhood, a park, or even a treadmill) and at any time before May 11th. You can track and record your time with the free RaceJoy timing app on your smartphone or you can manually record your time by returning to the race registration page menu and selecting “Submit Virtual Results” from the Results tab. This will ensure you are included in the results posted after the race*. Once you’ve completed your race, don’t forget to post a selfie photo and tag the Humane Society of Elkhart County!

*Awards are for in-person running only.