The Seattle Animal Shelter takes in thousands of stray and owner-surrendered animals each year. Many of these animals are in need of a new start, lots of love and often significant veterinary assistance.

To help raise funds for the shelter, which is a division in the Finance and Administrative Services Department, volunteers started an event in 1999 known as the Furry 5K. For the past 20 years, the Furry 5K has become an annual fundraiser by the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation that provides homeless pets access to much needed care.

Across Seattle on Saturday, Aug. 16, you’ll see supporters with their Furry 5k t-shirt going for a run or walk to provide happily-ever-afters for pets in need. Instead of all running together on a course as in years past, the Furry 5k will be “virtual” and participants can run or walk on their own on their favorite 3.1-mile loop

In honor of their 3.1-mile trek, the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation highlighted 3.1 major ways the Furry 5k makes a difference for pets in the Seattle Animal Shelter.

1. Medical care
Through event funding, the foundation has supported the renewed medical equipment and supplies as well as providing an in-house veterinary clinic. The foundation is always looking for more ways to help the shelter keep pets happy and healthy. This year, the foundation’s support has already helped an egg-bound snake, a kitten with a badly injured tail and a large, energetic dog with pelvic fractures.

2. Behavioral care
In 2020, SAS expanded the behavioral program to include a full-time animal behaviorist.
The work the behavior team does has saved the lives of hundreds of dogs to date. Dogs that would have been deemed “difficult to adopt” come to SAS with the chance to live full, happy lives. They do not have to worry about being put down due to behavioral issues.

The shelter’s behaviorist works with pets to identify behavioral or enrichment needs and create plans to ensure shelter staff are meeting the mental as well as the physical needs of pets in their care. The primary goal is to help pets have successful transitions into a permanent new home.

3. Special services
In addition to the main veterinary and behavioral needs, SAS looks out for pets in other ways.

From providing an onsite dog-walking area to remodeling rooms at the shelter to give critters and cats the space they need, SAS is always looking for new ways to help the pets in their care heal and find their forever families.

Sometimes the shelter comes across animals who have terminal medical conditions. While these animals may not but suitable for adoption, SAS supports a fospice (foster and hospice) care program to help pets live out their last days with dignity and relaxation. The animals go to homes of experienced foster parents where all of their medication is provided for by the shelter to ensure that they can enjoy their remaining time in comfort.

3.1 Looking to support communities
The cherry on top of SAS’s work is the assistance they provide to the pet-loving community. The shelter provides licensing assistance programs for those with lower incomes and its officers are often providing pet supplies to pet owners with need in Seattle. This year, they’ve joined a collaboration with other animal organizations in the area to help provide pet food to those pet owners who could really use the extra assistance right now through the pet food bank program.