Students, staff & community come together to raise more than $12,000 to support OVC Pet Trust
More than 100 students, alumni, staff, community members and 68 of their canine companions gathered on a mild Sunday morning this March to participate in the OTS Dog Jog at the University of Guelph’s (UofG) Arboretum.
Co-founded by Rebecca Sterns and Steve Patten, both OVC’2013 alumni, the Annual OTS Dog Jog is entirely organized by Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) students with the OTS Professional Veterinary Fraternity. All funds raised are donated to OVC Pet Trust to help the pets we love live longer, healthier lives by supporting healthcare, research and learning at the Ontario Veterinary College at UofG.
The event includes a two kilometer walk or five kilometer run and has raised more than $30,000 for Pet Trust since it began back in 2011.
Rebecca Sterns and Kash
This year, Sterns returned to Guelph to take part in the run, an event that still remains near and dear to her heart.
“When we started the Dog Jog, we were not aware of any local athletic events that allowed people to participate with their beloved dogs,” says Sterns. “As veterinary students, volunteering gave us an opportunity to get out and connect with the local community. Supporting Pet Trust is very important – many wonderful student opportunities are funded by Pet Trust, which allow us to further our veterinary education and contribute to medical development and research. I am very proud to return to Guelph and give back to Pet Trust today. ”
Sterns is now a veterinarian at Park Animal Hospital and continues her support of OVC Pet Trust through its Pet Memorial Program, a program designed to celebrate the life of patients that have passed on and honour the relationship between veterinary teams, pets and their owners.
The event was also meaningful way for Shelly Douglas to honour her Golden Retriever Maggie’s memory. After being diagnosed with osteosarcoma at the OVC in January, Shelly and her husband had to make the devastating decision to say goodbye to Maggie in February of this year. Shelly joined Pet Trust Assistant Robin to fundraise and participate in the Dog Jog; their team was recognized as the top community member fundraisers, raising more than $2,300.
Pet Trust's Robin Van Alstine, Shelly Douglas & Annie (Maggie's sister)
“I was so grateful for the wonderful understanding and compassion given to us by the students and doctors at the OVC,” Douglas says. “The Dog Jog was five weeks after we said goodbye to our Maggie. Our family and friends were happy to donate to Pet Trust in Maggie’s memory rather than sending us flowers and cards.”
A special thank you goes out to the 2016 student veterinarian event organizers Amy Capraro, Katelyn Weaver, Sarah Robinson (in photo below) and Jon Waito for planning and facilitating a paw-some event!
‘Like’ OVC Pet Trust on Facebook to view more photos of this year’s Dog Jog at www.facebook.com/ovcpet