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Attendees at Mutt Strut 2017 on UAB Campus Green before start of 5K.
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Brooke (L) & Edith Kaplan (R) with Cavalier King Charles spaniels Sully & Foofer.
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James Elliott and Mika Carpenter and Basil, whom Carpenter calls a "mixed mutt."
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Allison Nergart and two-year old Avery enjoying the scene at Mutt Strut 2017 on the UAB Campus Green.
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Audrey Brown with Corky (on leash) and Little One (in cart).
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Bert Marx and his son Bert.
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David Newman and Juno, a Sheltie.
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Ellen Porter with Lola, a doberman and shepherd mix.
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Hunter Gaskins with his black lab, Oreo, who was celebrating his first birthday, hence the hat. Hunter was also accompanied by his mother, Angela Gaskins.
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Isabelle (L) and Dana Odom.
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Jackie Samani in the vendor area at Mutt Strut 2017 wth her Chai, her chiweenie.
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L-R: Julia Faison, Shannon Taylor and Tommie Gibson, along with canine friends Penny (L) and Kuma (R).
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Michael White and Shelby May with Griffin, a Basenji mix.
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Rikesha Foster and Eddie Sewell with Roxie, a Chihuahua mix.
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Shari Touger with Sage and cavapoos Sam and Charlie.
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The start of the one-mile fun run at Mutt Strut 2017 on the UAB Campus Green.
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The start of the one-mile fun run at Mutt Strut 2017 on the UAB Campus Green.
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Vendors at Mutt Strut 2017 on the north end of the UAB Campus Green.
Birmingham non-profit Hand in Paw hosted the eighth annual Mutt Strut fundraiser on Saturday, April 15, with its unique 5K run — in which runners and their dogs can both take part — beginning and ending at the UAB Campus Green.
The event, which drew several hundred people to the Green on a warm, sunny spring morning, also included a one-mile fun run.
Hand in Paw seeks to improve human health and well-being through animal-assisted therapy and has about 150 trained volunteers who lend their skills and time at numerous facilities in Central Alabama, according to the group's web site.
Runners in the 5K began at the Green, headed north on 14th Street South past Regions Field, turned east on First Avenue South near Railroad Park, turned south on 22nd Street and west on 11th Avenue South before finishing the course at the south end of the Green on 10th Avenue South.
Shari Touger said she and her three dogs — Sage, a German short-haired pointer, and Sam and Charlie, both cavapoos — would take part in the fun run.
"I love supporting any organizations connected with pets, especially ones where I can bring my dog along," she said.
Julia Faison attended the event with Shannon Taylor and Tommie Gibson, her co-workers at Northwest Alabama Treatment Center, a substance abuse clinic. “We love Mutt Strutt because we love our dogs,” Faison said.
There were numerous prizes to be awarded after the runs, according to the web site: fastest dog (5K), slowest dog (overall); fastest human (male and female), top individual fundraiser, top team fundraiser, best human costume, best human and dog duo costume and best team costume.
The event ended with a dog-friendly after-party at Good People Brewing Co.on 14th Street South featuring live music and food from Hot Max and Eugene's Hot Chicken, and Touger said she planned to attend.
"Sage gets a beer if we finish this," Touger said, laughing.
