Save the Date
Mark your calendar for Saturday June 8, 2013 for our 7th annual event to benefit the Animal Services Center. Join us for the alway popular 10K or 5K races, dog walk, and premier pet festival of the year that will again feature live music, food, giveaways, vendors and exhibitors, pet contests, and a variety of activties for you and your pets. Help us celebrate our love of animals and our city.
How to Get Involved
Walk the 1-mile dog walk, Run the 10K or 5K races, attend the pet festival, and of course, fundraise and win fabulous prizes.
FAQ's: We have provided answers to many of the common questions to provide participants, donors, and sponsors with as much information as possible.
WALK + Fundraise: Walk registration fee is $30.00. This year you can register free of charge and the first $30.00 that you raise will count towards your registration fee AND entitles you to our primary fundraising prize - The Fast & The Furriest® t-shirt. If you are not interested in raising funds, simply remit the registration form to VSAS or bring your $30.00 with you on event day. *Please note all walk registrants must register online or remit a paper registration form in order to participate in the event.
RUN + Fundraise: Run registration fees are 10K ($20-pre-event/$25-event day) or 5K ($15-pre-event/$20-event day). We encourage all runners to also fundraise for the animals. Step 1: Register online for the 10K or 5K race or remit your registration form to VSAS, then proceed to Step 2: Create your own fundraising page or join and existing team.
Fundraise Only: If you are unable to attend this year's event but want to help the animals, please become an online fundraiser and be eligible to receive all of our great pledge level prizes.
Pledge Forms: The most successful fundraisers are those individuals who combine their online fundraising efforts with in-person donations. Download a pledge form and bring your donations with you on event day.
Mail paper registrations to: Verona Street Animal Society, PO Box 22874, Rochester, NY 14692
Register Now
Registration is open. Don't wait. Register today.
- Online
Avoid the lines and stress on event day by registering online now and visiting either Fleet Feet Sports location for bib and packet pick-up on June 6 or 7, 2013.
- In-Store
Pre-register at Fleet Feet Sports, 2210 Monroe Avenue and 2522 Ridgeway Avenue June 6 and 7, 2013.
- By Mail
Mail completed registration form to P.O. Box 22874, Rochester, NY 14692
- Event Day Registration
Registration will also be available the morning of the event, however t-shirts and other goodies are available on a first come, first served basis:
7 a.m. 10K and 5K registration
9 a.m. dog walk registration
Help Our Cause
Animal Services intakes over 6,000 dogs and cats annually. Many are reunited with their owners, adopted into new homes or transferred to partnering rescue organizations. Unfortunately, approximately 50% are euthanized. The purpose of the event is to help raise funds in support of the adoption, spay/neuter and microchip programs at the Animal Services Center at 184 Verona St.
Form a Team to Help Raise Funds
There were 35 teams involved with the 2012 event. Forming a team is a great way for friends, colleagues, students and family to unite for a cause and demonstrate their support for Animal Services.
This year, we anticipate an even larger pool of teams helping to elevate our cause. Please help us help Rochester's neediest animals by forming a team today. The largest and top fundraising teams will receive a special team prize package and recognition at the event, in the VSAS newsletter, and on www.VSAS.org. Use the online fundraising tool to solicit support from your friends and family or print a pledge form and start raising funds today.
- Designate one person as team captain
- Create a team online. Runners must first register for the event.
- Recruit team members
- Direct each member to register as a fundraiser and select your team. Runners must first register for the event.
- Start gathering pledges online or by downloading a pledge form
- Make team t-shirts (optional)
- Plan your strategy for leading the pack
- Raise funds throughout the year to increase your impact
- Consider bake sales, garage sales, bottle drives, third-party fundraisers, etc. to boost your team earnings
- Have fun
Dog Walk 
Grab a leash, some bags, and your buddy for a 1-mile walk around the neighborhood surrounding the Animal Services Center. There will be marshals greeting you and your companion and providing biscuits and water along the way.
9 a.m. Registration
10:30 a.m. Walk Start
Pet Festival
It's not just a race and dog walk. Join us in Brown Square Park for a great summer pet festival complete with exhibitors, vendors, and fun activities for you and your pet. Other features include face painting and bounce houses for children, pet contests, awards ceremonies, and some special dog-friendly events.
New Features for 2013
- Free Rabies vaccinations (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
- Microchip clinic $20 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
- $10 Cat adoptions
- $20 Dog adoptions
Pet Contests
Each year we award prizes to the Furriest, Best Trick, Best Smile, Best Wag, the fastest dog at Bobbing For Hot Dogs, and Owner Look Alike. Registration costs $2 per contest and is available at the event.
Entertainment
Travis Fitch will headline the entertainment with live acoustic rock during the races and post-race activities in Brown Square Park and continuing throughout the morning and into the afternoon.
The party does not end after the pet contests. Stick around to co-mingle with the dogs, browse our vendor exhibits, visit the Animal Services Center, grab a bite to eat or something to drink, and enjoy the music.
Corporate Sponsorship
If you are interested in getting involved with the event as a corporate sponsor, please review the sponsorship opportunities and contact us via email or call 585-727-2533.
Race Routes
The 10K and 5K races are part of a USATF sanctioned event with staggered starts at 8 a.m. and 8:15 a.m., respectively. The 10K course is certified for accuracy by the USATF (#NY07102KL). We have designed a great course that takes runners from the Animal Services neighborhood south on Plymouth Avenue by Kodak, Care Stream, and Frontier Field, through downtown to Corn Hill Landing. From there runners enter the Genesee River Trail and head out toward Brooks Landing where they cross the river on the pedestrian bridge and head back toward downtown on the River Trail along the University of Rochester campus and Wilson Boulevard. Runners will continue on the trail while enjoying scenic views of the Rochester skyline until they exit the trail at South Avenue and weave their way through downtown back toward the finish line at the Animal Services Center on Verona Street.
The 5K course is also certified for accuracy by the USATF (#NY11101KL). It is an out-and-back course utilizing much of the first quarter of the 10K course. So it too will showcase downtown Rochester, Corn Hill Landing, and the Genesee River before bringing runners back to the shared finish line at the Animal Services Center.
Please visit www.VSAS.org for more event details, registration information, and complete 2012 race results and photos.