Support gets moving at Get Your Mutt Movin' 5K Run and Walk

By Ian Swaby
| 12:00 p.m. February 23, 2025

Lennox Abell, 5, her parents Logan and Lakesha Abell, and their dog Netalya, make their way along the walk.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Although it was cool outside the morning of Feb. 22, it wasn't too cold to enjoy a morning outdoors with dogs — or for Brett Keyser's pup Zuma to reclaim her first-place title in this year's Satchel's 5th Annual Get Your Mutt Movin' 5K Run and Walk 2025.

"Last year was a little warmer, so she was kind of lagging behind, but this year she was pulling me in," said Keyser, who came in sixth place among humans.

After last year, he was eager to return.

"We had to defend our title," he said.

However, he also wanted to enjoy the experience of the event, held by Satchel's Last Resort.

"It's just a great run, and she loves running, and I love running. It's the only dog race that I know about," he said.

The event supported the organization, a no-kill animal shelter and sanctuary whose mission is to take in animals with nowhere else to go.

It also featured a festival with offerings that included a pet agility course, a photo booth, a "pie-eating" contest with whipped cream-covered frisbees, a pet costume contest, and more.

"This event means so much to Satchel's," said Jill Creevy, the organization's board president. "We are all about community, and this brings together so many people in our community."

Francisco Pinto holds Valentine, a pup belonging to sisters Stephanie and Elizabeth Torres.

Kate Johnston and her neice Tovah Johnston, 11, run in the race.

Chevera Moor and Debra Honda ("Alaka'i Debra") of Halau Hula 'O Kilakilapilialohaikapu'uwai welcome racers to the finish line.

Hunter Carpenter and Heather Catell approach the finish line.

Rhett Fledderman, 10 (left), Zuma, the first pup to finish the race, and Brett Keyser, approach the finish line.

Bali, a Bengal cat belonging to Laura and Tom Walker, participated in the event. Laura Walker says he walks on a leash like a dog.

Tony Funk enjoys the grass with his dog Princess.

Makai, a thirsty pup, receives a drink from Tina Valentiner.

Linda Felix was the winner of the hula hooping competition led by Halau Hula O Kilakilapilialohaikapuuwai.

Georjann Danke, 9, puts glasses on Phoebe.

Ashley Logston and her daughter Juliet Logston, 12, participate in a hula session.

Shuggy, a Satchel's rescue, enjoys whipped cream during the pie eating contest provided by Tracy Addison.

Penny gets her Santa Claus costume adjusted by her dad Roger Landry.

Roger Landry and his dog Penny, Sophie Camp of costume contest sponsor Comfort Suites Sarasota, Heiden Riegel and her dog River, Madi Sparks and Ocean Wolf and their dogs Buster and Pepper, and Georjann and Erica Danke and their dog Phoebe.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.