More than 2,000 people took to the runway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in March for the 2009 Mutt Strut and Runway Race.

Runners, walkers and their pets enjoyed the beautiful weather as they raised money for the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

The Houston Airport System (HAS) teamed up with the Houston SPCA for the one of a kind event which attracted more than six times the number of people who turned out for the last event in 2007. The Mutt Strut was cancelled in 2008 because of Hurricane Ike and the date was moved from September to March.

This is ”the pet project” of Richard Vacar, the director of the Houston Airport System and his wife, Ann Marie, who is a strong advocate of the cause.

“Ann Marie has been a big saver of animals, just to give you a little history, we are up to 13 dogs, 8 cats, 4 horses, one longhorn steer, 2 goats and miscellaneous fowl,” says Vacar.

The unique setting and the opportunity to raise awareness and nearly $173,000 dollars for the Houston SPCA made this event extremely popular.

The entire course was 3.1 miles and there were plenty of fun family activities including a “best dog” contest, giveaways, and a live band.

As Vacar watched the sea of the pet owners and their dogs take off along the tarmac, he joked “it looked almost biblical like Moses leading the pack down the taxiway.”

One of the long lines at the event was the Houston SPCA’s bus where employees were offering the opportunity to have pets implanted with a microchip. Meera Nandlal, spokesperson for the Houston SPCA says, “This service is extremely popular, it gives pet owners peace of mind when their dogs are lost. The pet’s address is on the microchip, so they can find their way home, but the animals still need tags.”

Donations for the Mutt Strut and Runway race are still being accepted online at houstonspca.org.  

Click Here to view Mutt Strut & Runway Race 09 feature video




© Kevin Hong, Sector K Media
IAH goes to the dogs. A record crowd of both humans and canines attended the race.