Thursday, April 10, 2014

Hello everyone,
In an effort to avoid sending this to the entire distribution list and assuming that anyone truly interested in or concerned about the ORC/SPCA Loaned Jogger program, as well as the public that might be researching the Orlando Runners Club and our scheduled group runs, will find it on the web, I'm posting this only to our blog.

The Orlando Runners Club (ORC) is managed by a volunteer Board of runners and walkers with an interest in promoting health/fitness in the local area.  We meet monthly to discuss the operations of the club, including our group runs, volunteer opportunities, annual 5K race (coming up on June 8), cultural exchange with our sister city in Urayasu, Japan, the scholarship program we have for local high school seniors and any other relevant topics.

For those that may only be familiar with Sunday mornings, we have another morning run every Wednesday in College Park, and evening runs on the 2nd and 4th Monday, the 1st Tuesday and the 3rd Thursday from various locations in the Orlando area.  We welcome both club members and guests to all of them.

Before starting any new program, we try to consider all aspects, including the value to our Club members and the community.  The opportunity to partner with the SPCA in exercising sheltered dogs was once such new program.  It was discussed at our Board meeting, posted on our Facebook page, included in our email newsletter, and brought up at several group runs over the course of many weeks in an effort to solicit feedback.  It was never intended to be forced on anyone or to be implemented in an insensitive or careless manner. 

The idea of the program was simply that the SPCA volunteers would bring 2 - 6 trained, well-mannered and friendly dogs once per month to one of our group runs.  We chose Sunday as the first trial run as the schedule seemed to best fit the SPCA schedule and the location was beneficial as we needed a good drop off point about 1.5 miles from the start.  The dogs would be paired with volunteer runners who were willing and excited about running with a dog for a short jog.  To allow runners that do not want a dog near them, the dogs start behind the rest of the group, much like strollers and dogs are asked to start at the back of the pack in a community race event.

To assure anyone that is concerned over the safety of the themselves, other runners, or the dogs, we have tried to take every precaution possible.  The dogs are selected by the SPCA for participation in the program based on their breed, demeanor and training.  They are NEVER permitted off leash, and supplies are provided to ensure any "messes" are cleaned up.  The runners with the dogs are all volunteers; no one is EVER asked to run with an animal against their will. 

The Board will continue to discuss the Loaned Jogger program at our future meetings and work with the SPCA and our members to promote the success of the program.  We hope that others in the club and the guests that join us each week in our many runs will support the program in spirit, even if you do not volunteer to run with a dog. 

Thank you.




1 comment:

Dave said...

Well Said