Third annual IRONDOG 5K to be held on March 30, 2013

When an animal is experiencing a medical emergency, life-saving efforts often become the first priority. Just like human medicine, though, procedures under extreme circumstances can become costly, putting animal owners in difficult financial positions. In many cases, curative treatment options are available, but not affordable.

Those are exactly the situations Dr. Matthew Beal, director of Emergency and Critical Care Services, and Dr. Christian Weder, then a DVM student, were hoping to change when they created the IRONGDOG Fund, a charitable organization that supports the medical and surgical management of animals hospitalized at the VMC.

Beginning in 2011, IRONDOG hosted an annual 5K run/walk on MSU campus. Last year almost 500 runners and walkers participated, raising enough money to support the care of almost two dozen animals hospitalized at the VMC in the year since.

IRONDOG Fund’s mission to support animal well-being also works to promote a healthy lifestyle for humans participating in the fundraising activities. It encourages athletes of all types to sign up for races as part of the IRONDOG team, and to raise pledges for completion of the event.

Early numbers for this year's event put the IRONDOG Fund on track to provide support to twice as many animals in 2013.

The 2013 IRONDOG 5K Run/Walk will take place Saturday, March 30 at 10:00 a.m. Registration information is available at

www.irondogfund.org.