On June 11, Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation (SASF) is holding the 24th annual Furry 5K at Seward Park. A chance to get outside, gather with our furry family members, and support animals in need. What’s more, 100% of funds raised on this fun day go to the Help the Animals Fund at the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS).
Every fall, SASF hosts an auction and gala called Furevermore to raise funds for SAS. Last fall, Heather and Pete made a generous donation to win the Face of Furry 5K for their dog, Ezzie. We had a chat with the two about their history with animal welfare and how Ezzie brought new energy and joy to their day-to-day lives.
OUR CONVERSATION WITH HEATHER AND PETE
SASF: LET’S START WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT PART… CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EZZIE?
Heather: We got Ezzie in 2021 at a rescue in Eastern Washington, because he fit exactly what we were looking for and there are so many dogs over there needing adoption. Someone found him on the side of the road with an eye hanging out. Our last dog had both eyes removed so when I saw Ezzie with just one eye, that caught my attention. He has some stranger danger but once he gets to know you, he is the sweetest, most empathetic little guy.
WHY WERE YOU INTERESTED IN HAVING YOUR DOG BE THE FACE OF THE FURRY 5K?
Pete: I’m on the Board of the Seattle Humane Society, we’re long-time supporters of the Seattle Animal Shelter, and we’ve been going to Furevermore for many years. Heather was also involved in the very first auctions for a number of years. We loved the idea of giving Ezzie a platform to show that one-eyed stray dogs can be amazing dogs.
HOW DOES EZZIE AFFECT YOUR LIFE? HOW IS HE A PART OF YOUR DAY-TO-DAY?
Heather: In the morning he likes to climb on me and we’ll have a little chat. He gets me to walk every day, we play ball, and he’s next to me all work day long. He always wants to be with us, and he’s a great traveler, he goes with us down to Palm Springs.
Pete: He wants to be part of our lives and we want to be part of his. He’s very joyful, very athletic, and he has this way of running that is purely for fun. He doesn’t care about how fast he is, he just wants to have fun.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY WITH EZZIE SO FAR?
Pete: Our first two dogs were older and quieter dogs, and the first day we brought Ezzie home, he was about a year and a half old, he went puppy crazy and played in our backyard for hours. But of course, he was nervous being in a new situation. So first day was wild and new. We were worried about what we got ourselves into, but it’s all been awesome. He sat on the console the whole ride home, so he was comfortable with us from the get-go.
Heather: He also has this ball he likes to play soccer with. He pushes it around with his front paws, then he jumps over it to stop it, and then pushes it back with his head.
OKAY, LAST QUESTION. IF SOMEONE WAS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE FURRY 5K THIS SUMMER, WHAT IS ONE THING YOU’D TELL THEM?
Heather: It’s an amazing way to support animal welfare and any support goes a long way!
HOW TO JOIN IN ON THE FUN
There’s still plenty of time to sign up for this June’s Furry 5K! Check out the Furry 5K website to learn more about participating.
And if you’d like to see your pet be the Face of Furry 5K at a future event, stay tuned for more news about the Furevermore Auction & Gala this October.