Strut Your Mutt

Dogs in costume, booths promoting feline friendly cupcakes, and a plethora of individuals walking for a cause consumed Saturday, September 14 at Strut Your Mutt. Best Friends Animal Society hosts this annual, dog walk, fun run and festival in cities all over the nation, in hopes of raising funds for local animal organizations. This year was Strut Your Mutt’s third time in Austin, where its $125,000 fundraising goal was exceeded immensely. With a massive turn out of 950 volunteers and participants, Strut Your Mutt raised $170,000, confirming Austin’s passion towards keeping the city no-kill.


It’s been nearly four years since Austin city council passed its No Kill Ordinance, but feels like it has been decades due to the way in which the city’s citizens have embraced the new regulation. Within this short time span, Austinites have managed to attract national attention for their animal friendly efforts. According to Kasey Spain, marketing manager of Austin Animal Services, the community’s works have pushed Austin into becoming one of the largest no kill cities in the nation.


Best Friends Animal Society realized Austin’s potential early on, which is why they have supported the city throughout its no kill growth period. Best Friends, according to their website, is a nonprofit organization that works nationally to support the country in its mission to “Save Them All,” regarding their effort to keep all domestic animals alive. Usually, no-kill communities take time to attract an event of this stature, however, Strut Your Mutt has been with Austin for three out of its four no kill years.


Austin Strut Your Mutt Race Coordinator Meredith Oakes said, “Before the race even started, Austin had already surpassed its fundraising goal. I am amazed at the community’s dedication to this cause.” Oakes continued, “We are so honored to have the Best Friends Animal Society’s support this early on in our no-kill journey.”


Best Friends Animal Society’s new media coordinator Melissa Lipani detailed how Strut Your Mutt rose to fame so quickly in Austin. “It’s taken a lot of teamwork, a lot of volunteers, sponsors, donors, and participation; people really caring about our mission to save them all.”


This year, 23 Austin organizations partnered with Strut Your Mutt, becoming the largest Austin partnership turnout yet. Top fundraising organization Shadow Cats basked in relief knowing that Strut Your Mutt helped them raise enough funds to continue their vital work with cats within the city.


Director of Sanctuary Operations David Murphy said, “We raised 23 percent of all Austin Strut Your Mutt funds. We have a base of people who are here with us in spirit today and who have helped support us to make Shadow Cats the number one fundraising organization at Strut your Mutt Austin, the third year in a row!”


Shadow Cats relies heavily on this event to keep its facility running. Due to their specific expertise in felines, they tend to the most cats within the city of Austin. Thanks to Strut Your Mutt, Shadow Cats is able to aid the city, as well as Best Friends Animal Society, in “saving them all.”