I’m Not a Runner, But Dakin’s Cookie Run Was Good for the Soul

I am not a runner, not even a little bit. My idea of cardio is running late. But I am an animal lover, and if you ever needed a heartwarming moment, a tail wag, or a dose of puppy breath to make your day better, then you have to experience Dakin Humane Society’s 5k Cookie Run.

This isn’t just a run. It’s not just about medals, time clocks, or sweating it out for a good cause (though there’s plenty of that). It’s a celebration of kindness, connection, and our bond with our pets. Everywhere you looked that day, kindness was blooming.

From the very beginning, you could see people doting on their dogs like royalty. There were pups in tutus, bandanas, and even matching outfits with their humans. Some dogs ran right alongside their people like little furry athletes, others strolled in carriages with their tiny heads peeking out like the VIPs they are. It was adorable, but more than that, it was love pure and simple.

I volunteered at the finish line, which turned out to be one of the best spots to witness the magic. One of the first things that got me was seeing a group of animal control officers running and walking together, an entire team of people who have dedicated their lives to helping animals. Then, there was this one little boy, maybe four feet tall with a head of blonde hair, waiting anxiously for his dad to appear around the final bend. When he saw him, he couldn’t contain himself and screamed with pure joy. “Daaaaad!!!” he shouted, jumping up and down and yelling louder and louder as he got closer to the finish line. As soon as his father crossed the line, the boy ran full speed into his arms, becoming the first to congratulate him.

Another runner crossed the finish line, immediately dropped to her knees, and gave her dog a huge congratulatory kiss. They had done it together. She whispered something to her pup that I couldn’t hear, but the affection and pride between them was louder than words.

One of my favorite moments was watching people who had already finished the race turn back down the route to find their friends and cheer them on or run a portion of the race a second time alongside their friend. These weren’t just athletes trying to get their best time; they were people encouraging each other, sharing the experience, and making sure that no one crossed the finish line alone and that they did indeed finish.

Then came a moment that would stick with me. A man, who said he was facing housing insecurity, was in the parking lot with his dog. He asked a fellow volunteer what all the fuss was about. She told him it was a fundraiser to help animals. He looked around, amazed at all the people with their pets and said, “It’s a beautiful thing to see so many people care.”

He told her he sometimes doesn’t have enough for pet food but will always feed his dog first even if that means going hungry himself. Then this man, who had every reason to hold onto what little he had, took out the last $3 from his pocket and donated it to the cause. “These animals are what keep us going,” he said. “They’re the last bit of love some of us have left.”

If that’s not the purest form of love and kindness, I don’t know what is.

And it wasn’t just about the dogs who were there that day, it was also about those who couldn’t be. Many people ran or walked in memory of pets they had lost, keeping their spirits alive with every step.

Each participant of Team Cheyenne displayed a picture of Cheyenne on their race day shirts. They were running in memory of a dog they adopted from Dakin in 2018. Cheyenne passed away in April, and the team wanted to give back to the organization that brought her into their lives. As Krista from the team said, “Dakin holds a special place in our hearts, and we were honored to help raise money in her memory. We are looking forward to next year!”

And then there was Ridley’s Pack, a group of five coworkers from a local surgery center, running in memory of Ridley, a sweet pit mix rescue who passed away last year. Christa, who started the team, said, “It truly means the world to me. I know she’s looking down and proud of us for helping all of her friends in the shelter.”

That’s what this event was all about. Yes, it raised money for animals. Yes, it was fun and full of energy. But more than that, it was a reminder of the good in people and the power of love. The importance of compassion. Whether you walked, ran, cheered, volunteered or just showed up for the puppy kisses, you were part of something special that animals tend to draw out in every one of us.

So no, I’m not a runner. But I’ll be back at the Cookie Run next year. Not for the competition. Not for the finish line. But for the kindness, the community, the sweet moments and the animals. Always the animals.