Hundreds of runners and their pets took to the riverfront in Marietta on Saturday, October 25, for the Hearts & Hands 4 Paws 5K, a charity race raising money to help low-income pet owners afford essential veterinary care.
The event drew 200 human participants alongside 50 pets. The course started at Muskingum Park, proceeded along Front Street and followed the Marietta River Trail, giving runners and walkers a scenic route through the heart of the city.
Hearts and Hands 4 Paws is a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance and resources to low-income pet owners across the Mid-Ohio Valley. The money raised helps cover veterinary care, spay and neutering services for families who might otherwise struggle to afford them.
Organizers say the goal reaches beyond a single day of fundraising. By reducing the financial barriers to basic pet care, the organization aims to keep pets in their homes and decrease the number of animals surrendered to local shelters.
The race was co-organized by the River City Runners & Walkers Club, a local organization that helped lay out and run the 5K course from Muskingum Park down Front Street to the boat ramp and along the river trail.
Community charity events like the 5K have become a fixture of Marietta’s fall calendar, drawing participants from across Washington County and the wider Mid-Ohio Valley to support local causes.
For pet owners in the region who need help with veterinary costs, Hearts and Hands 4 Paws accepts assistance requests through its programs serving low-income households throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley.
Photo: pasa47, CC BY