Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A dog walks along the beach during the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A woman and her dog cross the finish line at the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Marc and Ruth Lacocq of Long Beach completed the Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run with the St. Bernard they rescued, Bernie, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Young participants gather at the finish line of the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants run and walk along the beach in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Victor Carrillo of Buena Park holds his 2nd place medal and gift with his running partner, Luna, a Siberian Husky, at the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants take part in a 1K walk and run in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants take part in a 1K walk and run in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Two- and four-legged participants take part in a 1K walk and run in the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Participants will begin the 5K segment of the 2nd annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run, benefiting Long Beach Animal Care Services, on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Crowds of people, most of them with dogs by their side, ran along the shores of Long Beach on Saturday, Feb. 17 — for a good cause.
The second annual Bob Long Memorial Mutt Run was organized by the small Signal Hill Rotary Club to raise money for Long Beach Animal Care Services. The event featured three divisions: a human-only 5K, and then a human-and-dog 5K and 1K.
The goal is to raise about $2,000, Rotary Club President Leslie Young said. The majority — 70% — will go to LBACS, while the rest will be used in a community project, according to the Rotary Club’s website.
Young came up with the idea for the Mutt Run in June 2022. He and his wife got a rescue dog during the pandemic. But then he learned that the Long Beach shelter had reached capacity, due to people returning pets once the pandemic eased.
“I decided I had to do something,” Young said in an interview Friday. “Every one of our members has a dog, so they ride.”
The event’s namesake, Bob Long, is a past president of the Signal Hill Rotary Club, and a longtime community philanthropist and animal advocate. He died in 2022 just shy of his 90th birthday, Young said.
The inaugural Mutt Run attracted about 115 people and raised $1,000, Young said. As of Friday morning, 187 people had registered to participate in the second iteration — all but 47 of whom were scheduled to run with their dogs.
The Mutt Run also featured a post-race festival that included numerous vendors and an LBACS adoption event.
The money that goes to LBACS will help support the agency’s mission to “Save,” according to a city statement.
“This mission focuses on providing outreach, education, guidance, and support services to both the people and animals of our community,” the release said. “By participating in this event, you are directly contributing to this important cause.”
