From “Princesses for Pets” to “Emily’s Army”: 12 years at the Dog Jog and 5K Run
For the past 11 years, the Richmond SPCA Dog Jog and 5K Run has been my favorite charity event to be a part of. In 2008, I registered as a team captain for my very first Dog Jog. My team started under the name “Princesses for Pets,” and at 5 years old, I was recruiting pageant titleholders, family, and friends to be a part of my mission. Over time, my Dog Jog team grew to be my platform for change in my community. This past summer I competed in the Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen pageant as an advocate for humane education. I worked closely with the Richmond SPCA and additional organizations to understand how animal abuse awareness and the importance of shelters could be better communicated and emphasized in Virginia. In June, I was ecstatic to win the title of Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen and be given the opportunity to share my initiative, “Emily’s Army: No Paws Left Behind.”
The Richmond SPCA is truly what sparked a love for animals within me that has only grown stronger as I’ve gotten older. After winning my title, I assumed a position with the Richmond SPCA as the Youth Humane Education Advocate. This role has allowed me to get an even closer look at the work of the selfless volunteers that make the shelter’s success possible. The Dog Jog has been such an important event to me because I know how crucial donations are to saving the lives of these animals and providing them the opportunity to find a new loving home.
This year will be my 12th Dog Jog on Saturday, March 23, and I’m beyond excited to use my platform as a state titleholder to pull together a big team of people who believe in the efforts of the Richmond SPCA as whole-heartedly as I do. After beginning my involvement at such a young age, humane education has become a true passion of mine and a career I would love to pursue in the future. The Dog Jog is an opportunity for me to share my love of animals with all of the people in my life so we can come together to make a positive difference for our furry friends.
Today’s guest blog author is Emily Kinsey. Emily is a junior at Glen Allen High School’s Center for Education and Human Development. She was crowned Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen in June 2018 and competed in Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2019 where she placed as second runner up.