Bark in the Park draws 1,000, aims to raise $100,000 for animals

More than 1,000 people filled Alton Baker Park on Sunday for Greenhill Humane Society’s Bark in the Park, but the turnout was about more than a festive run with dogs. The 33rd annual event was built to raise money for the shelter’s daily work, with a 2026 goal of $100,000 to help care for more than 5,500 animals.

Greenhill added a new Fast Furless 5K for runners who wanted to take part without dogs on the course, alongside dog-friendly 5K and 10K run-walk events and a 2K. The morning also included dog activities, demonstrations, vendor booths and fundraising efforts spread across the park. Kelly Fleischmann, Greenhill’s outreach and events manager, said the event reflects the partnership between the shelter and the community and the effort to keep animals and their people together.

The money matters because it goes directly into services Lane County residents rely on. Greenhill said every $5 raised can help feed an animal for a day, while larger gifts can cover microchips, vaccines or spay-and-neuter surgeries. The shelter’s year-round work also includes medical treatment, foster support, adoption services and the space needed to handle intake when pets arrive injured, sick or displaced.

That role is especially important in the Eugene-Springfield area, where Greenhill says it is the only life-saving animal shelter. The nonprofit says it has been caring for animals in Lane County since 1944, and last year it assisted 5,797 total animals, including 3,540 cats, 1,953 dogs and 304 other species. Bark in the Park is Greenhill’s largest pet-friendly running event in Lane County, and race routes also ran through Eugene’s Riverfront Park, underscoring how closely the fundraiser is tied to the city’s public spaces and community identity.

Organizers said children 12 and under could register free, every registration came with a bandana, and T-shirts were available while supplies lasted. Day-of registration cost $5 more than pre-registration, giving the event both a family-friendly feel and a strong incentive to sign up early.

For Greenhill, the event was not just a one-day celebration. It was a reminder that shelter capacity, vet care, foster homes and adoptions all depend on steady public support long after the last runner leaves Alton Baker Park.