Paws on Pavement

The Red Lizard Running Club teams up with shelter dogs for Saturday runs in Lake Oswego

By Matthew Sherman

The Lake Oswego Review, Oct 18, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (2 Reader comments)

Vern Uyetake / Lake Oswego Review

Jenny Pyle of West Linn, left, and Sherry Sullivan of Portland head down Old River Road with their canine running partners for the day.

For many people, it takes some extra motivation to get out and go for a run. But the Red Lizard Running Club has found a way to fix that problem, at least once a month.

The group meets at Foot Traffic and Petco in downtown Lake Oswego to work out each Saturday but, on the second Saturday of each month, some guests join the 15 to 40 runners.

Each month for two years, the Multnomah County Animal Shelter brings in around half a dozen dogs who could use the exercise and pair them up with the Red Lizards for the morning.

The dogs range in size, breed and athletic ability as well.

During one run, Angela Lindbo’s dog decided it had had enough exercise and simply sat down midway through the 5-mile course.

“We had to get the truck to come out and pick her up because she was about 30 pounds,” Lindbo said with a laugh.

Lindbo is a member of the Red Lizards and her husband Torrey is the president of the club. Angela Lindbo is also the foster coordinator for the Multnomah County Animal Shelter.

But the outing does a world of good for the dogs, many of whom are exhausted after the trek and others who are ready to go another five miles.

“Most of them start out sprinting and pulling before they realize ‘Oh, I’m in this for the long haul,’” Angela Lindbo said.

Recently, smaller dogs have been brought in to accompany the walkers who show up.

The purpose of bringing the dogs out in the open is twofold.

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