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Have a blast at the Doxie Dash

2/17/2016

What comes to mind when you think of hockey? Men imbued with a certain grace on their feet? Scrappy athletes ready to sacrifice their body for the game and their team? Paul Newman in “Slapshot”? Dachshunds scampering across the ice?

The Doxie Dash will be held Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Des Moines Buccaneers Arena.

The Doxie Dash will be held Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Des Moines Buccaneers Arena.

Come for the hockey but stay for the Doxie Dash. During the first intermission of the Des Moines Buccaneers’ game, the Bucs and the Animal Rescue League of Iowa will bring “wiener dog” racing to Des Moines once again. Dachshund owners will be able to enter their dogs into the race for a chance at prizes and to help raise funds for the animals at the ARL.

“The Doxie Dash is a Miniature Dachshund ‘race’ that the ARL puts on annually at the Des Moines Buccaneer Arena,” said Jessi Decker, event coordinator at Animal Rescue League of Iowa. “We saw similar events across the country, so we borrowed the idea, and they used dachshunds, so that’s why we do it with miniature dachshunds.”

Entry in the Doxie Dash includes two game tickets, and $10 of the registration fee goes directly to the ARL, as well as $6 of every ticket sold for the game. Those who wish to watch the game must have their dog in a carrier and leave the dog in the designated locker room during the game. The locker room will have constant monitoring by security personnel. No dogs are allowed in the seating area.

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“All the donations and money raised from this event goes back to help all the animals the ARL cares for,” said Decker. “Participation for this race is capped at 50 teams, and it sells out each year.”

The dogs are split into two heats, and the top dogs from each heat will race for the championship. Each participant gets a goodie bag for his or her doxie, and one winner gets his or her own bag full of prizes (gift cards, toys, etc.).

“With it taking place during the hockey game, that makes it a sporting event, but the ‘race’ itself isn’t really a race,” Decker admitted. “It’s mostly a couple of dogs who are excited to run to their other owner, and a bunch of other dogs getting distracted.”

“The overall response to Doxie Dash has been very positive,” Decker said. “The events is always well-attended, and the dogs have a blast.” CV

Doxie Dash Rules

Race is open to dachshunds (wiener dogs) only.
Each entry includes admittance for two humans.
For the race, one human will let his or her dog go from one end of the rink, and the dog will run to another human at the opposite end. The first to cross the finish line wins.
Participants are allowed to bring props such as chew toys, balls, etc.
Dogs must be up to date on all vaccinations and be at least 6 months old.
No female dogs in heat.
Participants are allowed to bring food for dogs into the arena. However, no outside human food is permitted.
Participants will be asked to arrive at the arena between 6:45-7:15 p.m. and will be instructed to go to a designated locker room until the race time (approximately 7:25 p.m.)
The Buccaneers and ARL reserve the right to prevent any dog (or human) from participating. CV

Doxie Dash at Bucs Arena

(during the game)
Feb. 20, 7 p.m.
Cost: $15/dog
$12/person if not participating in race
The last day to register for the event
is Friday, Feb. 19.

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