With the goal of supporting patrol and school therapy dogs, an estimated 725 people attended the second annual RexRun for PAWSitivity event at Arapahoe County Fairgrounds in late August. 

This year’s RexRun — named after Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office first-ever school therapy dog, Rex — raised about $32,000 for Back the Blue K-9 Force, a nonprofit that helps fund school therapy dogs and law enforcement dog units, also called K-9 units.

The event featured a variety of attractions and activities such as a 5K run and walk, video game truck, live auction, local vendors, food trucks and K-9 training demonstrations.

The second annual RexRun was held Aug. 26 at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds.

“It is awesome. Anytime that we can have an event to spread awareness of what therapy dogs can do is a great event,” said Diane Lewis, one of the founders of the nonprofit. 

Lewis said 100% of the net proceeds go toward supporting patrol and therapy dogs, such as helping law enforcement agencies purchase dogs, paying for the medical expenses when a dog is injured, and purchasing protective equipment. 

Back the Blue K-9 Force has purchased 15 dogs for five different law enforcement agencies including the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, Sheridan Police Department and Lakewood Police Department, she said. 

Unfortunately, when law enforcement agencies reach out to Back the Blue K-9 Force to ask for funds, the nonprofit has to say no a lot because there is not enough money, Lewis said. 

The funds raised during last year’s RexRun were spent in less than two weeks, she said. 

Therapy dog Bear at the 2023 RexRun for PAWSitivity on Aug. 26.

Beyond raising funds, one of the goals of the RexRun was to raise awareness of the value of therapy dogs who are partnered with school resource officers.  

Lewis said she often hears stories about how the therapy dogs have helped students feel more comfortable and de-escalated moments when students were struggling.

“We’re just honored to be a part of this,” Lewis said. “We’re hoping that, with funds raised, that we can help other schools, too.”

At the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, the nonprofit helped the agency expand its therapy dog program from one dog in 2021 to now having five dogs serving multiple school districts including Littleton Public Schools, Cherry Creek Schools, and the Byers and Deer Trail schools. 

“We couldn’t do what we do without Back the Blue K-9 Force, and we thoroughly appreciate everyone coming out to support today,” said Sgt. Brian Starbuck. 

Sgt. Brian Starbuck hosted the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office K-9 training demonstrations at the 2023 RexRun, which involved all five therapy …

Starbuck hosted the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office K-9 training demonstrations at the event, which involved all five therapy dogs and several other patrol dogs showing off their detection skills. 

“One of the unique things we’re doing with our therapy dogs is they’re not just going into schools and doing therapy,” Starbuck said. “We also observed an opportunity to give those dogs other talents. So one of the things that we’re training most of our therapy dogs on is detecting gunpowder, explosives, ammunition, shell casings.”

Rex, for example, is trained in detecting explosive odors, such as gunpowder residue. 

Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office school therapy dog Rex shows off his detection skills at the 2023 RexRun by searching for the scent of gunpowder …

Therapy dog Zeke, on the other hand, is trained in detecting electronics such as cellphones and flash drives — a skill that’s especially useful to the Internet Crimes Against Children unit, he said. 

Zeke became Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office second school therapy dog in 2022, partnered with Deputy Travis Jones, a school resource officer at Newton Middle School in Centennial. 

One of the attendees at the 2023 RexRun was Maeve Vancik, a 13-year-old student at Newton. She learned about the event through Zeke’s Instagram account, which she follows. 

“I really like just going to see them,” she said about the therapy dogs. 

Vancik, a runner, participated in the RexRun 5K race, which kicked off the event. She came in first place among the female racers and second place overall with a time of 23 minutes and 7 seconds. 

Jones, who was at the event with Zeke by his side, said he was so proud of her.

Deputy Travis Jones, a school resource officer at Newton Middle School, smiles alongside his K-9 partner, Zeke, and 13-year-old Newton student Maeve …

Aurora resident Luke McCollum came in first place in the 5K, finishing with a time of 22 minutes and 32 seconds.  

It was his second time participating in the event, after attending last year as well. He said participating again this year was a “no brainer,” as he wants to support what the money goes toward. 

He noted that not long after last year’s RexRun, which was held in August 2022, the sheriff’s office announced it would be getting another therapy dog, Riley.  

Clay McCollum, Luke McCollum and Ashley McCollum attended the 2023 RexRun at Arapahoe County Fairgrounds on Aug. 26. Luke McCollum came in first …

“They had announced that, you know, the proceeds from the event went towards getting this dog,” McCollum said. “So, it’s kind of cool to actually, you know, see the direct relation into getting more dogs.”

Riley was sworn into office in September 2022 and became Cherry Creek School District’s first therapy dog. Arapahoe County Sheriff Tyler Brown said part of the funds raised during the RexRun event was used to purchase Riley. 

“I like the idea behind it all and what it stands for,” McCollum said about the RexRun. “I plan on doing this every year that I can.”