Dr Janey Lowes is taking on over 600km across Sri Lanka to help street dogs receive the treatment they desperately need. Here’s what the Dog Jog involves and why she needs your support.
One vet. 600km. Thousands of dogs to help.
Janey will run the length of Sri Lanka for WECare Worldwide, the charity she founded in 2014. After almost 12 years treating street dogs, she’s taking on her toughest challenge yet to fund a bigger future for their care.
The challenge started on 9 October.
She plans to run from Point Pedro in the north to Dondra in the south over 22 days, passing through Anuradhapura, Kandy and Horton Plains.
That’s almost 15 half marathons.
Janey will average around 28km a day for just over three weeks. Each morning means pulling on her trainers and starting again, despite tired legs, blisters and aching muscles.
And she actually hates running.
Janey is a veterinary surgeon, not a professional endurance athlete. Her motivation comes from the dogs she treats: “I’m suffering so that street dogs don’t have to.”
The tropical conditions will test her.
She has trained in 34°C heat and 85% humidity while working full-time as a vet. Steep terrain, heavy rain and relentless heat will make this far tougher than the distance alone suggests.
There are an estimated three million street dogs in Sri Lanka.
WECare sees dogs with road injuries, infected wounds and preventable diseases. Many communities have limited access to veterinary care, leaving animals to suffer without treatment.
The current hospital cannot keep up.
The team works from a converted nursery school and regularly has to turn animals away because it lacks space and resources. Your support will help fund facilities where more dogs can receive care.
The fundraising target is US$2 million.
The appeal will fund a purpose-built veterinary hospital, rehabilitation centre and training facility. WECare has secured the land. Now it needs help to build.
The benefits will reach beyond one hospital.
WECare expects the new clinical facilities to help around 3,000 additional animals each year. It also aims to train more than 200 veterinary professionals annually, helping care reach communities further afield.
You can help without running a single kilometre.
Donate what you can, share Janey’s appeal or organise a sponsored walk with your own dog. You’ll be helping fund treatment, recovery and training that can give more street dogs a chance.
Help Janey turn 600 km of leg work into a legacy of lasting care for street dogs in Sri Lanka.
Donate to the Dog Jog · Follow the challenge · Watch the film
