More than 500 walkers and runners took part in the NOLA Dogs Race to the Rescue on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, bringing a broad crowd to a fundraiser for local animal rescues. The ninth annual event combined a 5K with a dog parade led by BIG FUN Brass Band and a Blessing of the Pets, according to WGNO’s post-event report. Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie hosted the race.
The organizer’s event listing placed the race at Heaven’s Pets at Lake Lawn Metairie in New Orleans and set the 5K for 8:30 a.m. The course passed through the grounds of Lake Lawn Metairie Cemetery. Before the event, the schedule also listed a half-mile dog parade at 8 a.m. and a pet blessing at 9:30 a.m. WGNO later confirmed that the parade and blessing were part of the completed Sunday program.
The format gave the morning more than one way to take part. People could register for the timed 5K or walk, while the dogs joined the parade and blessing rather than the 5K course. NOLA Family Magazine reported before race day that those two pet-centered activities were free and open to the public. WGNO’s account after the event described awards, food and refreshments, giveaways, and sno-balls from Plum Street Snoballs alongside the race and pet events.
Organizers said proceeds from the race and an online auction benefit several animal-rescue groups. WGNO and NOLA Family named six: Animal Rescue New Orleans, Take Paws Rescue, Trampled Rose Rescue & Rehab, Zeus’ Rescues, Trap Dat Cat and The Inner Pup. Race Roster’s event page displays a six-logo recipient panel, although its separate text support page names five organizations. This article follows the six-group identification in the two reports and makes no claim about the final amount raised or distributed.
The race is organized by NOLA Dogs Charitable Giving. Founder JoAnne Casey told NOLA Family Magazine that she became involved in rescue work after adopting a dog. She said she was not a runner when she suggested a 5K, but wanted a way for people to help the groups caring for local animals.
That first race raised just under $5,000, NOLA Family reported. Before this year’s event, the magazine said the annual fundraiser had brought in more than $225,000 over its first eight editions. Those are historical figures reported ahead of the Oct. 11 race, not a final total for this year. Keeping the time frame clear matters because the current online counter is not the same thing as an accounting of money delivered to each rescue.
The groups’ work extends beyond one race weekend. NOLA Family reported that the participating rescues took in 1,929 animals and found homes for 2,058 in 2025, while facing more than $625,000 in medical expenses. Casey also described work that helps keep families’ pets at home through prevention, education and other support services. Those figures describe the rescues’ broader 2025 work, not results produced by the 2026 event.
Casey told NOLA Family that she wanted people who could give modest amounts to have a clear way to support rescue organizations. The race and auction offer one public channel for that support, while the parade and blessing give people a way to join the morning without running the course. The event’s own schedule also offered virtual participation for people unable to attend in person.
Race Roster also listed a virtual division. WGNO did not break out how many people joined remotely, so its report of more than 500 walkers and runners is presented here as the station’s event figure without an in-person-versus-virtual split.
The clearest reported result from this year’s gathering is its attendance: more than 500 walkers and runners, alongside the parade, blessing and family-friendly activities. The sources reviewed do not provide a final 2026 distribution total. What they do document is a recurring fundraiser built around a neighborhood 5K and public pet events, with proceeds intended for local rescues whose work continues after the finish line.
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