Doggone, they can run
<p>Jason Cornwell of Post Falls runs with Pharoah, while Katie Cummings holds onto Cleopatra, as they charge toward the finish line of Leashes and Laces on Sunday.</p>
<p>Lauren Cuvala and Logan relax after the race at the Greyhound Park and Event Center.</p>
<p>Karin Walker of Rathdrum congratulates Sadie after finishing the Leashes and Laces 5K.</p>
POST FALLS - Lauren Cuvala and Logan placed in the top 10 of Sunday's Leashes and Laces 5K race.
Imagine what they could have done if Logan wasn't missing a leg.
"He's fast," Cuvala said of her golden retriever.
The fearless dog's left front leg was amputated last summer because of bone cancer. He adjusted quickly and he and his owner resumed their training runs on Tubbs Hill.
"He was back after four or five weeks, just getting around fine," she said.
The Coeur d'Alene pair pushed a hard pace to keep up with their two- and four-legged competition Sunday. Logan refused to let other canines stray far from his sights, slowing only slightly in the final lap - he heard people and wanted to visit with them - around the Greyhound Park and Event Center.
"He did pretty good today," Cuvala said.
About 155 owners and dogs paid $25 and joined the second Leashes and Laces 5K, a fundraiser for the Post Falls police K-9 program on a cool, overcast morning.
There were little dogs, medium dogs and big dogs. Chihuahua, retrievers, labs, German shepherds and beagles put their paws to the pavement, cheered and cajoled by their handlers. There was lots of barks and few growls, but most canines came through with tongues hanging out and tails wagging.
Post Falls Police Chief Scot Haug appreciated the turnout. He said the K-9 program is funded through grants, drug seizure money and donations.
It has two units: officer Jason Hunt and Andor, and officer Frank Bowne and Koda.
"It's great to see so many people willing to come out and support the program," he said.
Jackie Kirk of Post Falls arrived with Austin and Joey, shetland sheep dogs. They didn't come to race, but to support the K-9 program, as Kirk is a volunteer with the Post Falls Police Department.
"It's also a chance to socialize my two boys here," Kirk said.
Some came to claim the first-place trophies, as Andy and Heather LeFreic of Spokane repeated as men's and women's winners.
Andy ran with Annie, a seven-month-old bone coon hound, and they easily outdistanced the field.
"Annie is fresh out of the Second Chance Pet Rescue in Hayden," he said as they relaxed after the race.
Heather cruised with Bella, a 3-year-old border collie, who won last year with Andy.
"She's put on a little winter weight," Heather said, smiling.
The couple run almost daily with their dogs, sometimes twice a day. It showed on Sunday.
"He's not tired," Andy said of Annie.
Brian Dubs of Rathdrum ran with Cadet, a 4-year-old beagle. They chopped four minutes off their three-mile time.
"I'm pretty impressed," he said.
Karin Walker and her German shepherd, Sadie, enjoyed the day and the course that followed the Centennial Trail. Sadie ran strong despite stitches in her left side after a collision with a fence.
"We run with injuries, that's what we do," the Rathdrum woman said.
Pharaoh and Cleopatra, a pair of Rottweilers, charged through with Jason Cornwell and Katie Cummings in tow.
The two dogs, despite their combined weight of 275 pounds, finished among the leaders.
"They pull me along, that's for sure," said Cornwell of Post Falls.
Likewise for John Schulz of Post Falls.
He worked hard to keep pace with Cooter, an American Stafford terrier that was dressed in a pink outfit and won the costume contest.
"The dog ran us," he said.