Aspen's Rubey Rescue Run Pairs Dogs With Humans

Aspen —Koch Park sits quiet on a crisp October morning. The air bites at exposed skin. Leashed dogs pace at the start line, tails wagging against the chill.

The second annual Rubey Rescue Run kicks off Sunday, Oct. 4. It’s a Halloween-themed race for humans and their four-legged partners.

Runners choose between a 3.5-mile race or a 1-mile walk. Both routes start at Koch Park and cut through Marolt Open Space. The course is new this year. It’s gentler than the 2025 route that climbed Buttermilk Mountain.

Money matters. Proceeds go entirely to Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter. The nonprofit uses funds for veterinary scholarships and spay/neuter programs.

Meaghan Rubey, the race director, started this event to support local animal rescue. She has fostered and adopted pets for decades.

"I've spent decades fostering, adopting and supporting rescue organizations," Rubey told the Aspen Times. "I have loved the shelter, and I just wanted to do more to support them locally, so we started this run last year."

Last year, rain didn’t stop the 53 participants. They raised nearly $5,000. Rubey hopes the easier course and walk option draw bigger crowds.

"I really wanted to make it a community event where kids and families could come and support animal welfare," she said.

Dogs aren’t just spectators. They’re participants. Rubey calls it the only race where dogs compete alongside owners.

The shelter’s work reaches far beyond Pitkin County. Seth Sachson, executive director of the facility, noted the group spays and neuters over 3,000 animals annually. They serve the Four Corners region and Ute and Navajo reservation lands.

The shelter takes in 200 to 250 homeless animals yearly. Some may appear at the race. Sachson’s family adopted one last year. They now have seven dogs.

Scholarships have been a focus since 2022. Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter supports veterinary technician students at Colorado Mountain College. They also donate to programs at Colorado State University.

Costumes are encouraged. Owners should dress their dogs for a contest. Cash prizes go to the top three male and female finishers.

Local businesses help feed the crowd. Paradise, Clark’s Market, and Louis Swiss Bakery provide free food and drinks. Meghan Grabow, co-director of the race, supplies dog food. She owns Frank’s Fresh Dog Food and Delivery.

Registration is open at rubeyrescuerun.org. Make no mistake, this is a community effort. The short version? Show up, bring your dog, and help save lives. Worth watching.