I'm Top Dog! Come and meet me at Mutt Strut!
- Jason Heath
- Apr 6, 2018
- 2 min read

How does a Top Dog get to be a Top Dog? Meet Reina, the face of IndyHumane’s annual fundraiser, Mutt Strut! She got this honor because her humans were the top fundraisers for the event, which takes place April 28 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The IH Top Dog is given special recognition on Mutt Strut and IndyHumane posters and ads and becomes the “ambassa-dog” for the following year’s Mutt Strut. Would you like your pup to be Top Dog for the 2019 Mutt Strut? Click here: https://indymuttstrut.org/top-dog/
More on Reina: She came to IndyHumane as a transfer from Indianapolis Animal Care Services, the city’s animal shelter, in July of 2016. Before coming to IndyHumane, Reina underwent surgery on her eyelids to address a condition in which her eyelids rolled inward against her cornea. Unfortunately, there were complications with the surgery that resulted in her not being able to close her eyes all the way. IndyHumane brought Reina to our shelter, where Dr. Snyder performed corrective surgery. The operation was a success, and after healing, Reina was made available for adoption.
Longtime IndyHumane volunteer Laura Michael took a special interest in Reina while walking dogs at the shelter as a Canine Companion. Laura noticed that Reina’s boundless energy and impressive jumping height sometimes intimidated volunteers, and she made sure to walk Reina first each day. Each day that Laura came in to see Reina she thought she’d be adopted, but the sweet dog continued to be overlooked. On Labor Day in 2016, Laura’s husband, Dod, volunteered at the shelter. He immediately “fell like a rock” in love with Reina. Laura and Dod spent their entire two-hour volunteer shift that day with Reina.
They badly wanted to bring Reina home with them, but were cautious that their dog, Lucy, would not accept another dog into the home. Through an IndyHumane overnight program for staff and volunteers, they were able to bring Reina home for a night to see how she and Lucy got along. Reina immediately accepted Lucy as the boss of the household, and they got along from day one. After fostering her for a week, they were sure – she would become part of the family. In 2017, Laura worked hard to raise funds through Mutt Strut and she became the top fundraiser! Come meet Reina at Mutt Strut 2018 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway! Need to sign up? Use the promotional code PATTY for a discount and go here:



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