{"id":333074,"date":"2026-07-08T13:23:08","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:23:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/333074\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T13:23:08","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T13:23:08","slug":"sammy-the-shelter-dog-gets-help-from-run-club-to-find-new-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/333074\/","title":{"rendered":"Sammy the shelter dog gets help from run club to find new home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maybe you\u2019ve seen Sammy the people-friendly boxer mix trotting along Fort Lauderdale\u2019s Riverwalk with her new running club.<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t, keep an eye out.<\/p>\n

She may not run as fast as her two-legged partners, but she\u2019s not there to win any races. She\u2019s there to find a home, with a little help from her friends at Waterway Wellness Run Club.<\/p>\n

Sammy had a home once, but wound up at Abandoned Pet Rescue<\/a> when she was just a year old. That was more than five years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s incredibly smart, sweet and affectionate,\u201d said Kara Starzyk, manager of the no-kill Fort Lauderdale shelter. \u201cThere\u2019s a wonderful family out there. She really needs the chance to be seen. And it\u2019s our job to get her out there so she can be seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sammy is now getting some special time in the spotlight \u2014 and a renewed chance at finding a forever home \u2014 thanks to a new partnership Abandoned Pet Rescue launched with Waterway Wellness Run Club<\/a>, a local Fort Lauderdale running group.<\/p>\n

In late June, the run club came to the shelter for a private tour, met Sammy<\/a> for the first time and agreed to team up with the rescue group to find her a new home.<\/p>\n

Two days later, on a Monday at 6 p.m., club runners met Sammy at their usual meeting spot at Laura Ward Plaza on Las Olas Boulevard, next to the Cheesecake Factory.<\/p>\n

After 30 minutes of chatting and warming up, Sammy was making her first weekly run through downtown Fort Lauderdale. Part of her running gear includes a bright yellow \u201cAdopt Me\u201d leash.<\/p>\n

The club\u2019s founders are two sets of brothers \u2014 Dean and Sean Hunsicker and Dustin and Dakota Jones. The four friends moved together from Pennsylvania to Fort Lauderdale in September 2025 and started the run club a month later.<\/p>\n

The run club initially wanted to take several shelter dogs along on the run, but runners were told it was not safe partly because the dogs don\u2019t all get along. Instead, Starzyk suggested they focus on the dog that\u2019s been at the shelter the longest. And that\u2019s Sammy.<\/p>\n

The club plans to take Sammy on group runs every Monday night until she finds a home.<\/p>\n

\"Sean<\/p>\n

Sean Hunsicker of the Waterway Wellness Run Club runs with Sammy, a 6-year-old boxer mix, during a weekly run through downtown Fort Lauderdale on Monday, July 6, 2026. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Sammy,<\/p>\n

Sammy, a 6-year-old boxer mix, stands with members of the Waterway Wellness Run Club during a run through downtown Fort Lauderdale on Monday, July 6, 2026. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Kara<\/p>\n

Kara Starzyk, executive director of Abandoned Pet Rescue, gets Sammy, a 6-year-old boxer mix, ready for a weekly run with the Waterway Wellness Run Club through downtown Fort Lauderdale on Monday, July 6, 2026. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Sammy,<\/p>\n

Sammy, a 6-year-old shelter dog, waits before a weekly run on Monday with Waterway Wellness Run Club through downtown Fort Lauderdale. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel) \n<\/p>\n

\"Sammy,<\/p>\n

Sammy, a 6-year-old boxer mix, stands with Grace Mellinger, left, a member of the Waterway Wellness Run Club, and Kara Starzyk, executive director of Abandoned Pet Rescue, in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, July 6, 2026. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Jodie<\/p>\n

Jodie Booras, left, with Abandoned Pet Rescue, and Kara Starzyk, executive director of Abandoned Pet Rescue, take Sammy, a 6-year-old boxer mix, to a weekly run with the Waterway Wellness Run Club through downtown Fort Lauderdale on Monday, July 6, 2026. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

\"Sean<\/p>\n

Sean Hunsicker of Fort Lauderdale runs with Sammy, a 6-year-old boxer mix, during a weekly run through downtown Fort Lauderdale alongside Jodie Booras and Kara Starzyk, executive director of Abandoned Pet Rescue, on Monday, July 6, 2026. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 7<\/p>\n

Sean Hunsicker of the Waterway Wellness Run Club runs with Sammy, a 6-year-old boxer mix, during a weekly run through downtown Fort Lauderdale on Monday, July 6, 2026. (Carline Jean\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

Sammy\u2019s bio<\/a> on the shelter website describes her as a black mouth cur\/boxer mix with a sweet and friendly nature.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is very tuned in to the energy around her and takes her cues from her humans \u2014 calm environments bring out her relaxed, gentle side, while playtime brings out her happy zoomies,\u201d the site says. \u201cShe would thrive in a low-key home with adults where people enjoy a balanced routine. She doesn\u2019t need heavy exercise, but she does enjoy daily walks and the occasional burst of play to get her wiggles out. Once she\u2019s had that, she\u2019s content to settle and be close to her people.\u201d<\/p>\n

The running club is giving Sammy the kind of real-world exposure that a shelter kennel just can\u2019t provide, Starzyk said.<\/p>\n

When Sammy took her second run with the club on Monday, she showed up with a wagging tail and a ready-to-play spirit.<\/p>\n

Dakota Jones, one of the club\u2019s founders, made sure to mention Sammy during the group warmup.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re looking to adopt a dog, she\u2019s the one,\u201d Jones said. \u201cHer name is Sammy. She\u2019ll be here every Monday night, guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the run, Sammy got attention from more than a few admirers who happened to be strolling by.<\/p>\n

One woman stopped to say hello to Sammy and hear her story. She asked whether Sammy needed a home with no other pets.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is dog selective,\u201d Starzyk answered with a smile. \u201cShe needs to be the boss girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

The woman gave Sammy a final pet and told her: \u201cGood luck, Sammy. We\u2019re rooting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minutes later, a man and his wife came over to say hello.<\/p>\n

Starzyk told them Sammy was up for adoption.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have her out here to meet people and get her a good home,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh that breaks my heart,\u201d the man said as he gave Sammy a pat on the head. \u201cHi Sammy. I\u2019m sorry. We\u2019re moving to Fort Myers. And we have a 17-year-old cat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon enough, it was time for the run.<\/p>\n

Sean Hunsicker took the leash and led Sammy west along the Riverwalk.<\/p>\n

After the run, the runners gathered around Sammy for a group photo.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone get around Sammy,\u201d Dean Hunsicker said. \u201cGive her some love.\u201d<\/p>\n

What happens if and when Sammy gets a new home?<\/p>\n

\u201cIf she gets adopted, we\u2019ll match them up with another one,\u201d Starzyk said. \u201cJust keep on going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abandoned Pet Rescue<\/p>\n

1137 NE Ninth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. 954-728-9010. Open daily from noon to 5 p.m. Adoption fee $150. Due to high call volume, staff recommends sending an email to info@abandonedpetrescue.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow her on X @Susannah_Bryan<\/p>\n

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