Race planning question - dogs or no dogs?

I'm involved in planning a 5k Run/2 mile Walk event in a couple of months (a fund-raising event). Someone asked the other day if dogs would be allowed in the walk. This is an issue we hadn't considered yet.... We want this to be a fun, family-oriented event, and allowing dogs might enhance the "family" aspect, but I'm not sure if it's wise from a liability perspective. I would love to hear the opinions of anyone who has been involved in race planning, or just your opinion as a participant. Dogs or no dogs?

All of us involved are in agreement with no dogs on the run, but we're trying to decide if they should be allowed for the walk. The run and walk will follow the same general course, but the runners should be finished before the walkers, and except for some of the slowest runners, they shouldn't be on the course at the same time. I'm most concerned about possibile liability issues if someone were to get bitten, tripped up by a leash, etc...

Thoughts??



Edited by jsnowash 2009-01-13 8:41 AM