Defend Your Friend 5K aims to help Columbus residents support animals

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus Humane held its 19th annual “Defend Your Friend 5K,” on Saturday morning. The event is aimed at protecting and supporting animals throughout the city.  

“This is one of our biggest programs and our biggest fundraiser of the year to raise money for the investigations we do right here in our neighborhood,” said Brittany Williams, chief advancement officer with Columbus Humane.  

The 5K kicked off at 9 a.m. at Prairie Oaks Metro Park. All of the money that was raised goes to the animal cruelty investigation department with Columbus Humane. The non-profit has an average of 6,000 investigations each year.  

Columbus Humane has 92% conviction rate in Franklin County environmental court due to their efforts. Williams noted that seeing all the support from the community over the years has been meaningful to their cause.  

“This is the 19th year, and this is the most people that we’ve seen in attendance, and that means a lot to the organization,” Williams said. “To continue to see the support grow for animal cruelty investigations is inspiring and hopeful. 

Columbus Humane is known as the only law enforcement agency in Franklin County fighting animal cruelty each day of each year.