A Saturday Morning Run With a Four-Legged Twist
Picture the scene at Josey Ranch Athletic Complex early Saturday morning: runners stretching at the trailhead on Keller Springs Road, leashes clipped and ready, dogs doing that impatient, bouncing thing they do when they sense something is about to happen. That is roughly what Carrollton has waiting for residents this June 6 when the third annual Tails & Trails 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk comes back to one of the city’s most popular outdoor spaces.
The event is straightforward in the best way: lace up, bring your dog if you have one, and move through the hike-and-bike trails that wind through Josey Ranch Athletic Complex. There is a 5K route for those who want a proper race and a 1-mile option for families, first-timers, or anyone whose dachshund has a shorter stride. Both distances are open to human runners with or without pets, so you do not need a dog to show up.
Where the Entry Fees Go
What separates this from a standard weekend fun run is where the net proceeds land. All money raised goes directly to Carrollton Animal Services & Adoption Center, the city-run shelter that handles stray intake, adoption, and animal welfare programs for the Carrollton community. That connection gives the event a tidy, local logic: people running alongside their own adopted or rescued animals are, in effect, helping the next round of animals find the same outcome.
This is the third year the race has been held, which means it has moved past the experimental phase and settled into something the community can count on each early June. Repeat participants know the course. First-timers will find the trails at Josey Ranch genuinely pleasant — shaded in stretches, well-maintained, and a legitimate reason to get out the door before the summer heat takes full hold of North Texas.
The Venue Itself
Josey Ranch Athletic Complex sits on Keller Springs Road and serves as one of Carrollton Parks and Recreation’s more versatile facilities. It hosts youth sports leagues, fishing events, and trail use year-round. On June 6 specifically, the complex is doing double duty: that same morning, from 9 to 11 a.m., the city’s Parks and Recreation department is running a Youth Fishing Event at the same location, tied to Texas Parks and Wildlife’s statewide Free Fishing Day, when no license is required. Families with both runners and young anglers could realistically do both in a single morning.
The convergence of two family-oriented outdoor events at the same complex on the same date is less a coincidence than a reflection of how the city tends to program Josey Ranch — as a place where multiple things can happen at once without stepping on each other.
What to Expect on Race Day
Beyond the run itself, the event features music and an awards ceremony. Dogs are encouraged but not required, and the tone skews festive rather than intensely competitive. If you are running with a pet, standard trail etiquette applies — keep your dog leashed and give other runners room on the path.
For those who have never run a 5K in Carrollton before, Josey Ranch is a comfortable introduction. The trails are not technical, the atmosphere at this particular event tends toward community gathering rather than personal record chasing, and the cause gives the whole morning a reason beyond fitness.
Carrollton Animal Services handles a significant number of animals each year. Local events like this one provide supplemental support that city budget lines do not always cover — things like enrichment programs, outreach, and adoption event costs. A race entry fee that doubles as a donation to the shelter down the road is a reasonable transaction for a Saturday morning.
Registration and Details
The race takes place Saturday, June 6 at Josey Ranch Athletic Complex, 1440 Keller Springs Road, Carrollton. The 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk are both on the schedule. Full registration information and event details are available through the city’s official event page.
If you have been meaning to get out on Josey Ranch’s trails and have not found the right occasion, this is a practical one. The dogs certainly think so.
