The spectacle of today’s ING New York City Marathon will be made more beauteous by the participation of Grammy Award-winner Ma. The owner ofthree dogs and two cats, she’srunning to raise money for and awareness of shelter pets in general, and specifically the dogs and cats of North Shore Animal League America, whereshe is a celebrity spokeswoman.

On Team Animal League are 50 other animal-loving athletes whose common goal in running the 26.2 miles through New York’s five boroughs is to raise $200,000 for the dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens of North Shore Animal League America. The team’s members include runners from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Arizona, Minnesota, Florida, Texas, Colorado, and Canada.

The highest-scoring contestant on ABCs Dancing with the Stars andone of Billboards Hot 100 Artists of the Decade, renowned in the entertainment industry as a singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and philanthropist, Ma is equally renowned throughout the animal-loving community as a strong advocate and supporter of saving animals lives. She has five pets, including three dogs and a sweet cat named Mellowthat she adopted from the Animal League.

The Animal Leagues mission, saving the lives of precious animals, is one that touches my heart, Ma says.I am excited to join Team Animal Leagues runners, each of whom treasures the beautiful and innocent shelter animals known as Mutt-i-grees and is equally committed to helping save as many lives as possible.

This is the fourth year that the Animal League, the worlds largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization, has had the support of New York City Marathon participants.In 2008, Animal League spokeswoman Beth Stern founded Team Animal League as a runner, and since that time the Team has raised more than half a million dollars to help save animals lives.

Animal lovers can support Ma and Team Animal League here.Mas 7th studio album”K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple) is available here. Follow Ma on Twitter @MissMya.

Go Ma!