Well, Bark in the Park is shaping up as quite the event for this year, from 10 a.m. Ð2 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, at the Churchill County Fairground multipurpose building and outside area.

Most people are not aware that it is not on Memorial Day weekend. That holiday is actually the weekend prior so don't let that keep you from joining us at Bark in the Park.

We will have many great vendors, attractions, photographers, games, contests, food vendors and raffles. We would love to have your help on the day of the event, so if you would like to volunteer, please call the shelter at 423-7500.

To participate in the 5K Strut Your Mutt Run/Walk, you can register on the day of the event, starting at 7:30 a.m. But you can also preregister by downloading a form from our Web site and mailing it to the shelter. The Web address is www.capsnv.org; click on "Events" and then on "2008 Bark in the Park."

The cost is only $15 per person or $40 for a group of four. Get your registration in soon so that we can reserve your shirt in your preferred size. The mailing address is P.O. Box 5128, Fallon, N, 89407.

All dogs walking/running in the event are being given a great tennis ball/pull toy donated by Petsport USA. They are a big sponsor this year. Other sponsors include HFI/Nutrena; KHWG radio; CC Communications; Fallon Veterinary Clinic; Western Nevada Insurance Services; Town and Country Grooming; Lahontan Valley News; Curves for Women; Barnett Haden, EA; Fallon Star Press; Fallon Centennial; Fallon Floors; Kafoury, Armstrong & Co.; and Mark Hammond Insurance Agency Ð Farmers Insurance.

Vendors include Picture This!, which will take portraits of your dog and you for the 2009 Happy Endings Calendar. Your dog doesn't have to be a rescue; all pooches are invited. At Bark in the Park, the sitting fee will be $20.

Picture This! will also have another open session on July 19, when the sitting fee will be a 15-pound bag of dog or cat food, which they will donate to CAPS. At that session, you can bring dogs, cats, rats, snakes, goats or anything you consider your pet (not your little brother!).

Food vendors for the Bark in the Park include Lloyd's Ice Cream, Squeezy's Café and S&K Coffees. Syena Snowden, of The Energy Center, will lead us in a stretch/warm-up for the 5K run prior to the event.

Some other vendors include CAPS (with the ever-famous Kissing Booth); HFI; CC Communications; city of Fallon Animal Control; Mutts Etc.; Town and Country Grooming; Kathy's Kats, K-Nines and Kritters; Maggie's Playhouse (doggie daycare); Lahontan Animal Sanctuary and Rescue Foundation, along with three other rescue groups; and Curves, among many others.

Demonstrations include mdt/Agility Ability LLC (dog agility). You may also take your dog through the agility course with assistance from Lin Battaglia and her students - of which she is bringing several - to show you how easy working agility with your dog can be.

The main thing with this demonstration is to show you a great, easy way to give your dog's energy an outlet that doesn't drain you physically. Using their minds and bodies is the best way for dogs to exercise. They love it, and it builds their confidence in themselves and in you. Lin is an accomplished trainer who will help you make a great connection with your dog. Find out more about her at www.mdt-agilityability.com.

We will also have a pack-goat demonstration. Loretta Schmelz will show you what a wonderful world it is using goats as pack animals. NAS Fallon will be there with drug-sniffing dogs to do some demonstrations as well. They are very impressive with just how specifically trained and responsive they are to commands. I know I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that search!

We have added a great sound system guy, Steve Perry. You know him; he does the karaoke at the bowling alley on Friday nights. He will provide the sound, with roaming announcer Dee Gregory from KHWG keeping us on schedule for all the goings-on at the event.

Plan on having a wonderful time with your dog, who must be leashed, and CAPS!



- Jennifer Williamson, a

resident of Churchill County, is president of CAPS.