Bark in the Park set for Saturday

Gleason and Rooney, shown here with owner Joyce Ann Davis, are excited about this Saturday's fifth annual Bark in the Park, scheduled between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., at Okeena Park. [Click to enlarge]

This Saturday, area residents will have the opportunity to celebrate National Pet Week and help local homeless animals by attending the Dyersburg/Dyer County Humane Society's fifth annual Bark in the Park. The event, co-sponsored by Animal Care Hospital and Dyer County Animal Hospital, will take place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 2. Rain date has been set for May 16.

"Even if you don't have furry, four-legged doggy friends, plan to attend because there is something for everyone to enjoy," said Nina Bradford of the Humane Society.

Competitive retriever trainer Scott Greer will hold field trial exhibitions throughout the day. Greer, who has been competing and training retrievers for approximately 10 years, has trained numerous hunting retriever champions. During his career, he has competed in the 2002 and 2004 Great Outdoor games twice and qualified retrievers for the Crown Championship from 2005 through 2008. His sponsors include Eukanuba, Avery, Dogtra, and Bayer Animal Health. He currently owns a 32-run facility located in Bonicord.

Other events include: horseback rides for the children, a bake sale, a DJ, face painting, a dog-walk (like a cake walk with dog prizes), a Dalmatian jumping house, pet photography, games, drawings and give-a-ways.

Vendors will sell hamburgers and hot dogs, Italian ice and Bark in the Park T-shirts, and booths will be set up for Sparky and the Dyersburg Fire Department, the Dyersburg Police Department, the ambulance service, the Air-Evac Life Team helicopter, the National Guard, the Rescue Squad and more.