Tails wagged, slobber fell, and smiles spread at the 11th annual Strutt Your Mutt Dog Walk and Canine Festival Saturday at the Richland County Fairgrounds.
Hundreds convened with their furry friends to not only fellowship with other dog enthusiasts and check out the various shows and performances, but also to show their support for the Humane Society of Richland County (HSRC), the host of the event.
The Strutt Your Mutt event is one of the major fundraisers for the HSRC. The proceeds benefit food, housing costs, and medical attention required by the animals housed at the humane society.
Each dog sheltered at the HSRC has been rescued from some sort of abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment, and the need for canine adopters is currently at a high.
Robert Long was among those at the festival who brought his lab/German shepherd mix, Max. He adopted him from the dog warden’s shelter in Mansfield in 2004. “I’ve always felt sorry for dogs and really like them. Max was the first one I saw at the shelter, so I took him.”
This was Long’s first time to attend Strutt Your Mutt. He appreciated the opportunity that was provided to donate to a good cause. “I asked for some help from a few of my friends and together we were able to raise $353 for the humane society,” he said.
Heidi Baltzly also enjoyed being a part of the cause. This out-of-county attendee mentioned that she attended largely because the proceeds benefit the humane society.
She attended the festival with her Rottweiler, Panzer. The pair participated in the dog costume contest and the best in show contest, earning first place in each.
“He’s been trained in obedience, so that’s probably what helped him win the best in show contest,” stated Baltzly.
Panzer is a part of the Youngstown All Breed Training Club and has won several obedience titles. He will partake in the Spooky Pooch Parade in October.
In addition to the shows, there was also a pet blessing, dog walk-a-thon, and Happy Tails pet parade, which saw participation from dog owners who adopted their pets from the HSRC.
The festival continues tomorrow with a 5K to kickoff Sunday’s activities. Prizes are awarded to the top three men and top three women. Online registration is available for $20. Runners participating in the 5K are encouraged to collect pledges. The person who raises the most money will be given a gift basket from PetSmart.
A second dog walk-a-thon and Happy Tails pet parade will be held in addition to a search and rescue demonstration performed by the Best Paws Forward Training Academy and an agility demonstration.
At 2 p.m., visitors can test their corn hole skills in the corn hole tournament. The registration fee is $30 per team.
The festival also features a face painting booth, dock diving by Buckeye Dock Dogs, a raffle, and rummage sale, for which donations are welcomed.
To find out more info or to donate, go to http://www.adoptourstrays.com/ or go to https://www.facebook.com/adoptourstrays.
“I’ve always felt sorry for dogs and really like them. Max was the first one I saw at the shelter, so I took him,” stated Robert Long.
