The Highland County Dog Pound Volunteer Program’s biggest fundraiser of the year is happening next weekend, and all the money it brings in is going to the dogs and the volunteer program that helps find them homes.
Set for Saturday, Oct. 10, the annual Barktoberfest will once again be held at TSC in Hillsboro from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
There will be a donation lunch, a pet costume contest with prizes, raffles, baked goods for sale, and dog themed gift/craft items available for purchase. There will also be activities for kids including a bouncy house, pony rides, face painting, and games.
According to organizers, among the donated items that will be raffled are African décor, limited edition Longaberger baskets, and a limited edition, silver 2014 Epiphone Thunderbird IV electric bass guitar.
Organizers say Homer the Dog plans to attend the event as well. He’s the one-eyed cutie adopted by Amy Sharp Schneider a couple years ago. Homer makes appearances at local events and businesses, and he even has his own Facebook page.
While county dollars cover the operational costs of the dog pound, the volunteer program receives support only from the community. Volunteers with the program work with the pound to find the dogs their homes, come in a time or two a week to clean kennels, walk dogs, take pictures and post them to Facebook and Petfinder, contact rescue groups, transport dogs to rescues, and even foster dogs.
One hundred percent of the proceeds from Barktoberfest support the Highland County Dog Pound Volunteer Program and are used for things like emergency vetting for sick or injured dogs, gas to transport dogs to life saving rescues, collars dogs must have to go out to rescue, and vaccines.
For more information about the volunteer program or to contact a volunteer, go to the Highland County Dog Pound Volunteer Program Facebook page.
Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.
