Bark in the Park set for Saturday

HURRICANE -- Bark at the Park offers a day of demonstrations, instruction and play for canines and their owners while raising funds for a new animal relief center in Putnam County.

Registration for the event, which features dogs and people, begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at the new large shelter at Valley Park, according to center spokesperson Karen Haynes.

Events include a K-9 demonstration by Putnam County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Shane Shamblin at 10 a.m. and a demonstration and discussion by Ken Alexander, founder of DeCoverly Kennels in Pennsylvania, and his English Setter at 11 a.m.

"Alexander has been featured on the Sportsman Channel, American Gun Dog Magazine, and he travels all over the United States," Haynes said. "We're very lucky to have him coming here."

Connie Blake will be providing agility demonstrations throughout the day while Ed Conner of Conner Photography will have a booth.

Putnam Parks and Recreation are donating the use of the shelter facility, local Girl Scouts will be providing dog washing services, students from the Winfield Honor Society will be volunteering where needed, as well as other donations made by the AEP Amos Plant, Bill and Susan Smith and Old Colony.

All proceeds received from this event will go toward the Putnam Animal Relief Center Building Fund. Though this is a free event, the first 100 to register and pay a $10 donation will receive a free T-shirt and bandana.

About $80,000 has been raised so far for the proposed 12,000 square-foot facility. Haynes declined to say how much the facility would cost. The proposed site for the facility has just undergone its final survey stages, according to Haynes. More fundraising projects are scheduled through the summer.

For more information, contact Haynes at (304) 757-7584 or Putnam County Parks and Recreation at (304) 562-0518.