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Dogs, owners show a few tricks at Bark Fest

LaVerne Hopper of Middletown pets Teddy, a 10-month-old female border collie mix at the 13th annual Bark Fest fundraiser held Saturday, Sept. 26, at the new Butler County Animal Shelter in Hamilton.

Staff photo by Samantha Grier LaVerne Hopper of Middletown pets Teddy, a 10-month-old female border collie mix at the 13th annual Bark Fest fundraiser held Saturday, Sept. 26, at the new Butler County Animal Shelter in Hamilton.

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By Linda Ebbing, Staff Writer Updated 6:58 PM Saturday, September 26, 2009

Middletown resident Joanne Farley and her dog, Evey, showed off a few tricks at the 13th annual Bark Fest.

The event, held Saturday, Sept. 26, for the first time at the new shelter in Hamilton, featured a three-quarter mile dog walk, vendors and demonstrations by Unleashed Agility and the Middletown Dog Training Club and the Butler County Sheriff’s K-9 unit and provided information about adopting and taking care of pets.

“The more people know about the dogs and cats and how to act responsibly about theirs by getting them spayed and neutered, the less animals have to die,” Farney said.

She and Patty Huehn, who described the new shelter as “amazing,” passed out information about the Middletown Dog Training Club at the event and to show support for the nonprofit Animal Friends Humane Society.

“They do a lot of good taking in a lot of animals through the year,” Huehn said. “We have a responsibility to take care of the animals. We can’t help every one of one them, but can do our part.”

While voters approved a tax levy to construct the new shelter, the local humane society doesn’t receive tax dollars and relies on donations to cover operating expenses, said Director Meg Stephenson.

And while it looked like the organization would be a bit shy of its $25,000 goal for Saturday’s event, everything went well, Stephenson said.

“With about a dozen vendors and the other activities going on we are happy to be in our new place and to be able to host it in our new facility.”

The Butler County Animal Shelter has, among other features, 46 dog kennels, 51 cat condos and two operating rooms, Stephenson said.

Future events scheduled at the shelter include a Pet Blessing on Oct. 11 and Howlfest on Oct. 31.

To make a donation or for more information, call (513) 867-5727. The shelter is located at 1820 Princeton Road, Hamilton.

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