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Bark Fest scratches out good time for people, animals

Shayne, 10, and Chelsea Rice, 17, of Fairfield feed their newly adopted Newfoundland mix, Bear, at the the 13th annual Bark Fest fundraiser at the new Butler County Animal Shelter on Saturday, Sept. 26

Staff photo by Samantha Grier Shayne, 10, and Chelsea Rice, 17, of Fairfield feed their newly adopted Newfoundland mix, Bear, at the the 13th annual Bark Fest fundraiser at the new Butler County Animal Shelter on Saturday, Sept. 26

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By Linda Ebbing, Staff Writer Updated 7:00 PM Saturday, September 26, 2009

HAMILTON — Eleven-year-old Gage Spenny has set his sites on volunteering for the Animal Friends Humane Society when he gets older, to “help find homes for all the animals.”

The Hamilton boy showed his support for the organization by attending the 13th annual Bark Fest on Saturday, Sept. 26, held for the first time at the new shelter on Princeton Road.

The event 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.

Gage said his favorite thing about Bark Fest, was “everything.” His sister, Hannah Spenny, said she “liked the puppies” and bought some treats for her dog at home. She and her brother came to Bark Fest with their neighbor, Veronica Harris, a shelter volunteer.

“They got to see a puppy get adopted,” Harris said. That and the other activities “gave them the opportunity to she what happens when the whole community chips in.”

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.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2158 or lebbing@coxohio.com.

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