DAWGs and cats

The second annual "It's a DAWG'S Day" Animal Awareness Event will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds indoor pavilion.

"We just started. Last year was the first one," said Douglas Animal Welfare Group president Cherie Owen. "This is a very large event for us. We have great hopes for it. It looks like it's going to be a really successful event."

Owen said only about 20 of their 90-member group are actively involved in the organization's events. But this year members have been trying to recruit area business employees to help out. The large number of vendors and activities planned for it have made it very labor intensive, and DAWG always welcomes new volunteers.

Sponsored by DAWG, the event features a silent auction, low-cost microchip/vaccination clinic provided by veterinarian Lesli Hewitt and a AVID Microchip pet identification clinic by veterinarian Linda Miner. Microchip and the registration with AVID is $30. Pet psychic Terri Jay and animal behavior specialist Adrienne Navarro will be at the event as well as, pet photography by M.K. Archer and pet and people chiropractor Mickey Doyal. There will be a caricature artist, games for owners and their pets, a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, refreshments and DAWG dog adoptions. In addition, there will be over 20 vendors with information and products for four- and two-legged friends. Well-mannered pets on leashes are welcomed.

New this year, the public is asked to help raise bail for the DAWG Pound as local celebrities and well-known residents will be incarcerated until they raise their bail to get out of jail at the fairgrounds.

All proceeds help dogs and cats at the Douglas County Animal Shelter in Gardnerville. The fairgrounds is located off Highway 395 south of Gardnerville on Pinenut Road.

DAWG also has monthly pet adoptions at Petco, on the third Saturday of every month. These adoptions are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. These events are very successful, said Diana Furness, coordinator of the Petco events and member of DAWG.

"We always have at least one adoption," said Furness.

The last adoption event was Sept. 16.

One 3-month-old puppy was adopted into a Gardnerville Ranchos home, and two other dogs, Emily and Chopper, had hope for a future home. The two dogs have been together since they were puppies, and are awaiting a "meet and greet" with the granddaughters of a Petco employee to determine whether or not they have a new home.

The organization does follow ups on all dogs that are adopted. DAWG is always hoping to match the dogs to the correct people and lifestyle, said Furness.

"We offer many things to help the adjustment take place. We have a behaviorist, training is available, food suggestions, and many other things that people don't normally think about," said Furness.

DAWG offers pet adoptions at Petco as well as the shelter. For more information, visit the DAWG Web site at www.dawgrescue.com or call 790-0030 or 267-7325.