Dogs have their day at Lions Club event

Dog owners are invited to bring their pooches and families to the Columbia County Amphitheater on Saturday for a scenic walk, games, socializing and shopping.

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The Evans Lions Club is holding its third annual Dog Walk and Family Fun Festival from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the amphitheater and Memorial Gardens behind the county library.

The fundraiser benefits Leader Dogs for the Blind and the Columbia County Humane Society, which also is a host of the event.

The cost to register a dog for the walk is $10. There will be organized and guided walks around the pond, said Dan Bernhardt, an event organizer and the Lions Club secretary.

"We'll have the guided tour on the pond and also dogs can just kind of wander around in the vendor mall area and other places," Bernhardt said.

The event also will feature canine demonstrations from area dog trainers, including the Jae-Mar-S Academy of Dog Obedience; contests, including dog T-shirt races; the Columbia County Sheriff's Office ID-A-Child program; and vendors and food concessions.

"We're going to have our usual contests for the tallest and shortest dog, oldest and youngest," Bernhardt said.

The event also features family entertainment, including a performance by the Wesley United Methodist Church Praise Band.

Children can enjoy face painting and an inflatable playpen.

"It is pretty much a free event," Bernhardt said.

The event raised about $3,500 in 2008. This year, the event has been expanded to include the Humane Society as a partner and to add the family festival events.

For information, call Bernhardt at (706) 210-3718 or Humane Society President Donna Evans at (706) 860-5020.