Bark-A-Rama to offer family fun, dog-focused activities

A fun morning of family and puppy dog focused activities is scheduled for 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, at Bark-A-Rama on the downtown Center square.

Registration for participating dogs is $30 while their attending humans are free. Online registration is available at: happytailstexas.org, and click on the “register here” button under upcoming events.

“This is a family fun event with proceeds going towards the effort to create an animal shelter, pet adoption program and a low income Spay It Forward spay and neuter program,” according to Stephanie Elswick, president of the new local nonprofit organization, Happy Tails Adoption Center/Animal Shelter of Shelby County.

The event will include face painting for kids, a Wag N’ Walk dog walk around the inner parking lot at the historic 1885 Shelby County Courthouse, balloon shapes provided by Malcolm Monroe, Puppy Picasso painting by the dogs of attendees, Lou Lou’s Shaved Ice, pup cup treats for dogs, and paw print ornament making, she said.

There will also be a costume contest for the pups and a nail clipping service provided for guest canines, she said.  All activities are free with donations encouraged while balloon animal shapes provided free, courtesy of Malcolm the Magnificent.

Two raffles will be held at the event with tickets sold on May 13. One will be for a gift basket valued at more than $300 with items donated by local businesses and a separate raffle for a chance to win a tattoo from 2nd Layer Tattoo valued at $150.

Raffle tickets for each giveaway are $5 each or six for $20 and will be available at the event.

Bark-A-Rama is a fundraiser for the newly organized effort to bring Center and Shelby County an animal shelter, pet adoption program and a low income spay and neuter program being promoted by Happy Tails Adoption Center/Animal Shelter of Shelby County, Elswick said.

Happy Tails does not currently have a shelter or adoption program in place, but its board of directors has the long time goal of establishing those, Elswick said.

“We have been pleasantly surprised at the positive response from the public and local businesses,” she said. Bark-A-Rama is made possible by more than 30 sponsors.

“We want the public to know that we are at least three years away from a completed shelter,” Elswick said. “Therefore, we cannot take in animals.”

 Happy Tails’ low income Spay it Forward should kick off this summer.

The group also has an active Facebook page and a website being developed, which can be found at happytailstexas.org.

Happy Tails’ fundraising chairman, Mike Elswick, said the most immediate goal after establishing Spay It Forward, will be in raising in the range of $20,000-plus to retain an architectural firm with expertise in the field of designing working animal shelters.

“The needs assessment and plans provided by this expertise will be used to guide the Happy Tails board and the community on the best way to move forward and provide a solid estimate of costs,” he said. “Then, the huge task of raising funds for the facility would be kicked off in earnest.”

“The architect’s renderings, needs assessment and detailed plans would be used to provide a clear understanding of what is needed to serve a community the size of Shelby County with a viable, functioning, first-class animal shelter,” Mike Elswick said.

 “This is a marathon effort, not a quick-turn sprint,” he said. The true measure of our success will continue to be from community support and buy-in from Shelby County residents and businesses,” he said.

Tax deductible donations may be made to: Happy Tails Adoption Center, P.O. Box 1049, Center TX 75935. The organization will soon be able to accept online donations.

If you go...

WHAT: Bark-A-Rama, Wag N’ Walk family fun event

WHEN: 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., Saturday, May 13

WHERE: On the inner square parking area and grounds around the historic 1885 Shelby County Courthouse in downtown

WHO: Open to the public with canines on leashes encouraged to participate

WHY: To benefit Happy Tails Adoption Center/Animal Shelter of Shelby County – an effort to create an animal shelter for the county.

COST: Attendance is free for people; dog walk participation is $30 per dog. To register in advance please visit: happytailstexas.org. (please have pup’s rabies tag number available when registering). Registration will also be available at the event.