Bark in the Park one month away

It is that time of year to start marking your calendars for CAPS’ 2013 Bark in the Park, scheduled for May 4 at Churchill County Fairgrounds. We hope to make this year’s event bigger and better with new contests and dog and pet owner competitions. The day starts out with a 5K walk/run for both two- and four-legged competitors.

There will be pet supply vendors, food vendors and, hopefully, some vendors to help the two-legged competitors work out some of the knots they got from running or walking. The 5K walk/run is open to two- and four-legged participants. In fact, we encourage four-legged furry family members to bring their two-legged companions out for a brisk walk or healthy run.

Registration for the 5K is $15 for individuals and $40 for groups of four. Dogs walk or run for free but must be leashed. Paid participants will receive an event T-shirt, a walker or runner bib and a goodie bag. Please try to register before the event; if you plan to register on the day of the event, be aware that registration will close sharply at 8:45 a.m.

The 5K registration form is available via a link on our website (www.capsnv.org). You may also get a form at the shelter or our next Walmart Saturday. If you would like to solicit sponsorships for your walk or run forms, the link for the form is given at our website and as noted above. If you do receive sponsorships, you don’t have to pay the registration fee.

If you are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt shelter or rescue, we would love to have you participate in the day’s events. If you would like to participate in this year’s Bark in the Park as a vendor, the registration fee is only $25. If you are a food vendor and would like to participate in this year’s event, we would love to have you. More information (rules, really) and registration forms are available at our website and as noted above.

In other goings on, we’re holding our first photo shoot on Saturday at Flower Tree Nursery, weather permitting, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kim Lamb, photographer extraordinaire, will again be capturing that specialness that you see in your furry (or feathered or scaly) friend.

This year, instead of asking for dog or cat food, the fee is $20 for the first pet picture in the calendar and then $10 for each additional pet picture space (maximum $30). This fee entitles you to a free 2014 calendar (a $10 value). (The free-calendar offer will not be valid for photos taken at Bark in the Park.)

While you’re at Flower Tree for the photo shoot, please tell Susan and her staff “Thanks!” for again raffling off another tree, with all proceeds coming to CAPS. This spring it’s “Prairiefire,” a vibrant-pink crabapple tree valued at $79.99! Raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5. They can also be purchased at the shelter (when open) and our Walmart Saturdays.

Speaking of Walmart Saturdays, our next one is on April 20. Our most fabulous, four-legged volunteer, Ki the Kissing Pooch, will surely be there. We’ll also have our array of wares to sell: calendars, T-shirts (short- and long-sleeved), sweat shirts, hoodies, CAPS caps and tote bags. But, wait, there’s more!

In March we sold homemade baked goods, which must have been very good because they sold out fast. So, we’re going to do some more baking in hopes that we have the same results. As this column has noted before, like other small nonprofits, CAPS doesn’t have much financial wiggle room.

This week’s article was contributed by Teresa Summers, CAPS executive director, and Betty Duncan, a member of the CAPS board of directors.