Between a vacation and a conference, I am just getting caught up with my letters and e-mails, which means I have lots of pet-related happenings and other newsy tidbits to share with you.

Bark for Life returns to the former location of Six Wags Dog Park on Saturday, Aug. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m.  Click here to register. The $25 registration fee gets you and one pooch admission to participate in the walk, a bandana, a goodie bag and a paw reading.

The event, which will also include games, food, contests and music, raises money for the American Cancer Society.

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Apparently Aug. 26 is National Dog Day. Someone needs to break this news to three spoiled rotten pooches at my house who think that every day is National Dog Day.  This particular Thursday, however, is set aside to recognize the number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, to celebrate the faithful love of family dogs, and honor the brave dogs that risk their lives to save others.

Click here for all the details and if you plan to honor this occasion, please post a comment and share.

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Everyone thinks they have the world’s cutest dog or cat. They are wrong, of course, because I have the cutest critters, but I allow others to continue in their delusion.  If you think I am delusional (you would not be the first) and you want to prove me wrong, you can enter your adorable pooch in the Cutest Pet Photo Contest from American Express Gift Cards for a chance to win gift cards up to $2,000.

Money is great, but there are bragging rights here, which are way more important.

Click here for details. The deadline to enter is Sept. 1 and if you send in an entry, e-mail the photo to pets@roanoke.com too and I’ll put it here on the blog.

If your magnificent mutt or fantastic feline is chosen as a finalist, we will rally votes to help you win.

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Taj MaPaw, the doggy daycare/grooming/boarding business located at 3112 Franklin Road in Roanoke, is having a masquerade ball on Sept. 3 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded to the cutest, largest, smallest and “most unrecognizable,” which I believe means if you can pass your dog off as a hippopotamus or a coffee table or a football player, you win.

If your dog just looks like, you know, a dog, I’m not liking you chances.

But there will be free hot dogs and drinks available so even if your dog’s costume fools no one, you’re still fed and happy and your dog got to play dress up, so you win.

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Finally, if you feel up to a road trip, head north to Middleton, Va., on Sept. 18 to 26 for the National Sheepdog Competition.

Think border collies and other such herding dogs, not the Old English dogs with the long bangs.

This is a major dog sporting competition where you can watch skilled dogs do what they were born and bred to do, which is bend sheep to their iron will.  I only wish I could do that with my cat.

Click here for more details.