The seventh annual Woofstock Dog Festival is coming up, so circle your calendar for Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the dog party of the early summer.

This year the festival, which traditionally takes place throughout Elmwood Park, will be located in the upper part of the park near the public library at the corner of Elm and Jefferson.

Nice location, according to this photo I shamelessly lifted from the event’s Facebook page.

The festival offers a variety of entertainment for families, including music, games, contests and food, as well as local vendors selling doggy-related goodies.

Among the many attendees will be representatives of local services for pets, including rescue groups. If you want to bring a donation to help out homeless pets, here’s a list.

It’s a great opportunity to get your well-behaved pooch out for some fresh air and friendly socialization.

Tickets are $5 (cash only) at the gate.

Low-income families now have another place to get quality veterinary care for pets.

Angels of Assisi, the no-kill shelter in downtown Roanoke, has been offering low-cost spay and neuter services for more than 10 years. Now the clinic is expanding its range of services to include more affordable medical treatments for sick critters.

In addition to wellness and dental cleaning, the vet staff will offer immediate and ongoing treatment of ear, eye and skin conditions as well as care for urinary and respiratory infections. Preventative treatments, such as heartworm tests and treatments will also be offered, as well as minor surgical procedures, diagnostics and prescriptions.

Appointments can be made by calling 344-8707 or emailing angels@angelsofassisi.org.

Two things mark the official end of winter for me: The opening of the outdoor pool at my fitness center (tomorrow!) and the opening of the baseball season.

Few things are more summer-like than spending an afternoon or evening at the ball park, and just so you know, you can share that experience with your best doggy friend on Sundays this season.

Every Salem Red Sox Sunday home game at LewisGale Field will feature Bark in the Park. With the purchase of a $5 Pooch Pass you can take your pup out to the ball park.

The schedule for Sunday home games is:

• May 19 at 4:05 p.m.
• June 2 at 4:05 p.m.
• June 16 at 4:05 p.m.
• July 14 at 4:05 p.m.
• July 28 at 7:05 p.m.
• Aug. 18 at 4:05 p.m.
• Sept. 1 at 4:05 p.m.

AND….drum roll please…save the date of Sunday, June 30 for the Dog Days of Summer, a fundraiser for the Roanoke Valley SPCA. The gates will open at 3 p.m. for a pregame pooch parade. Line up begins at 3:30 p.m. for the parade and the first pitch is thrown at 4:05.

Volunteers for the RVSPCA will also be in the parking lot willing to scrub your pup clean for a small donation.

Remember that your well-mannered, crowd-friendly dog has to be on a leash and you should carry proof of his or her current rabies vaccine.

The Virginia Veterinary Medical Association announced that Courtney Wiegard, D.V.M., has received the 2013 Recent Graduate Leadership award in recognition of her contributions to the profession of veterinary medicine.

Wiegard was presented with this prestigious award at the 2013 Virginia Veterinary Conference on March 1 at The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center.

Wiegard, who graduated from Virginia Tech’s vet school, joined  Vinton Veterinary Hospital in Vinton, Va. in June 2005 and was the driving force behing the Biggest Loser campaign at the clinic, which raised awareness about pet obesity. Wiegard alos helps raise money for the Good Samaritan Fund at Vinton Veterinary Hospital. Additionally, she is an instructor of two courses at Roanoke Memorial Hospital: one for expectant parents about integrating their newborns into homes with pets, and one teaching proper techniques for CPR for animals.

Congratulations to Dr. Wiegard.

REBECCA BARNETT | The Roanoke Times;Roanoke Kennel Club members cheer during the Westminster Kennel Club dog show at Lucky Dog Pub and Deli in Cloverdale on Tuesday night. Their hero, Peyton, won best of breed and placed third for the second year in a row in the sporting group, which represents 30 breeds of dog.

Alas, Peyton, the hometown favorite to win the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last night, came up just short of the coveted prize.

The gorgeous spaniel, bred by a couple that lives just outside of Vinton, did take third in the sporting group and, I think it’s safe to say, first in the hearts of the patrons of the Lucky Dog Pub last night.

And my living room, too, where my family was cheering him on.

Click here to read Liana Bayne’s story about the party in Peyton’s honor as he competed last night.

In case you missed it, a German wirehaired pointer named Oakley took the top spot in the sporting group, but he was no match for Banana Joe, an affenpinscher, who was named top dog last night.

Congratulations to Banana Joe, Oakley and the other five finalists for Best in Show and, of course, congratulations to Peyton for a strong finish.

I usually refrain from sharing internet memes here because it’s nearly impossible to attribute them to the original creator. However, since this is, by far, the most accurate internet meme I have ever seen, it simply must be shared.

Click this link to read reporter Chase Purdy’s story about Carol Gilbert and her dog Moki, who she is training to be a cadaver dog. (Photo by Kyle Green)

It’s a new year so many of us have dusted off our sneakers in an effort to burn off the holiday binges and fight off the winter blues. If you happen to be a goal-oriented type, here’s a run you can start training for that will help shelter pets here in Roanoke.

The Roanoke Valley SPCA will hold its first annual Tail Chaser 5K…Running for Their Lives on March 30. The event will begin at Roanoke’s Wasena Park to River’s Edge and back and it will be timed.

If you are like me and can’t run (my bionic knee apparently lacks the super powers I had hoped it would contain) the One Mile Black Dog Salvage Walk will stroll from Wasena Park to Vic Thomas Park and back.

Friendly, leashed canine companions can accompany you (proof of vaccinations will be required at check in.)

Here are more details:

• Run begins at 9 a.m. (on-site registration opens at 7:30 a.m.)
• Dog Walk begins at 10 a.m.
• Registration is required to participate in the Tail Chaser 5K &/or 1 Mile Black Dog Salvage Dog Walk
• Pre-registration fee – Tail Chaser 5K – $20 (runner), $5 canine companion (runner); 1 Mile Black Dog Salvage Dog Walk – $20 (walker),
  $5 canine companion (walker)
• Day-Of registration fee – Tail Chaser 5K – $30 (runner), $5 canine companion (runner); 1 Mile Black Dog Salvage Dog Walk – $30 (walker),
  canine companion $5 (walker).
• Online pre-registration closes at 6 p.m. on March 27.
• Prizes and plaques wil be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place overall runners (both male & female.)
• T-shirts will be guaranteed to the first 100 runners/walkers to register before March 1.
• Tail Chaser 5K bandanas guaranteed to the first 100 dogs registered.

To register, click this link right here. 

Tis the season to be baking, fa la la la la la la la.

I have to bake cookies for people this week, so I thought I might bake a batch of treats for my dogs, too.

While I was trolling around on Paula Deen’s website (just roll me in butter and deep fry me in mayonnaise, y’all) I found this simple recipe for canine peanut butter cookies. I admit I find it most appealing because A. I have all the ingredients without making a stop at Kroger and B. I am relatively sure I can tell the difference between these and the ones I bake for people.

Not that I am admitting to any problems like that in the past, mind you.

Here’s the recipe or you can just click the link above:

BODEEN’S PEANUT BUTTER DOG BISCUITS

Servings: varies
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 40 min
Difficulty: Easy

Directions:

Missy, a dog we lost to cancer in 2007.

The American Cancer Society in Roanoke is barking for life once again.

The group is holding an interest meeting for volunteers to help organize the paw-friendly cancer fundraiser at its office (2840 Electric Road, Roanoke) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

“If you love dogs and want to see an end to cancer please come out and see what we are all about,” the news release said.  I don’t know about you, but I really love dogs almost more than I really hate cancer.

To RSVP, please call 774-2716 or email julie.terrell@cancer.org by 5 pm.  tomorrow.