New River Valley pet lovers, mark you calendars: The Hampton Inn Christiansburg/Blacksburg is hosting its second annual Wags for Waffles from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 15.

“The goal of our event is to collect donations for the local shelters in exchange for dog washes, food sales and free waffles just for showing up,” Jocelyn Dugan, sales coordinator for the hotel, wrote in an email news release.

Dugan wrote that last  year the event raised over $300 for the Humane Society of Montgomery County. This year’s event will feature returning vendors Humana, HSMC, MountainView Humane and Blissfully Balanced will donate 10 minute massages in exchange for pet supplies.

NRV Varmints Pet Sitting will donate a raffle prize and Dugan said more vendors will be added later.

So yeah, get a waffle, help out pets. Sounds like a fun day to me. I will post more details as the date draws closer.

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.

PetEx 2013 happens this Saturday and Sunday and will again feature a conglomeration of critters and people who love critters.

(This photo, by the way, is a rare moment when all my critters were peacefully co-existing in the same room. Of course, they were almost all asleep, which contributed to the peace, but I take what I can get.)

What will you find at PetEx 2013, you ask? Well, it will feature:

• Free demonstrations and educational workshops to help you and your pet
• Vendors to serve the needs of you and your pet
• Contests and prizes
• Pet-themed entertainment
• Ask-The-Expert seminars and guest speakers (click here for the schedule)
• Critter Cafe

Pets are welcome to bring their well-behaved pet parents as long as the pet parent stays on the proper end of his or her leash or chauffeurs the pet carrier in a safe manner.

For ticket information, click this link right here.

The RVSPCA is trying to reach a big goal today and tomorrow: Find good homes for 50 percent of its adoptable pets for 50 percent off the normal adoption fee.

Is it Adoption Impossible? Or can this mission indeed be possible?

You can visit with kitties and dogs in search of loving families at PetSmart at Valley View this weekend from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

To see the gallery of pets available for adoption, including Harris who is pictured here, click this link right here.

Until a couple of weeks ago, I had no idea there was such a thing as  a cat circus. Or a cat rock band.

And that this wonderful bit of magic tours the country and will be stopping here in Roanoke.

Here’s a link to my story about the upcoming show, including dates and ticket information, that ran in yesterday’s Inside Out section.

Let me know if you plan to attend any of the shows and if you do, please let me know what you think. Just from what I learned from Samantha Martin, the ringmaster and band leader, I think it will be a hoot.

Part of the proceeds from the shows will benefit Angels of Assisi, which will also have adoptable kitties on site if you are interested in adding a (or another) critter to your family,

Saturday was the first annaul Tail Chaser 5K and Black Dog Salvage 1-mile Dog Walk, a fundraiser for the Roanoke Valley SPCA, and as a participant, I can confidently say the event was a blast.

Click here to read Duncan Adams’ story about the event from yesterday’s newspaper.

Phil and Melissa Moo before the Black Dog Salvage 1-Mile Dog Walk on Saturday.

There were hundreds of people and pooches out to enjoy a crisp, cool spring morning in Wasena Park. My husband, Phil, and I, along with our greyhound Melissa Moo, arrived shortly before 9 a.m., in time to see the start of the 5K down the greenway.

We had to wait until 10 a.m. for the walk, the event we registered for, to begin, but it was such a great day and there were so many nice folks and sweet dogs to meet that the hour flew by. It was great to see people we know, including neighbors on our cul-de-sac that came out to run the 5K and walk with their basset hound, Stella, in the walk.

More than an hour on her feet is a lot for a greyhound, a dog that is used to sprinting very fast for a few minutes each day and spending the rest of her time crashed on the sofa.

When the walk started, it must have reminded Melissa of the starting gate at the greyhound race track, because she was eager to pass the other dogs. But that burst of energy didn’t last long, and I could tell she was getting weary at the halfway point.

We had settled into a nice pace, but right at the end, Stella, the short-legged, long-eared hound and her peppy walker, our neighbor’s daughter, beat Melissa and me to the finish line.

A greyhound, smoked in a foot race by a basset hound. Loss of cul-de-sac cred. (Insert smiley face here. Way to go Stella!)

It was really an awesome event and I look forward to next year. Maybe by then, Phil and I will be able to walk/jog the 5K. But maybe not with Melissa.

You have two opportunities this week to support Angels of Assisi at family-friendly events.

Angels will host a kids night this Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the shelter, 415 Campbell Ave. in downtown Roanoke. The event will kick off Prevention of Cruelty to Animals month (April).

The evening will feature story time, a tour and visit with the animals, snacks and a visit from Botetourt Animal Control officers.

Then on Saturday, Angels will be on the move at East Gate Church of the Nazarene’s Easter Egg Hunt.

The church is located at 2002 East Gate Ave. in Roanoke and the event takes place from 10 a.m. to noon.

The shelter will bring dogs and bunnies that are available for adoption, and volunteers will be happy to collect donations of Purina pet food.

In addition to the adoption event and pet food drive, there will be hidden eggs for the hunting, face painting, games including three-legged and gunny sack races, and free hot dogs.

Here’s yet another chance to take your fur kids out for photo with Santa.

Valley View mall will host Pet Photo Night with Santa Paws on Sunday, Dec. 9 from 6 to 9 p.m.

The photos will take place at the mall’s Santa set in the center court of the mall. All pets need to be in a carrier or on a leash prior to posing with Kris Kringle.

For more information, vist this website right here.

FYI for all you Tuesday fans:

Former Capt. Luis Carlos Montalvan and his service dog, Tuesday, were scheduled to appear at PetEx tomorrow, but that appearance has been canceled due to unexpected travel delays.

Montalvan is the author of the book “Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him”, a New York Times bestseller about how a service dog can make the transition to civilian life better for returning veterans suffering from sever injuries and post traumatic stress disorder.

Lots of pet happenings, folks.

Here’s a round-up of stuff to do with for your pet:

The PetEx happens in two weeks at the Roanoke Civic Center. This is two days of nothing but furry-related information and merchandise for lovers of dogs, cats, horses, bunnies, chickens, reptiles and even llamas.

You can bring your well-mannered, friendly leashed pooch with you to try the “My Dog Can Do That!” agility course on Sunday, April 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hear a speech from Luis Carlos Montalvan and his dog Tuesday (OK, Montalvan is likely the one to do most of the talking.) He is an Iraq veteran and the author of the bestselling book “Until Tuesday.” He will be speaking on Saturday from noon to 12:30 p.m. and again from 3 to 3:30 p.m.

Miriam Fields-Babineau might be able to help you determine if your pet has the “it factor” to become an animal star. She will be at the expo from noon to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.  And animal medium Karen Wrigley will advise folks on how to develop a closer bond with their pets on Sunday from 1 to 1:30 p.m.

There’s lots of other activities going on both days. For a full schedule and ticket info, click right here.

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Angels of Assisi will be hosting a rabies clinic at Southern States in Cloverdale on Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Southern States is a very pet-friendly store and is located at 1796 Lee Highway.

Leashed dogs and cats in carriers can get a life-saving vaccine for only $10. Three-year vaccines are also available for those who have a current vaccine certificate.

You all know what a soap box I get on about rabies vaccines. So let me step right up on my soap box and say to all procrastinators,  ”JUSSSSSST DOOOOOOO IIIIIIIIIIT!” It could save your pet’s life and you can’t beat the price for such an important vaccine.

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On May 12 you can bowl for cats.

Barn Cat Buddies is hosting a fundraiser at AMF Hilltop Lanes at 5918 Williamson Road from 1 to 4 p.m. Shoes and three games will cost $20. There will also be a silent auction, all benefiting kitties looking for a employment as environment-friendly rodent deterrent specialists in agricultural and industrial businesses.