Orange County Animal Services is inviting people to attend the shelter’s third annual Barktoberfest event to help match homeless pets with loving, forever homes. Taking place on Saturday, September 28 at Lake Eola from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., the event will showcase available animals from the shelter’s many rescue partners. Barktoberfest will also include many vendors from the pet community, as well as food trucks.
“We are so proud of our relationship with the rescue community and can count on our partners to help our shelter pets in need,” said Dil Luther, Division Manager of Orange County Animal Services. “Barktoberfest is our way of saying thank you to the rescue groups for their dedication by inviting them to bring their available animals to this event.”
Many of the pets at Barktoberfest will originally be from Orange County Animal Services. From January 1 through August 31 of this year, rescue partners have taken in 1,119 pets from the shelter.
“This event will be a joy for any pet lover in our community,” said Luther. “Last year’s Barktoberfest helped facilitate almost 50 adoptions. This year we’re striving to set a record of 75. Along with a variety of adoptable animals, there will be vendors at the event to aid pet owners with every need they may have, from boarding to training and even apparel.”
More than 25 vendors have currently registered to participate in Barktoberfest. The event will also feature the cuisine from eight local food trucks. Available animals at the event will include a variety of breeds such as Pugs, Shar Peis, Golden Retrievers and everything in between.
Barktoberfest is joining forces with Shampooch, a dog wash fundraiser hosted by Thornton Park salon Lambs Eat Ivy. The events will be taking place on the same day just blocks apart. Separating the two events will be the Animal Services’ mobile clinic, providing microchipping services, and the SPCA of Orlando’s mobile clinic, providing $5 rabies vaccinations.
Citizens can learn more about the event at www.ocfl.net/barktoberfest and register to attend on Animal Services’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/orangecountyanimalservices.
