Bark for Life (with gallery)

A Bark for Life fundraiser for the Hartselle Relay for Life brought these dog owners and their pets to Sparkman Park on Saturday morning. | Clif Knight

Family pets do their part to support Relay for Life

Hartselle’s Relay for Life organization can point to a variety of fundraisers that have been used to generate support for the drive to find a cure for cancer. But a Bark for Life? Really!

Such an event was held in Sparkman Park on Saturday for the first time. And the participants could not have been happier. The dog owners were thrilled to show off their pets and the dogs seemed to lap up all of the attention.

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“We have about 20 dogs and their owners participating,” said Beth Tutwiler, project coordinator. “For a first year, I’m very pleased. The weather is very nice and the dogs are well behaved.”

The dogs were treated to a dog bone hunt and a wiener-bobbing contest. They were also judged for “smallest” and “largest.” Sara Adams’ “Penny” won the “Smallest Dog” award and Sara Caitlin Dees’ “Lucy” walked away with the “Largest Dog” award. Dees also received an award for collecting the most money – $100 – for Relay for Life.

Troop 60 and 311 Girl Scouts volunteered to assist with the event.

A highlight of the event was a Morgan County Sheriff’s K-9 Unit demonstration presented by Deputies Charles Porter and Brian Fulford and K-9 German Shepherd Keyna.

A dual purpose track dog, Keyna sniffed out a shotgun shell and a set of keys that had been hidden in the park and also demonstrated her ability to chase down a fleeing subject on command from her handler.

Deputy Porter said Kenya is one of five K-9 dogs used by the sheriff’s office. She was purchased from Germany and was used in a search for a Priceville bank robber last week.