Is there anything more enjoyable than seeing a dog walking or running in the park – tongue hanging out without a care in the world? How about hundreds of dogs (and owners) in Halloween costumes at the park? That’s what participants in Humane Society of West Michigan’s (HSWM) 5th Annual Bark in the Dark extravaganza at Riverside Park will witness on Saturday, October 7 at 6:30 p.m. 

Hosted by HSWM, Bark in the Dark is an annual fundraising 5K & 1 Mile fun run/walk supporting animals awaiting their forever families. This fun-filled event, perfect for the whole family – but especially those furry family members – will feature a photo booth, face painting, and balloon animals before the run/walk from 5:00pm – 6:30pm. The run/walk begins at 6:30pm and will be followed by music, complimentary snacks, and a beer tent!

As more people take their dogs outside to enjoy the summer weather, Humane Society of West Michigan (HSWM) is launching its “Always Ask” campaign, sharing safety advice for interacting with dogs. More warm and sunny days means more dogs on the streets, and HSWM believes it’s important that the community knows how to approach dogs to protect themselves and the animals.

“The goal of this campaign is to make a habit of respecting the animal’s needs over our own,” said Trudy Jeffers, Executive Director at HSWM. “Animals, especially dogs, have boundaries just like humans and simply need their space. They will let you know if they don’t want to interact by giving basic cues.”

HSWM provides the following tips when meeting a dog:

St. Peter’s by-the-lake invites the community to a FREE Breakfast on the 1st Saturday of the month.

Delight your family with pancakes, sausage, 2 types of eggs and beverages this Saturday, June 3 from 9:00am through 11:00am. Visit St. Peter’s located at 8435 Old Channel Trail in Montague, Michigan 49437.

Call: (231)893-2425 for more information.