Charmaine Dotson leads her Shetland Sheepdog, also called a sheltie, Hunter, through a barrel course during the dog rodeo at the Humane Society of the Ohio Valley’s Dog Days in May event Saturday in Belpre. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

BELPRE – Dog lovers gathered in Belpre Saturday for the annual Dog Days in May event.

The Humane Society of the Ohio Valley (HSOV) hosted its annual Dog Days in May at Howes Grove Park in Belpre.

According to an HSOV Facebook post, vaccines and microchipping were offered at the event along with various pet-related vendors. There were also agility and obedience demonstrations and contests and Munchies food truck was at the event until 3 p.m.

The event was sponsored by Belpre Heights Church, according to church member Lisa Lane. She said the church has sponsored Dog Days for quite a few years and the purpose of the event is “to help anybody that has pets get their shots.”

She said Dog Days in May is open to “any dogs, from anywhere…whoever loves to bring their dogs to have their dogs taken care of.”

Stacy Mason, also a member of Belpre Heights Church, said that during the event the HSOV gave free DAPPV shots and Boxer’s Bed & Biscuits offered rabies vaccines for $15. She said pet owners were also offered microchipping for $20.

“We just want to pull the community together and have a fun afternoon,” Lane said.

Lane said the event accepted donations of money, food and supplies for the HSOV.

One of the contests that was held was a lookalike contest.

Baylee Dilling was at the Dog Days event with her mother, who works at Marietta pet boutique We Luv Pets, and participated in the lookalike contest with Nina Thorton’s chihuahua Betsy. She and Betsy wore identical sun glasses and Dilling’s blonde hair was a near match for Betsy’s coat. They won first place.

Another event held was a dog rodeo, where dogs competed in events like dog barrel racing, which according to therapy dog trainer Charmaine Dotson, is like horse barrel racing, but with dogs.

Dotson participated in the dog barrel racing with her rescued Shetland sheepdog, also called a sheltie, Hunter. She led him around barrels in a serpentine path, encouraging him to go faster at the end.

She said that Hunter had just started learning obedience training.

“I hope someday he’ll be a therapy dog,” she said.

Megan Miller and Jeremy Miller came to Dog Day in May with their nephew Ty Stanley and their Rhodesian Ridgeback/labrador retriever mix Thor and their Rottweiler/lab mix Max.

Stanley entered the lookalike contest with Thor and his tie-dyed tan and reddish-brown hoodie and Thor’s reddish coat propelled them to second place.

Megan Miller said they came to Dog Days in May “for the vaccines for the most part.”

Jeremy Miller said they also came, “for the boys to have fun too.”

Megan Miller said there were all kinds of games for Max and Thor to play and Jeremy Miller said there were all kinds of new smells for them, too.

He said one of the reasons they brought their dogs to the event was because it, “keeps them stimulated so they’re not bored.”

Lexi Felton brought her Australian Shepherd Jackson to get a shot. Tracy Moore, the volunteer coordinator at HSOV, gave Jackson his DAPPV vaccine.

Jackson looked a little nervous while he was getting his shot, but it was over quickly and he got back to enjoying hugs from Felton.

To learn more about HSOV and its upcoming events, go to https://www.hsov.org/.