Doggies will be strutting their stuff in grand style this year from noon to 5 p.m. Oct 25 at the eighth annual Humane Society of St. Thomas Barktoberfest at a grand new location – the new Humane Care Campus on the Weymouth Rhymer Highway.
In honor of the soon-to-be-opened facility, Joe Aubain, Humane Society president, says this year’s celebration will be "the biggest and most ambitious yet."
That’s saying something. The previous contests have featured such things as the most bizarre outfits – from a Basset hound done up as a lobster to a Chihuahua in a sort of Frederick’s of Hollywood affair. Prizes will abound for the best kisser, best-dressed, best dog-and-owner dance, and best yodel and howl. The contests begin at 1:30 p.m.
But that’s just the dogs. This year it’s the dogs and the campus. Society board members will give tours of the campus throughout the afternoon. Kids will get to trek along a Haunted Bow-Wow trail, or play in the pumpkin patch. There’ll be games and pumpkin-decorating contests along with other Halloween-themed events.
The tours will feature the cutting-edge sound- and odor-contained kennels, where each dog will have complete privacy; dog play areas; a real cat house complete with window sills; dog runs; a dog-walking path where members can bring their own dogs; an on-campus animal-treatment center; and an area for the Police K-9 unit, a spiffy new flea market.
That is to say nothing of the iguana sanctuary, aviary and bunny hutch, dog-walking trails and cat cabana, and the Corinne E. Lockhart Education Center. The Lockhart Companies donated land that made the $5 million project possible.
The cost for building a modern shelter in the Caribbean is high – about $350 per square foot, according to the society newsletter.
Ground was broken for the new campus, directly across from Market Square East in June 2006. At the time, the opening was projected for 18 months — early 2008. Aubain said recently that the opening is growing closer, though he wouldn’t commit to a date. But, this time, he said the words with a confident smile.
The day is one of the Humane Society of St. Thomas’ biggest fundraisers — the other money-maker is the annual Doggie Ball in February. Registration for King and Queen of the Prom can be submitted for the contest that culminates at the ball.
