Bark in the Park aims to raise adoption awareness about pups on euthanasia lists

Bark in the Park on Sept. 13 in North Park is more than just a fun event for pups and people.

It’s a real chance to help save animals’ lives.

The event, set for noon to 5 p.m. at the McCandless and Pine Ridge shelters, has a mission of getting dogs off overloaded euthanasia lists and into loving homes, said Cheyenne Pelligreno, a board member and application director for Bark About It Rescue.

“In overcrowded municipal shelters, like the one we partner with in Houston, dogs only have a short window to be adopted, reclaimed or rescued. The shelter is always full; therefore, the dogs are only given a certain amount of time before being listed for euthanasia,” Pelligreno said.

Now in its second year, Bark About It Rescue is a Pennsylvania foster-based, volunteer-run organization dedicated to saving dogs from euthanasia lists. Last year, the organization rescued and rehomed 270 dogs.

Admission to the event is $5 per person or $20 for a family of four or more, with the funds going toward helping to get these dogs to local people waiting to adopt.

“Bark in the Park is a community celebration filled with fun, furry friends and support for a great cause. This event brings together animal lovers, local businesses and rescue advocates to help us raise crucial funds for the dogs in our care,” said Pelligreno of New Sewickley Township, Beaver County.

Family-friendly activities covered by admission include making friendship bracelets, dog house decorating, yard games, face painting and glitter tattoos.

Children will be able to meet characters dressed as Disney’s Moana at 1 p.m. and Marvel’s Spider-Man at 2 p.m.

Activities for dogs include a group training class with Say It Once at noon, a duck pond, ball pit, dog craft and pet photos with Tails & Scales FURtography with TiffanyFlick, who will be volunteering at the event.

A few activities cost extra, such as tie-dyeing dog bandannas, pet readings with Joan’s Heart Connect and a BYO bouquet station.

Guests also can purchase items from Roaming Bean Coffee Truck, Big Lou’s Food Truck and various vendors. The event will include a basket auction and 50-50 raffle.

It’s important to raise awareness and money to get these dogs the help they need in a timely manner, Pelligreno said.

A dog is at risk once they reach 15 days in a shelter, according ot Pelligreno. Once these dogs are put on the “euthanasia list,” essentially the dog is scheduled to be put down the next day to make room for the constant stream of new arrivals, she said.

“These dogs are not ‘bad’ or unadoptable. Many are perfectly healthy, friendly pets and even puppies. The only reason they are at risk is because the shelter has run out of space,” she said.

Unlike private shelters or rescues that can manage intake, Pelligreno said, municipal shelters are open-intake facilities. By law, they are required to take in every animal brought to them, whether it’s a stray picked up by animal control, a dog surrendered by an owner or an injured animal found on the street.

“Because they cannot turn animals away, overcrowding becomes a daily reality, and euthanasia lists are the only tool they have to manage intake when there are far more animals than homes,” Pelligreno said.

She said one of their partners in a Houston shelter alone has a euthanasia list six days a week, often with 20-plus dogs at risk each day.

“By moving dogs here to Pennsylvania — where adoptive families and fosters are waiting — we are literally saving lives that would otherwise be lost due to overcrowding,” Pelligreno said.

Pelligreno and her husband have a dog named Kona they rescued more than four years ago.

“She is mostly staffy and Pomeranian but has some husky and rottweiler thrown in there, too. She’s the cutest little rescue pup, and she is our whole world,” Pelligreno said.

Visit linktr.ee/barkaboutit to purchase tickets for Bark in the Park and to view some of the dogs available for adoption.