If you own a pooch and have no plans this Sunday, head to Queen's Park for Doggy Fun Day.
The fundraising event, now in its 15th year, is organized by the Volunteer Education & Assistance Team for Animals (VEATA). It all started when VEATA president Cheryl Rogers was working at the Humane Society and decided to take the adoptive dogs to the park.
"It kind of just grew from there," she said.
Due to attendance numbers on the rise over the last few years, Rogers is expecting between 200 and 300 canines.
"There's just so much to do. We have an egg and spoon race, where you hold the egg and spoon in one hand and the leash in the other. There's even a seven-legged race, but don't worry, only human legs get tied."
The big attraction every year is the "world famous" bobbing for wieners competition, where little pieces of meat are put in buckets of water. Dogs are put in heats and compete to get to the finals.
One of the most bizarre competitions Rogers has judged is the "pet-owner look alike."
"You wouldn't believe it, but sometimes the pet and the owner do look similar. Sometimes you go, 'Oh yes, I can see it.'"
The only non-dog challenge is "Super Duper Pooper Scooper," which asks owners to pick up the dirty deed in a given amount of time. One event called "musical tires" got cancelled a few years back because "it got a little too competitive on the human part."
Other highlights include birthday cake made of liver and dog dancing. Information booths will also be on site to promote other animal charities.
Rogers said since 1999, no injuries among pets have been reported, minus a few barks here and there. "St. John's Ambulance will be here, but the only thing they've ever had to deal with was a bee sting."
She added breeds of all kinds make an appearance.
"You have your mutts, your labs, pugs, beagles ... the first year we did this, we had this lovely English bull-dog."
Doggy Fun Day runs between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. There is no admission fee, but owners are asked to have their furry friends on leashes.
