The time has arrived to pre-register for Saturday’s 7^th Annual Downtown Dog Walk.  Registration will be Thursday, August 2nd and Friday August 3rd from 11:00AM-7:00PM at the Adoption Center located at 256 Industrial Park Drive in Waynesville.  For team registration, only one member needs to attend. Registration fee is $15 per walker.  Tee shirts are available for $15 or are free with the first $15 donation collected by the walker.

 Pledges and donations will be accepted these days as well.

“People who cannot attend pre-registration will be able to sign up on Saturday at 9:00am at the County Court House,” said Doyle Teague, Dog Walk coordinator.

 Children under 10 do not require a registration fee but an adult must accompany children during the walk.

There will be prizes for 1^st and 2^nd place teams, individual and youth categories that collect the most money in pledges and donations for Sarge’s.  Local merchants and Bocelli’s Italian Eatery have generously donated gift certificates and merchandise for these prizes. Laura and John Wooley, formerly of Smoky Mountain Logos, donated Sarge monogrammed tote bags to hold the prizes. 

The walk is a short one beginning at the County Court House on Main Street.  The route continues to Depot, Montgomery and Church Streets and onto Main Street back to the Court House. 

Bowls of water for the dogs and bottled water, courtesy of the Smoky Mountain Sub Shop, will be available at water stations along the route at Carolina Readiness Supply on Montgomery Street, the steps at the Gateway Club on Church Street and at the corner of Miller and Main Street near the metal sculptures.

The Waynesville Police Department will control traffic on Main Street for the last leg of the walk but traffic will continue through town following the walkers’ return to the Court House.  “Main Street through Waynesville is Highway 276 and a major route to Brevard and beyond,” said Lt. Brian Beck.  “It’s necessary to apply for approval from the NC DOT to close that route even for such a short period of time.”

“Immediately following the Dog Walk, the real fun begins, in my opinion,” said Jeanne Naber, emcee. “I love the dog contests!  We have about 10 people for each contest and each winner gets a very nice prize.  Kids and dogs always make for a fun day.  It’s really great to watch everyone and their ‘best friends’ having a good time, especially the kids.  This year dogs will again compete for Best Tail Wagger, Most Talented or Best Trick , Best Dressed and Best Owner/Dog Look Alike.”

Contest judges will be Eddie Foxx of the Eddie Foxx Morning Show on 99KissCountry radio and Julia Freeman, Executive Director of Reach of Haywood County Inc. and she is a member of the Town of Waynesville Board of Aldermen.

“My husband and I have been foster parents for several years for the organization,” said Freeman. “When Peyton came into our home he completely won us over.  After only 5 days of fostering we decided to adopt him and give him a permanent home and family.  I look forward to being on the judging side of the event and showing off our very own Sarge’s rescue dog Peyton.”

“The Christmas Quilt handmade by Chris Kroot and Joan Gilliland will be on display at the Court House on Saturday,” said Teague.  “Sarge volunteers  will be selling tickets for an opportunity to win this lovely quilt at the Dog Walk and until the drawing at the Furry Friends Benefit Bash on October 4^th.”

Plott Hound sponsors for the 2012 Dog Walk are the McGary family in memory of  Dr Landon D. McGary, The Mountaineer and Clear Channel radio stations 99KissCountry/Rock104.9/am1400The Peak. 

Mastiff/Chihuahua sponsors are Barnum’s Cats and Spookster Bramlet.  There are 13 Chow/Hound sponsors, 17 Mixed-Up Poodle sponsors and 17 All-American Dawg sponsors.  Each are listed on the back of the official Dog Walk tee shirt.

Dog Walk Registration forms are available on line at www.sargeandfriends.org, the Dog House and Smoky Mountain Dog Bakery in Waynesville, veterinarian offices in Waynesville, Canton and Clyde, Mountain Dreams Realty on Soco Road in Maggie Valley or at the Adoption Center.

For more information regarding Sarge’s or the Dog Walk, please visit the website at www.sargeandfriends.org or call 828-246-9050. See Sarge info  on Facebook and Craigslist.