Dogfest Raises Funds For Hundreds Of Pets Awaiting Loving, Forever Homes

REISTERSTOWN, Md. (WJZ)—If you love animals, you'll want to head to Reisterstown on Saturday. The Baltimore Humane Society is getting ready for their biggest fundraiser of the year.

Ron Matz reports it will be a dog day extravaganza.

There's a dog waiting for you at the Baltimore Humane Society. Dozens of dogs and cats are waiting to be adopted.

"Because we're a no-kill shelter, some of our animals have been with us for a long time, a year, even two years. We really need to get them into loving, forever homes," said Jen Swanson, executive director of Baltimore Humane Society.

Located on 365 acres in Reisterstown, the Baltimore Humane Society has been around since 1927.

"We have a low-cost spay and neuter and wellness center," Swanson said.

The fifth annual Dogfest is a fun-filled event, which includes a best costume contest.

"We're going to have a showcase during Dogfest. Dogs will come out in costume and parade around. People should bring their own dogs out in costume, too," said Wendy Goldband, Baltimore Humane Society.

About 6,000 people are expected. It's a major fundraiser for the Humane Society.

"Dogfest is a very big fundraising event for us. We rely on this. People don't realize that we are not related or funded by the Humane Society of the United States, so this event is critical to us. We need the community to support us," Goldband said.

And support for shelters is needed more than ever in these tough economic times.

"The economy has made it very difficult. Donations are extremely low. People are being thrown out of their homes at an alarming rate, so we're ending up with their animals when they have no place else to turn," Swanson said.

Diamond the dog has been here for about a year, and she's up for adoption.

"Right now we have about 130 cats, about 65 dogs," Swanson said. "We have some rabbits, guinea pigs and gerbils too. They're all available for adoption."

So come out Saturday. The adoption center will be open.

"Everything's free inside, but it does cost $10 to get in," Goldband said.

The Baltimore Humane Society is located in Reisterstown. Saturday's Dogfest runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, click  here.