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Murray Journal

Dog lovers invited to ‘Bark at the Moon’

May 10, 2021 10:17AM ● By Shaun Delliskave

Dogs will be invited to try out an obstacle course at the Humane Society of Utah’s Bark at the Moon event. (Photo courtesy of the Humane Society of Utah)

By Shaun Delliskave | [email protected]

It is said that every dog must have its day; however, on May 16, dogs will get their night, too. The Murray Humane Society of Utah (4242 S. 300 West) hosts their annual “Bark at the Moon” fundraiser inviting dogs and their owners for an event of activities, food and music.

Humane Society of Utah Director of Marketing and Communications Deann Shepherd said, “Bark at the Moon is our annual outdoor fundraiser for humans and their dogs. There are food trucks, dog activities, a photo booth and vendor booths. In 2018 and 2019, it involved a nighttime dog walk, but given the current environment and safety considerations, we’re only offering socially distanced activities. We will add the dog walk back to the event once it is safe to do so.”

Visitors can expect food trucks, craft brewers, live entertainment, a dog zone with pup-approved activities, and vendor booths, a side-by-side dog obstacle course, a photo booth and a craft booth by Clever Octopus. Three local bands and musicians will play at the event: Emily Merrell, Mikael Lewis and Moodlite.

“All the proceeds of the event directly support our lifesaving operations here at the Humane Society of Utah,” Shepherd said. 

Operating as a nonprofit, the Humane Society relies on fundraisers and donations to help provide medical care, vaccinations and rescue neglected animals. The pandemic impacted the animal center’s operations.

“The Humane Society of Utah took strategic steps to ensure the organization’s continuation in 2020,” Shepherd said. “We suspended some services, moved many animals into foster homes, and increased cleaning practices. We were extremely fortunate that the community continued to support us as a nonprofit organization, and donations continued. We saw more people at home who were willing to foster animals. We also saw more people struggling with their pets because it was difficult to see a private veterinarian, so we focused on helping provide resources for pet owners where possible. Our adoptions were consistent and did not decline.”

Organizers are encouraging supporters to reach out and help them fundraise this year. Anyone who raises over $30 gets two free tickets to the event. The top fundraiser for each week will be featured on a billboard on I-15. The top three fundraisers get in-store credit for Utah Humane Society merchandise.

Ticket holders are guaranteed entry for one person and one dog. The Humane Society is taking extraordinary precautions to keep all safe.

“Every year, we have rules to keep dogs and humans safe and will be continuing with our additional COVID-19 safety precautions this year. Masks will be required for patrons, and all dogs must be on a leash. We are also selling tickets in 90-minute time slots to minimize crowds and help maintain social distancing,” Shepherd said.

The Humane Society of Utah works directly with members of Utah communities to find homes for homeless pets, advocate for animal welfare legislation, end abuse and neglect, and inform the public about pet care training. The Society is solely funded by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses and foundations. Fundraisers such as Bark at the Moon help supplement their budget.

“We are slowly incorporating more in-person events back into our schedule as it slowly becomes safe to do so. We’re also incorporating online fundraising events where possible. All upcoming events can be found on our website. We do have food trucks parked here every other week for lunch, which is open to the public, and those days can be found on our website event calendar,” Shepherd said.    

Bark at the Moon happens May 16, 3 to 8 p.m. at the Humane Society of Utah (4242 S. 300 West). More information can be found online at utahhumane.org.