Blessing of the Animals - A Community Celebration!
Sunday, October 11, 2026
1:00 - 5:00 pm
The Winner of the third annual
Dachshund Derby 2025!
LEO!
Thank you to our generous donors who have graciously contributed to our prizes. Please be sure to patronize these local businesses! List Coming Soon. Check back often!
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Pet Parade. 1:15pm
All pets and owners are welcome to join in the Pet Parade that will start at 1:15. We will have a festive parade to where the Blessing will be held.
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Blessing of the Animals. 1:30pm
Please bring your pets: dogs, cats, horse, pig, chicken, bunny, etc… for a blessing from our pastor. Please be sure that your pet is secure/leashed so they are safe. Blessings will begin at 1:30pm. We look forward to “blessing your pets!”
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Bark or Treat - Trunk or Treat. Directly after the Blessing
Picture this: pups in pirate hats, dachshunds dressed as hot dogs, and golden retrievers rocking superhero capes—all wagging their way through our parking lot with decked-out trunks and tasty (dog-safe) treats.
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Dachshund Races. 3:00pm
Get ready for a series of high-stakes, low-to-the-ground race heats where our daring dachshunds will dash, dart, and maybe even dawdle their way to glory!
Race Format:
Multiple heats will be run, each packed with pint-sized powerhouses.
The winner of each heat will advance to the Championship Race—the ultimate showdown of sausage-shaped speedsters!
Prizes:
Heat Winners will receive tail-wagging prizes and bragging rights.
The Overall Champion will be crowned the Top Dog, complete with a trophy, treats, and a lifetime supply of belly rubs (well, at least for the day).
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Costume Contest. 3:30pm
The costume contest is open to all dogs!
Categories are:
Owner/Dog Combo Costume
Film Stars - Dress your pup up to look like a “Movie Star”
Prizes will be awarded for First Place, Second Place and Third Place for each category.
Frist place winners will compete for the Grand Prize!
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The Overall Champion Top Dog Race AND The Last Place Race. 4:00pm
This year, we’re flipping the script and celebrating the underdogs—literally.
The Last Place Race: Where Losing is Winning!
That’s right—this year, we’re crowning a “Winner” for Last Place!
All our slowest, most distracted, or just plain uninterested pups will earn a spot in the Championship of Champions—a final showdown to determine the Last Last Place Winner!Whether your pup prefers sniffing daisies to sprinting or thinks a race is just a parade in their honor, this is their time to shine (or at least shuffle adorably toward the finish line).
How it works:
Every race will award a “last place” winner.
All “last place” winners will advance to the Final Last Place Showdown.
The slowest of the slow will be crowned the Ultimate Last Place Legend—complete with a trophy, treats, and eternal glory (or at least a nap).
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The Great Inflatable Race. 4:30pm
Grab your most ridiculous, majestic, or downright hilarious inflatable animal costume and join the stampede! Whether you’re galloping in a giant unicorn, waddling in a waddling penguin, or flapping your way to glory as a flying chicken—this race is all about big laughs, big inflatables, and even bigger fun.
How it works:
Suit up in your inflatable animal of choice.
Waddle, bounce, or awkwardly sprint your way through the course.
First one across the finish line wins… but let’s be honest, everyone wins when you’re racing in a 7-foot dinosaur suit.
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Animal Advocates.
Animals rely on compassionate people and organizations to speak up for them, especially when they’re hurt, neglected, or in need of a safe home.
Animals can’t speak for themselves, so they depend on humans to protect their rights and well-being. Advocates help by:
Rescuing injured or abused animals
Providing medical care and rehabilitation
Educating the public about responsible pet ownership and wildlife conservation
Promoting adoption over buying pets
Fighting for stronger animal protection laws
Howard County Office of Emergency Management
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Rescue Organizations.
Pet Rescues that will be at the event. Dogs will be on site for potential adoptions. All applicants will need to go through the rescue’s proper vetting. No dogs will be taken home that day.
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Service Animals
These amazing organizations train our beloved animals to support humans in all kinds of meaningful ways—like becoming therapy dogs, helping people with disabilities, and so much more.
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Pet Services.
Looking for the purr-fect place for your pet? Whether it’s a cozy boarding stay, a tail-wagging playdate, a fresh new ‘do, or a stroll around the block—these businesses are here to pamper your furry friend like the royalty they are.
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Vendors.
Meet Our Vendors – The Real Party Animals!
From gourmet treats that’ll make your pup drool to catnip toys that’ll send your feline into orbit, our vendors have it all! Whether you're looking for stylish collars, cozy beds, or the latest in hamster haute couture (yes, that’s a thing), you’re in the right place.
Food? Check. Accessories? Double check. Surprises you didn’t know your pet needed? Triple check.
Come sniff around – your furry, feathered, or scaly friend will thank you!Puzzled Pet Treats
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Cryin' Johnnies.
Enjoy some “dogs” for a howlin’ good time!
Media
2023
Howard County Times:
“Pet owners flock to Calvary Lutheran Church for event.”
Carroll County Times:
“Pet owners from across the region brought their animals for a special blessing Sunday to Calvary Lutheran Church on Old Frederick Road in Mount Airy.”
Social Media
