Mark your calendars now for the eighth Annual Deep South Doggie Dash & Strut Your Mutt Walk scheduled for Sat., Oct. 27, 2012, from 10 a.m. until noon, at a new location on Church Street at Robinson Park in Andalusia.

The event is organized by the Andalusia Area Humane Society and will include a Halloween Dog Costume Contest, a fun leisurely Strut Your Mutt Walk for adults and Doggie Dash Races for children 12 and under.

The top three finishers in each of the children’s races will receive medals.

In addition to the medals, there will be a special award for the best Halloween dog costume which all participants are encouraged to enter.

There will also be a special “Doggie Dash Hero Award” that will be presented to the participant who raises the most money.

People who plan to compete for the Doggie Dash Hero Award can raise extra money by asking friends and family members to make small donations to the  Humane Society’s cause. Participants should keep this money separate from their registration fee; however, they can submit it at the registration table on the morning of the event.

The Doggie Dash Hero Award will be presented at the conclusion of the event.

A free fall photo and one Doggie Dash T-shirt are provided for each registered participant.

The registration fee is $30 and registration forms are available online now and will also be available at the event beginning at 9 a.m.

There is no limit to the number of dogs you can walk in this event.

T-shirts will be distributed at the registration table and photos will be taken during the event.

The Halloween Dog Costume Contest will be held before the walk and races begin.

“If you care about helping animals, this is your opportunity to make a difference and you can do it with your dog beside you,” says Margaret Goodspeed, AAHS president. “We ask participants to only bring dogs that are friendly, leashed and current with their vaccinations. We are also still looking for event sponsors.”

The sponsorship categories range from $75 to $250. All sponsors will be recognized at the event. Any business or individual can serve as a sponsor. People can honor a family member who loves animals by purchasing a sponsorship in their name, or they can do a memorial or honoraiam in the name of a beloved pet.

For more information on the Deep South Doggie Dash & Strut Your Mutt Walk, please visit www.andalusiahumanesociety.com , or contact Goodspeed at 343-6455 or Patty Singleton-Seay at 427-3508.

All proceeds benefit the Andalusia Area Humane Society (a 501c3 organization).