Barktoberfest begs for good time

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Treat all of your well-mannered best friends — including those with four legs — to the Barktoberfest Beach Bash from 2-5 p.m. Saturday at Hook'd Pier Bar and Grill.

Located across from Pier Park on Russell-Fields City Pier, steps from the dog-friendly restaurant lead down to the Dog Beach.

"The Dog Beach is open and you can go back and forth," said Stephanie Somerset, executive director of Bay Families with Dogs Inc. "We realized that part of the beach was really dog-friendly with the Dog Beach, and Hook'd is dog-friendly itself on the patio, and Pier Park is dog-friendly up and down the main street. We wanted to highlight that. So many cities are now putting on dog-friendly events not only for locals, but visitors. The Dog Beach is a wonderful destination. Dog lovers are a great segment of our population. People are choosing Panama City Beach over other destinations because they want to bring their pets."

Hook'd will be serving up a complimentary menu for humans of corn dogs and hush puppies, while dogs can try the "Furry Hooks" menu, a chicken and rice dish for $3. Coco Loco's Drink Paradise tiki hut will offer drink specials, and Pet Supermarket will have a booth with giveaways.

The dog-friendly event also includes contests for best doggie costume, owner/dog lookalike contest, best dog trick and doggie ice cream (plain vanilla) eating contest.

"We thought costumes would be really good this time of year, so you can go ahead and get it. Because we expect quite a crowd, they might want to take that into account and just bring the costume and put it on for the contest," Somerset said. "The raffle will have everything from gift certificates to T-shirts to doggie bandanas and bow ties. We will have a guitar player, playing mostly rock 'n' roll and some country."

Registration and raffle ticket sales begin at 2 p.m. Each raffle ticket is a $2 donation for Bay Families with Dogs and Heartland Rescue Ranch, although Somerset added there is a ticket discount for larger quantities. Raffles are scheduled for 3:30 p.m., and ticket holders must be present to win. Live music follows from 4-5 p.m.

In addition to ample gift bags, raffle items will include selections from Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, The Carousel, PetSmart, Panama City Beach Parks and Recreation, Wine World, Eden Salon, Breeze Animal Hospital, Pet Supermarket "and Ron Jon's Surf Shop with beach towels and other things you would use if you took your dog to the dog beach," Somerset said.

The raffle also will include gift certificates from popular local restaurants, original dog paintings by local artist Donna Burgess, game cards from Dave and Buster's, a photo of you and your dog by Smiles Beach Photo, a custom, full-color caricature portrait of you and your dog by artist Victor Strickland. The biggest item up for grabs is a seven-night lodging stay courtesy of Wyndham worth $1,500, which is good at partner resort properties throughout North America (certain blackout holiday restrictions apply; valid for one year after event).

"An artist will be doing caricatures of you with your dog (for a donation), and an animal communicator is attending out of Monticello, Fla," Somerset said. "She uses her certain innate ability to communicate. Bring your dog and for a small donation ($10) she will tell you what your dog is saying and what your dog is thinking."

Photo specials of dogs and their owners also will be taken by Smiles Beach Photo for a donation, which also will be divided between the two charities.

Dog leashes are required and volunteers will be "keeping an eye out," Somerset said, to make sure everybody is playing nicely.

Bay Families with Dogs Inc., a non-profit advocacy group, was founded in May 2006 for pet owners and their dogs to have continued access to Shell Island. The number of dog-friendly restaurants, which also includes the outdoor dining at the Pier Park Common Area, and parks has continued to grow.

"Since then, we have the Dog Beach at Pier Park, Mexico Beach, three new dog parks, the existing Aaron Bessant Park, and the new Conservation Park is dog-friendly," said Somerset, whose family includes a 12-year-old Siberian Husky as well as a recent 1-year-old rescue mix. "Panama City and Panama City Beach have enacted Doggie Dining ordinances. It's good for bringing visitors."

BARKTOBERFEST SCHEDULE

2-4 p.m.: Registration and raffle ticket sales

2:30 p.m.: Doggie costume contest

2:45 p.m.: Owner/dog lookalike contest

3 p.m.: Best dog trick contest

3:15 P.m.: Doggie ice cream eating contest

3:30 p.m.: Raffles; must be present to win

4-5 p.m.: Live music

What: Dog-friendly fundraiser for Bay Families with Dogs and Heartland Rescue Ranch

When: 2-5 p.m. Saturday with raffles/contests/prizes from 2-4 p.m. and live music following; weather permitting

Where: Hook'd Pier Bar and Grill, 16201 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach

Admission: Free; donations accepted

Details: Hook'd, hookdpierbar.com, 233-8232; Bay Families with Dogs, 850-624-3219 or bayfwd.org; Heartland Rescue Ranch, 850-960-4543, Heartlandrr.rescuegroups.org

BARKTOBERFEST BEACH BASH