🐾 A Huge Thank You to Our Amazing Sponsors
and Donors! 🐾
Barktoberfest 2025 was a fantastic success, all thanks to your generous support! With your help, we brought our community together for a day of joy, wagging tails, and, most importantly, adoptions that gave so many animals their forever homes. Your kindness has made a lasting impact, helping us continue our mission at Pawsitive Effects.
Thank you for being part of the journey to brighter futures for our furry friends!
Join us for our annual pet extravaganza, Barktoberfest on the first Saturday in October! Experience a day filled with furry friends as dogs and cats of all breeds and ages will be available for adoption through local non-profit approved and invited rescue organizations. Adoption fees and processes are determined by each organization.
The park will transform into a hub of pet adoptions and family-friendly activities. Kids, leashed pets, and the entire family can enjoy a range of entertainment. Explore unique items from our fantastic vendors, specially curated for both you and your pets. Indulge in delicious food, groove to great music, and test your luck with our amazing raffle prizes.
Convenient, free parking surrounds the park, and public restrooms will be available for your convenience.
All proceeds and donations from this event will go toward supporting participating non-profit rescues from Highlands and Hardee County, Florida. Your presence and contributions will make a significant difference in these animals' lives!
We welcome your socialized, well-behaved, and leashed dog. We ask you do NOT use retractable leashes at this event.
Please be prepared to pick up after your dog.
Plan Your Day at Barktoberfest
Special Presentations
In Front of Large Pavilion
Safe Handling Injured Wildlife
11:30am
Join S.O.U.L Animal Rescue for an informative session on the proper way to handle injured wildlife.
Participants will learn:
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Safe animal handling techniques to minimize stress for both you and the animal.
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What to do (and what not to do) if you encounter injured wildlife.
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The importance of using personal protective equipment when appropriate.
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How to recognize situations where the best choice is to step back and call a professional.
Barrett and Scott Gordon
12:00pm
A Barktoberfest favorite is "Barrett," a Belgian Malinois, and his handler, Scott Gordon.
Barrett was facing death row before he was pulled out by Barking Out Loud Rescue in Lorida, FL. Barrett's luck didn't stop there when he was adopted by Scott and his wife, Georgia. Barrett has been
showcasing his remarkable skills at Barktoberfest, and every year, he surprises the crowd with a new dimension to his skill package. Barrett is a testimony to all animals that find themselves homeless, that the best is yet to come when people like Scott and Georgia open their hearts
and home for a special dog like Barrett.
Come see his amazing skills
and how this breed interacts with incredible focus and determination.
Brook with Brook's Dog Training
12:45pm
Brook with Brook's Dog Training will be sharing invaluable information for residents with Pets in Highlands County.
This presentation focuses on where to go with your pet or where you can leave your pet in the event of an evacuation prior to a hurricane hitting. This collection of data will be very useful, especially if you live in a community that evacuates. Please plan on stopping by during the presentation, as it may prove to be very useful in the future for you or someone you know.
You can also learn the services Brook offers with Brook's Dog Training at her booth during Barktoberfest.
Macey with The Heartland Dog Club of Florida
1:30pm
Macey with The Heartland Dog Club of Florida will be demonstrating some trick training with dogs that have gone through their program.
This club is for dog parents. They promote responsible dog ownership. They offer obedience, rally, agility, and trick training.
You can learn more about this organization at Barktoberfest at their booth.
Food & Supply Collections at Barktoberfest
The Rescues can't do this alone!
When you bring any of these items to the large pavilion at Barktoberfest you will receive a
FREE RAFFLE TICKET for a chance to win a great raffle prize during BARKTOBERFEST.
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PUPPY, ADULT, SENIOR DOG OR CAT FOOD. (USA made only please)
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FLEA/TICK TREAMENT
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BRUSHES/COMBS
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SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER
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TREATS
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TOYS
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PET BEDDING
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TOWELS & BLANKETS
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DISINFECTANT CLEANERS, PAPER TOWELS, GARBAGE BAGS & GLOVES
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CRATES/CAGES
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KITTY LITTER
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LEASHES & COLLARS
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or anything else you think could be helpful to a shelter.
Even gift cards to Petco or Pet Supermarket, Amazon, Walmart prove to be very helpful as well.
