DANVILLE — Organizers of Dog Day in the Park hope for decent weather tonight and Saturday. If heavy rains hit, however, and Ellsworth Park is flooded, the fundraiser will be postponed until early October.

Regina Sherman, event organizer and owner of Lone Oak Grooming, said the event will be on the north side of Ellsworth, which is higher ground. A light rain or drizzle won’t stop the activities.

Signs will be erected if the event is postponed.

The idea behind Dog Day in the Park is to raise funds for the Danville Police Department’s K-9 unit, which is retiring two of its three dogs.

The unit needs $18,000 to purchase two dogs, training and equipment. In 2000, the community raised $40,000 to start the K-9 program. The dogs are used to track suspects after crimes, as well as help find lost people, conduct building searches and help take narcotics off the streets.

Sherman has set jars at local businesses so people can make donations, and those containers will be set out all summer. Already, those jars have collected about $1,000.

Saturday’s event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the north side of Ellsworth. Featured will be booths with information for pet owners and demonstrations of agility, rally, obedience, tracking, herding, flyball, sled dogs and the police dogs. Also scheduled is a toenail clipping clinic.

University of Illinois veterinary students are scheduled to talk about dogs and safety.

Children can enjoy a bounce house and also get the chance to help dogs herd ducks.

There will be a raffle with pet-related items.

There is no charge to attend, but some services may charge a small fee. Also, people will have the chance to make donations.

Police officer Nathan Howie will give demonstrations with his dog throughout the day. Howie is pleased with the efforts of Sherman and other organizers, including Karen Grider with Cool Moms and Trendy Babies.

“I think it’s great what they’re doing,” he said. “It’s a big help.”

Each dog costs $7,000-$8,000 — not including the training and equipment.

“It’s not a cheap venture. Any little bit (of money) helps,” he said.

The community pulled through to start the program, Howie said, and he’s confident that will happen again.

As for Saturday’s event, Howie said, “It’ll be fun.”



FYI

-- For more information or to help with Dog Day in the Park, contact Regina Sherman at 446-4960.

-- To help the police department, make checks payable to the Danville K-9 Unit and send to 2 E. South St., Danville, IL 61832. For more information or to schedule a K-9 officer for a speaking engagement, call 431-2233 or 431-2866.