Metro Philadelphia<\/p>\n
Fall is officially a little more fun when dogs are involved.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Oct. 3, hundreds of dogs and their humans will head to the Navy Yard<\/a> for the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society\u2019s 20th annual Mutt Strut<\/a>, a fall festival and 1.5-mile dog walk that combines four-legged fun with a fundraiser for Philadelphia\u2019s homeless pets.<\/p>\n The celebration begins at 11 a.m. at the Navy Yard’s Marine Parade Grounds, with the walk kicking off at noon with a little help from the Mummers<\/a>. The event runs until 2 p.m.<\/p>\n Pups can dress to impress for a Halloween<\/a> costume contest. There will also be plenty of ways for dogs and their humans to burn off some energy, including agility and lure courses, field games, paw-print painting and pet portraits.<\/p>\n Visitors can meet adoptable dogs, stop by \u201cAsk the Vet\u201d and \u201cAsk the Trainer\u201d booths, grab a bite from food trucks or settle in with a beer from the Dock Street Brewery<\/a> beer garden. Live music will keep the festival going throughout the afternoon.<\/p>\n \u00a0Now in its 20th year, the event raises more than $120,000 annually to support PAWS\u2019 lifesaving work.<\/p>\n As Philadelphia\u2019s largest rescue partner and a provider of affordable veterinary care, PAWS<\/a> works to help homeless pets find homes while giving pet owners the resources they need to keep their animals healthy and in their families.<\/p>\n \u201cNow in its 20th year, the Mutt Strut is the perfect opportunity to come together with fellow dog enthusiasts for a fun, family-friendly fall celebration\u00a0 \u2014 all while making PAWS\u2019 lifesaving work possible,\u201d\u00a0 says Melissa Levy, executive director. \u201cThis\u00a0 beloved tradition brings our community closer and makes a tremendous difference for the people and\u00a0 pets who rely on us year-round.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The Mutt Strut will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Navy Yard\u2019s Marine Parade Grounds, 4747 S. Broad St. Free parking is available.<\/p>\n Tickets and additional event information are available at pawsmuttstrut.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n