The sight of tails wagging, quaffed poodles walking proudly with their owners and puppies waiting to find new homes filled the sidewalks of Downtown Mount Airy Saturday morning with the second annual Dog Days of Summer.

Co-chairs of the event and Downtown Business Association members B.J. Easter, owner of Froo Froo Pet Boutique, and Claudia Stowers, owner of Thelma Lou’s Puppy Parlor, were pleased with the turnout and participation for the event, which raised money for local animal rescue groups which are all non-profit and run by volunteers.

“We had a good turnout. I don’t think we had as many dogs as last year, but what was awesome is that we had more rescue groups participate this year,” said Easter.

Shari Harris, who adopted a Great Dane named Valentine, drove up from Greenville, S.C., just for the event. She adopted Valentine from Surry County last year. She said Valentine is completely deaf and cannot see very well out of her right eye, but Valentine loves to jump up and give Harris hugs as much as she can.

Fun events held for pets and their owners were doggie races, best trick, owner/dog-lookalike, “I’m so ugly, I’m cute” cutest pet, best dressed girl and boy, dog pie-eating contest, biggest and smallest pooch and the kissing contest.

“What’s funny about best dressed girl and boy is that Crystal Selba’s dog, Bella, a Dachshund, won and she also won last year, so she was able to keep her title as best dressed girl,” said Easter. “She didn’t have to give up her crown this year.”

Kim Baker brought her Standard Poodle, Sam, out for the event. She entered him in the doggie races, cutest pet and pie-eating contest.

“This is very important to support our local animal rescue agencies. Everybody should treat their animals as well as Sam,” she said of her dog, who was highly groomed with bows on his ears.

The dog who won the biggest dog contest was a St. Bernard with Surry Animal Rescue who is up for adoption.

Easter said all of the animal rescue groups seemed to get a good response from the crowd. She also felt the event was more organized this year.

She thanked all the local downtown businesses who gave door prizes and the Mount Airy Fire Department for filling up the doggie wading pools along Main Street for the dogs to have a place to cool off. She said many of the businesses set up water bowls for the dogs as well.

Easter pointed out that donation boxes will remain in downtown businesses for another week for those who didn’t get to make a donation at the Dog Days of Summer event on Saturday.

“That way we can make sure we get the most money for these organizations as we can. They only work with volunteers,” Easter said.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.