Pooch Party in the Park is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in London Bridge Beach Park on the Island.

In the above file photo, dogs compete in agility competitions at the 2009 Pooch Party in the Park. This year’s Pooch Party will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and will feature several events including obedience training, Frisbee fetching, Flyball and Stop-Drop-And-Roll demonstrations as well as demonstrations from local police K-9s. News-Herald File Photos

Organizers said Monday dog owners and non-dog owners both are invited to the free-admission event because, well, it’s just fun.

“We want everybody to come,” said Pooch Party organizer Maureen Sieker. “We don’t care if you have a dog or don’t have a dog, we want everyone to come down and enjoy the fun. If they don’t come they are missing a really great time. They just won’t believe some of the things that these dogs can do.”

The two-day event includes demonstrations including obedience training, scent training, Frisbee fetching, Flyball, agility and Stop-Drop-And-Roll demonstrations — all with dogs.

“And there is a couple of surprises but I won’t tell what they are,” Sieker said.

New this year is a retirement ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday for Mohave County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Angus (handler MCSO Deputy Sam Ruiz), K-9 Zelig (handler MCSO Sgt. Stephen Padilla) and Lake Havasu City Police Department K-9 Cliff (handler LHCPD Officer Mike Fuller).

MCSO also is set to perform demonstrations with active-duty police dogs both Saturday and Sunday during the event.

There are 30 vendors set to attend featuring pet food, pet services, solar services, local businesses, a political campaign booth, people food vendors, crafts, pet-related organizations, animal-rescue groups and adoptable dogs, paw-painting and a professional photographer, Sieker said.

Local photographer Samantha Shore packages begin at $15 and all category winners will be photographed for free as part of their prize.

“We are really promoting dog adoption this year, big time,” Sieker said.

Breeders Rescue, a tri-state organization including canine purebred rescue animals in Arizona, California and New Mexico is set to attend and are brining at least 20 dogs needing homes.

Heavenly Buddies, based in Havasu, also is participating in Pooch Party and is promoting dog fostering and pet adoption, organizers said.

Volunteer Pooch Party committee member Sue Nelson, and Satellite Slumber Pet Beds vendor, will launch a one-year pull-tab collection effort this weekend. She hopes to collect one million pop-can pull tabs between Pooch Party 2011 and Pooch Party 2012.

Nelson is doling out small bags at Pooch Party that each will hold 100 tabs. The tabs are collected at her seasonal Havasu Sunday Swap Meet booth, space number H4. The tabs will be recycled and the money presented to the Pooch Party committee for donation.

This year, proceeds from Pooch Party will go to Heavenly Buddies, MCSO K-9 program, Pet Partners of Havasu and other unspecified pet-rescue related organizations.

THE COMPETITION

There are 19 competitive categories in which to register local and visiting canines.

Pre-registration deadline is today and includes discounted prices. Call 928-486-5649 to pre-register. Participants also can register on site the day of the events.

Categories include Best Costume, Most Unique Tail, Most Ear-Resistible Ears, Best Dancer, Most Toy Crazy, Best Smile, Best Kisser, Best Wag, Best Shedder, Best Trick and Most Vocal to name a few. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places.

The festivities also will include judged events including Frisbee, for beginners and advanced fetchers; fastest dog, in classes small, medium and large.

So far, about 125 dogs have marked their intent to participate through the pre-registration process.

Every dog that enters gets a bandana, organizers said.

“I’m an animal lover and I love to see people in the community coming together with their animals — it’s the friendliest day,” Nelson said. “It’s a wonderful community builder. You meet a lot, a lot of people in town.”

For more information visit www.poochpartyinthepark.com.

You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasunews.com.