Updated 9/21/2009

Dogs and their best friends will gather in Womble Park on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. for food, entertainment and information on adoption.

Holly Springs' annual Dog Day in the Park has a new feature this year - a Carolina DockDogs jumping competition that begins during Dog Day and concludes on Sunday.

Admission to Dog Day in the Park and the jumping competition is free for spectators and open to everyone. Participants in the competition can register online until Sept. 23 or at the event.

The Carolina DockDogs competition will run throughout Dog Day on Saturday and resume at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27. Finals are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday.

Dog Day in the Park is a family event. Dogs should be friendly and remain on leashes. Local pet care and adoption services will be there.

On Friday after 2:30 p.m., dog owners can have their pets jump off the dock into the pool for a $5 donation. Professional handlers will assist. All dogs are welcome.

The weekend competition features three events:

• Big Air – This is like the long jump. Dogs use the 40-foot-long dock to build up speed. Their jumping distance is measured from the edge of the dock to where the base of the dog’s tail enters the water.
• Extreme Vertical – This is like the high jump.  A rubber bumper is suspended over the water 8 feet from the edge of the dock to a height determined by the handler. Dogs start within 15 feet from the edge of the dock and jump to try to retrieve the bumper.
• Speed Retrieve – This is the drag race.  A rubber decoy is suspended at the end of the pool 40 feet from the edge of the dock.  The dog’s starting position is 15 feet from the edge. Time is stopped when dogs pull the decoy from its mount.

Sponsors of Dog Day in the Park 2009 include Fetch Pet Care of Cary and Bark Busters Home Dog Training.

Festivities will be at the picnic shelter of Womble Park, which is at 1201 Grigsby Ave. For more information on Dog Day in the Park, call Hunt Community Center at (919) 557-9600.