The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter and the 4-H Happy Tails Dog Club will be hosting its 1st Annual Bark-n-Purr Festival on April 19, 2008, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is sponsored by Triple Crown Training Academy and American Fencing Supply.

Activities will include face-painting, pony pictures for the kids, Twister and a moonwalk! For pet owners, clinics for low cost rabies vaccination and micro-chipping services will be available beginning at 9 a.m., along with licensing (if qualified) for Williamson County as well as Hutto, Cedar Park and Leader. 

There will be free dog training demos and canine games hosted by Triple Crown Dog Academy. Several rescue organizations will also participate with crafts and baked goods for sale, rescued animals for adoption and educational material available. These include Street Cat Rescue, Shadow Cats, Williamson County Humane Society, Maine Coon Rescue Alliance, Austin Siamese and Friends, and FOGUS. The shelter requests that owners keep their dogs on leashes and their cats in carriers.  The event is free to attend.

Several fundraisers benefiting the animal shelter will also be taking place on April 19. During the festival, a silent auction, bake sale, raffle, and a giant garage sale will be held. The proceeds will go towards construction of large fenced areas where dogs can be taken off leash by volunteers or potential adopters. 

To date, the shelter has reunited 861 pets with their families, and provided 2,304 stray animals with new homes.  The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter is located at 1855 SE Inner Loop.