OEB hosts annual Dog Wash Festival

Farragut residents can have a cleaner canine and support area dog rescue groups at the same time when Ogle Elrod & Baril, PLLC, hosts its Sixth Annual Dog Wash Festival.

The event is slated to take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, July 16, at PetSafe Village Pet Spa & Resort, 10424 PetSafe Way, formerly Electric Avenue, Knoxville.

“This is a donation-based event and benefits At Risk Intervention, which provides infrastructure and support to area rescues, and other local rescue groups,” Jason Baril, attorney and partner at Ogle, Elrod & Baril PLLC, said.

At Risk Intervention, headed by Cyn Mobley, is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt public charity supporting area dog rescue groups.

A tent will be set up to take donations — cash or credit card — for the dog washes and nail trimming, Hillary Packer, Poplar Marketing director, said.

“We have to cover the costs of the vaccines, but HousePaws Mobile Veterinary Clinic, PLLC, will donate part of the proceeds to ARI,” she said. All donations are tax deductible.

A one-year rabies vaccine will cost $10; a one-year DHPPC vaccine, $12; a bordetella vaccine, $12. Microchipping will be provided for $20.

Baril started the event six years ago to help local dog rescue organizations in East Tennessee.

“Jason Baril is a huge dog lover,” Packer said. “I think [the event] has benefited multiple charities through the years.

“Jason came in contact with At Risk Intervention through his Basset Hound, Andy,” Packer said. Mobley had connected Baril with Belly Rubs, a local rescue group, and he acquired Andy.

The Dog Wash Festival has grown over the years to be become bigger and better, she said. Last year, the firm partnered with PetSafe Village, which provides the facility to hold the event.

This year's festival will feature celebrity dog washers such as Fred White, former defensive back for The University of Ten-nessee Volunteers and Jackson-ville Jaguars, and Mark Packer, Amanda Hara and Lauren Davis, WVLT-TV anchors.

It also offers a Kid Zone with a bouncy house provided by All Occasion Party Rentals; dog-themed crafts and games; Hawg Dawg food vendor.

The OEB firm asks attendees to bring towels to help reduce wait times and to pre-register for HousePaws vaccinations, micro-chipping and nail-trimming at oebdogwash.net/vaccination-pre-registration.html