West Plains, MO – Get Ready! The Paws For A Cause Pet Show and Festival Is Almost Here!
The countdown is on! The first-ever Paws for a Cause Pet Show and Festival is happening this Saturday, May 3rd, from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM at the West Plains Civic Center — and it’s shaping up to be one paw-some event you won’t want to miss!
This family-friendly fundraiser has something for everyone: carnival games, raffle prizes, vendors, food trucks, blacksmithing demos, custom collars, face painting, and of course… the pet show! And yes, it’s now become a full-on food truck festival too!
The Pet Show: Let’s talk about the real stars of the day—the dogs! There are 7 fun categories your pup can enter, and no, they don’t need to be trained pros. If they’re cute, wiggly, love attention, or can rock a costume, they’re perfect for this event!
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Sign-ups: You can sign up the day of! Just show up at the Civic Center before your chosen category starts. It’s $10 per dog (not per category), and you can enter as many categories as you’d like.
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Best of Show: All participating pups are automatically entered into Best of Show, where one lucky dog and handler duo will win a $50 cash prize, sponsored by Starbark’s Grooming and Spa.
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Judging Panel: Judged by a crew of five, including professional dog trainers, West Plains locals, and even the Mayor!
Category Schedule:
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9:45 AM – Best Agility: Watch dogs of all sizes navigate a fun obstacle course. Want to walk the course first? Show up by 9:20!
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10:45 AM – Best Trick: Dogs show off their coolest, cutest, or funniest talents.
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11:15 AM – Best Costume: From pirates to bumblebees, these pups know how to dress to impress.
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11:45 AM – Dynamic Duo: See which owners match their pups best!
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12:30 PM – Prettiest Pup: A category just for those one-year-old or younger cuties.
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1:00 PM – Adorable Adult: All grown-up pups show off their charm.
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1:20 PM – Ugliest Dog: This crowd-favorite category celebrates that unique, endearing charm!
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1:45 PM – Awards Ceremony: All winners, including Best of Show, announced!
Don’t Forget the Festivities!
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Vendors: Shop for handmade crafts, pet gear, treats, and more.
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Food Trucks: Featuring favorites like Ozark’s Burger Company, Mandy’s Hotdogs, KB’s Lemonade, Ree’s Creations, Cosmic Cravings, and others.
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Carnival Games & Prizes: Try your luck at Prize Punch, Tower Toss, Pop Toss (lasso your soda!), cornhole tournaments, and more!
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Raffles: Enter to win incredible donated prizes!
All for a Cause: Every dollar raised, from vendor fees and dog show sign-ups to carnival games and raffle tickets, goes directly to help animals in need at Ozarks Pet Rescue. OPR will also be at the event with adoptable pets ready for meet-and-greets.
Special Thanks to the Sponsors:
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Complete Canine Academy donated prize packages and will also perform demos!
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Starbark’s Pet Grooming and Spa sponsored the $50 Best of Show cash prize and covered the venue cost.
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Hart Family Eyecare sponsored all the carnival game prizes.
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Always Faithful Memorial Services sponsored the first-place prize for Best Agility.
A Message from the Event Coordinator: “Thank you to all our incredible sponsors, volunteers, and every single person sharing the event. This wouldn’t be possible without your support!”
If you would like to volunteer and help out at the event, the event coordinator is having volunteers show up around 8:30 – 9:00 to help with set up. Just look for the badges, and they can help you out.
So bring your dog, your appetite, your friends, and your love for animals—and join us for a fun-filled day that supports a great cause. We’ll see you May 3rd at the West Plains Civic Center!
