On October 11 from 11am - 5pm, downtown Stratford will be the site of the Stratford Animal Rescue Society’s (STARS) 9^th Annual Fall Festival to Benefit Animals, featuing a one mile dog walk down Main Street, a silent auction, music, entertainment, and more than 90 people/pet related vendors and services. Lure coursing is a new canine activity added to the event this year, offered by Lucky Dog Fun Run. Great for canine physical conditioning, attendees can watch the dogs have fun chasing an artificial bait on a retractable line.

The festival is STARS’ largest fundraiser and all proceeds sustain their mission of rescuing and rehoming homeless animals. Pets from Stratford Animal Control will be available for viewing at the event on a mobile adoption unit provided by the North Shore Animal League. Local celebrities support the cause: Lauren Collier, meteorologist and host of Furry Friends Forecast and Pet Talk with News 12 Connecticut, will lead the one-mile dog walk, while pioneering environmentalist Scott Ian Barry will have a booth at the festival and give a lecture behind the gazebo every hour on the hour from 11am - 4pm. Autographed books will be available for purchase. Barry is one of a handful of people who helped create the concept of presenting live wolves to educate the United States population about the species.

Dog walk pre-registration is $10 for up to 2 dogs and $20 for up to 2 dogs on the day of the event.

Location: Stratford Town Green, Main St, Stratford. To pre-register for the dog walk, visit Starsfest.org/dog-walk.html. For more information about the festival,
visit Starsfest.org. The event will take place on the Stratford Town Green on Main St in Stratford. See ad, page 58.