Get Ready to Strut, Dearborn!

Stretch your paws on Tuesday, March 19, as the Friends For the Dearborn Animal Shelter celebrates hosts a launch event for the annual Mutt Strut and Pet Expo. The drop-in event will be held 6-8 p.m. in the auditorium of the Henry Ford Centennial Library, located at 16301 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn.

This launch party is open to the public, but is especially geared toward animal lovers interested in raising much-needed funds for community rescues.

Attendees will learn more about how to get involved with Mutt Strut, which takes place on Saturday, May 11. “Retrieve” your Mutt Strut pledge packet to get a “paw” up on your competition to win Leader of the Pack Prizes. Assistance will be provided to create your pledge-pages at our “Sit, Stay, Sign-up” stations. You might even win a fabulous swag bag provided by our friends at yelp.com, the Mutt Strut media sponsor.

Refreshments will be provided in the lobby.

Max, the 2013 spokes-dog who will lead the Mutt Strut Walk this year, will be on hand to give paw-tographs.

Can’t attend the kickoff event? You can still get ready to strut for strays by creating your pledge page today at dearbornmuttstrut.com. Using your own words, photos, and videos, you can answer the question: Who do you strut for?

The actual Mutt Strut, presented by Dearborn Family Pet Care, is staged in downtown West Dearborn, and runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., rain or shine, on May 11. The community-wide celebration promotes the health of pets and their people and features activities for all animal lovers, pet owners, and families.

In addition to the fun and festivities, Mutt Strut participants gather pledges to benefit the Dearborn Animal Shelter. During the first seven years, Mutt Strut supporters have raised over $400,000 directly benefitting more than 17,500 rescues.

Register to participate or pledge at www.dearbornmuttstrut.com, or by calling 313-943-2697.