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Pet Rock Festival Celebrates Ten Years of Helping Animals

Worcester, Massachusetts: The 10th Annual Pet Rock Festival will take place Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008 [rain date, Sept. 21] from noon to 5 p.m., at Quinsigamond Community College, 670 West Boylston St., Worcester.

Pet Rock is the largest animal expo on the East Coast. A daylong festival of fundraising fun for the entire family, including your dog, Pet Rock’s primary purpose is to promote responsible pet ownership, bring attention to animal cruelty and educate humans on a variety of animal related issues. Proceeds benefit New England based animal welfare organizations. Pet Rock has given tens of thousands to worthy charities over the years, including the Sterling Animal Shelter, Humane Society of the US: Youth, NEADS, the MSPCA, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Mass Vest A Dog, Foster Parrots, Commonwealth Cats, Echo Dog and so many more.

But the focus is on fun, too. Pet Rock Fest boasts live music, vendors, vegetarian faire, games, prizes, raffles, guest speakers, rides and more than 200 breed rescues, shelters and animal welfare organizations. Past musical headliners have included Sophie B Hawkins, Deep Blue Something, Badfinger, Orleans, Babaloo and American Idol winners.

But your pet is the star of the day! (Remember your dog is more than welcome, but for safety reasons we ask that other pets stay home). There are contests rabies clinic, doggie massages, amateur dog show (with categories such as “owner-dog look alike” and “best vocalist”), ID tags, Frisbee dog demos, adoptable pet parade with prizes for participating rescues, professional photos portraits of your pet, cat photo contest and the always-popular doggie water park.

The purpose: to promote kindness to animals, raise funds and awareness of animal welfare issues and inform the public how they can help our furry friends.

Remember, they can’t talk, so we will.

Check out www.petrockfest.com for continuous updates.