The Humane Society of Baltimore County has taken its annual fund-raiser, Bark in the Park, turned it into something far huger, and given it all a new name -- DogFest 2008, which will take place Oct 4, 2008 at Shawan Downs.

This year, there's a admission fee to the day-long event ($20), but there will also be a lot more activities  to take part in -- from the traditional dog agility course and contests to a classic car show, a 5K-9 run, and the Paws on Parade Walk.

It's all laid out on the DogFest Web site.

To take part in the Paws on Parade Walk of the 5K run, you should register before Sept. 19. There's a $25 fee for run, and for the walk, but a $30 donation includes a DogFest 2008 T-shirt, dog goody bag, and admission to all activities and events.

Dogs are permitted in both the walk and the run, but there's a limit of one dog per person in the run, and they must be on (non-retractable) leashes at all times.

Partipants are encouraged to collect pledges to the Humane Society for their running and walking.

Activities planned in connection with the Bark in the Park event, which runs from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., include a dog agility course, a dog swim area, dog games, dog contests and educational sessions on Pet CPR, Lyme disease, pet friendly gardening and Kong stuffing and recipes.