More than 5,000 pets and their owners are expected to come to Druid Hill Park on Sunday for the Maryland SPCA's 14th annual March for the Animals to raise money to help homeless animals. There will be prizes for the walkers as well as contests and games, including the popular pet costume contest, doggie musical chairs, and the new "mysterious origins" contest, in which judges will try to guess the origins of the muttiest mutt.

Other activities include dog-training talks, an agility course and a demonstation by Mid-Atlantic Disc Dogs. Micro-chipping will be available for $25. Duff Goldman of Ace of Cakes will cut the ribbon to start the festivities.

Aileen Gabbey, executive director of the Maryland SPCA, says the group hopes to raise $400,000 from the event. "It is the big event of the year," she says. "I feel like it's our wedding day. We plan all year for it it and it's over before you know it."

While the event always draws a lot of dog owners, other animal lovers come with ferrets, cats, goats, pot-bellied pigs and even a giant tortoise, she says. "Every year I'm amazed at the variety of animals I see."

The money raised will go to the MD SPCA's operations, including care of homeless pets, finding new homes for them and running the spay-neuter clinic.

Registration for the walk-a-thon starts at 9 a.m. If you don't have a pet to walk, you can bring a substitute like a stuffed animal. Participating dogs need to be current on their vaccinations and be on leash.

For more information, go to mdspca.org or call 410-235-8826, ext. 138.

PLEASE SEND US YOUR PHOTOS AND STORIES FROM THE MARCH! We'd like to post them on the blog. Send jpeg photos and stories to unleashed@baltsun.com.

Photo: Dogs walk in last year's March for the Animals. Sun/Algerina Perna.