Saturday is the day to celebrate your pet and hope Baltimore's animal shelter raise some much-needed money.

BARCStoberfest, the shelter's annual shindig, will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Patterson Park -- at the southeast corner, Linwood and Eastern Avenue.

There will be plenty of dogs, many, like Teddy Bean, dressed up, because there's a costume contest. You can see fundraising pups like The Bean walk the walk in Strut Your Mutt. Then there's a vendors, a silent auction, a chance to question an animal behavior expert, crafts, childrens' activities and micro-chipping.

BARCS needs support.

"We have seen a 10 percent increase in the number of animals surrendered to our shelter; many that were sick, injured, or even abused," Jennifer Mead-Brause, Executive Director of BARCS, said in a statement. "We are in need of support from the community more now than ever so we hope to see you at BARCStober Fest."

Money raised at the fest will help BARCS buy food, spay and neuter animals, and provide medical care and vaccinations.

There's a possibility of a rain date -- which would be Sunday, but with the forcast for both days less-than-perfect, BARCS officials said Thursday they expected to hold the event Saturday unless there was thunder and lightening. 

For more information, visit the shelter's website or call (410) 396-4695.