Indiana Town Seeks Volunteers for Pet Festival Helping Animals

Brown County's biggest celebration of four-legged friends is calling for volunteers to make this year's event even better than the last.

The Dawg Gone Walk & Fiesta at Deer Run Park in Nashville, Indiana, drew over 150 dogs and 300 people in 2025. Now organizers need help staging the May 17 festival that features contests, games, demonstrations, and a ceremonial walk benefiting the Brown County Humane Society.

Volunteers can choose morning setup shifts or help run seven different games throughout the day. Others will sell tickets and merchandise as pet owners and their companions enjoy the festivities from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event represents just one of several opportunities for animal lovers to give back this spring. PALS (People & Animal Learning Services) in Bloomington is seeking board and committee members passionate about helping people through horse therapy programs.

Meanwhile, the Hoosier Hills Food Bank has reopened its volunteer program after recent changes. Individuals and small groups can now help clean, sort, stack, and stage food for local agencies to distribute across the community.

The Ripple Effect

These volunteer openings arrive as animal shelters nationwide report increased need for community support. The Bloomington Animal Shelter currently needs dog treats, cat and dog food, hand sanitizer, and laundry supplies to care for companion animals waiting for homes.

Each volunteer shift at the food bank helps feed families who might otherwise struggle to care for their pets. Every committee member at PALS helps expand access to therapeutic programs that change lives through human-animal connection.

The Dawg Gone Walk organizers say volunteers make the difference between a good event and a great one. Last year's success brought smiles to hundreds of faces while raising critical funds for animals in need.

Registration details and full wish lists are available through the Bloomington Volunteer Network, which connects community members with dozens of local organizations year-round.