Dana Dowdle and her pal Jellybean are regulars at Paws in the Park.

This year’s event was no different, with Dowdle and Jellybean making the rounds at the event hosted by the Animal Shelter of Pell City, Inc.

What some people may not know about Jelllybean is other than being cute and sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face, he’s a certified therapy animal who visits places where people may especially need a smile.

“We do what anyone needs,” Dowdle said.

The inspiration for Jellybean was Dowdle’s daughter, she said, who died at age four from complications of cystic fibrosis.

Now, Jellybean brightens the days of many, some sick, some not, and continues the memory of Dowdle’s daughter.

Jellybean’s mission of offering joy is one many animals who demonstrate the role animals can have in our lives, said Pat Tucker, a former president and board member for the ASPC.

“The benefits of animals are so far reaching,” she said.

Looking around at the animals filling Lakeside Park or the event Sunday, Tucker noted, too, how many shelter adoptees were there with their owners.

“This is a very heartwarming experience,” she said. “We’re so very fortunate to have the volunteers we have who work on adoptions so hard by socializing the animals, grooming them and taking our animals to the mobile adoptions.”

During the Paws in the Park Festivities this year, four dogs found permanent homes, said Ken Ray, kennel manager for the shelter.

This was the 12th year for Paws in the Park, which features pet contests and children’s activities, vendors with offerings for “pet people,” along with food and live entertainment. Hundreds of pets and animals filled the park for the fun again this year.

The event is also a fundraiser for ASPC.

Approximately 50% of the shelter's income comes from private donations, which includes membership dues. In addition to supporting the shelter, members receive the organization’s "Paw Prints" newsletter. Memberships are available as follows: Students and Seniors (over 60), $10; Individual, $15; Family, $25; Patron, $100; Business, $200’ and Corporate, $500.

Memberships can be mailed to the Animal Shelter of Pell City, Inc

1071 Airport Road, Pell City, AL 35128.

Applications to adopt animals are available at the shelter or you may call and ask to have one faxed by calling the shelter at 205/814-1567. Adoption fees are $100 for all dogs and puppies and cats or kittens. The adoption fee include spay/neuter surgery at one of our participating vets, microchipping, up to date on vaccinations, rabies vaccination, heartworm test (dogs), FELUK/FIV test (cats) and deworming. All animals will be spayed/neutered prior to being released to their new home.

Those who are interested in volunteering can help with a number of needs, including the shelter’s can collections, transporting animals to mobile adoptions or vet visits, feeding and walking animals, bathing and grooming, cleaning and posting photos for adoptions.