A rescue dog from Diamond B Farm greets visitors to Shepherdstown DogFest 2022 on Saturday. Ainsley Hall

SHEPHERDSTOWN — After a two year hiatus, DogFest returned to Shepherdstown on Saturday, bringing the community together to celebrate dog owners and their furry friends. Since the pandemic began, Shepherdstown has not held DogFest, to help prevent the coronavirus from spreading. But this year, the town was ready for DogFest to make its reappearance, bigger and better than ever.

The event began with the Red Carpet Walk of Rescues, giving animal shelters throughout the community the opportunity to present some of the dogs they have up for adoption. There was also live music from eighth-grade guitarist and vocalist Kellin Little and bands Howling At The Earth, Electric 47 and Dino Delray, playing throughout the day. In addition to the live music, Lilah Restaurant provided drinks, while the local fire department held a fundraiser, by cooking and selling hotdogs. Connie Heyer, the owner of Lilah and chairperson of the Shepherdstown DogFest 2022 organization committee, helped plan the event for the pet-friendly community.

“There are two main reasons why this event is important,” Heyer said. “First, to get back to life after COVID. Second, who doesn’t love dogs?”

After forming a committee, Heyer and the other members came together to find out what the community would enjoy seeing at the event, which included the planning of multiple demonstrations. The demonstrations featured a Greensburg Bed and Biscuit Training Trick Exhibition held outside of Knutti Hall, as well as the 3 Dog Farm Scent Tracking and Agility Demonstration and Independent K9 Scent Tracking and training Demonstration by the University Midway.

Heyer said she hopes that, next year, DogFest will continue to grow and bring people and their pets together.

Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department member Haley Theilgaard holds her new dog, Fern, a rescue she unexpectedly fell in love with at Shepherdstown DogFest 2022. Toni Milbourne

While DogFest helped bring the community together this year over their love of dogs, it also acted to help more than 30 animal shelters find forever homes for some of their rescued dogs.

“DogFest is great,” Mayor Jim Auxer said at the festival. “We are glad to have it back. It gives rescues an opportunity to have dogs get adopted. We love both pets and people.”

According to committee member Steve Pearson, they are already looking for more volunteers, to help plan the next Shepherdstown DogFest.

“Events like this help continue traditions and helps bring people together,” Pearson said. “We are all eager to come together.”

Cocoa and Chloe, from Damascus, Md., walk around Shepherdstown DogFest 2022 with their owners, Patty and Dave Mathes, on Saturday. Toni Milbourne