Carson Valley events showcase man's best friends
Throughout human history, mankind’s two most loyal four-legged companions have been the dog and the horse.
Both were honored Saturday in the Carson Valley with fundraising events held for their benefit.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is holding its annual K-9 unit Dog Days of Summer Fundraiser at Heritage Park in Gardnerville, featuring fun contests, an agility course and demonstrations.
But the highlight of this weekend’s fundraiser is the return of the Splash Dogs competition, a wildly popular competition in which dogs of all ability levels test their leaping skills.
The dogs and their handlers set up on a dock. Then the handler throws the dog’s favorite toy out over a pool.
With a running start, the canines then jump as far as they can in pursuit of their toy, landing in the water with a splash.
Contestants are measured for distance, and places are awarded accordingly.
The K-9 benefit event helps DCSO purchase supplies and equipment, and provide training for its K-9 law enforcement unit, which operates exclusively on donations and fundraising.
DCSO currently has four patrol dogs whose functions include suspect pursuit, narcotics detection, and search and rescue.
The Dogs Days of Summer fundraiser, along with the Splash Dogs competition, continues today.
Meanwhile, on the north end of the valley, country music artists gathered Saturday to pay tribute to Nevada mustangs with an American Legends concert at Clover 5 Ranch.
Local Northern Nevada music artist Lacy J. Dalton hosted fellow country musicians Rex Allen, Jr., Jimmy Fortune, David Frizzell, and Marty Haggard in a benefit concert for wild horse adoption and care.
Besides her singing voice, Dalton is also well-known for her wild horse advocacy in Nevada.
Rex Allen, Jr., son of movie cowboy Rex Allen, made the stop in Minden as part of his farewell “Sunrise to Sunset” tour, while Haggard paid tribute to his dad, Merle Haggard, who passed away earlier this year.
Fortune performed songs he wrote while he was a member of the famous Statler Brothers country music group.
Frizzell is a long-time country music singer in his own right, and is also the younger brother to music legend Lefty Frizzell.
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