NATCHEZ — There was a steady stream of two-legged and four-legged visitors to the annual Bark in the Park fundraiser Saturday.

Dogs and dog lovers joined for an afternoon of fun and fundraising for the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society at the Grand Village of Natchez Indians.

Pat Cox, board member for NACHS and shelter manager, said the day was a success despite the high temperatures.

“We’ve had good crowds of critters of all types,” she said. “I think the puppy parents have as much fun as the puppies do.”

The dogs had their fun mingling with other four-legged, furry friends and showing off for contest judges, but owners said the main reason for the day is to bring awareness to and help raise money for the local shelter.

Deanna Tanksley brought her dogs, Scooter and Sadie, both of which were adopted from NACHS, to the event so the brother and sister pair could have a little fun.

Tanksley saw a picture of Scooter and Sadie in 2007 and knew right away why the dogs hadn’t been adopted. They were less than a year old and had already spent six months living at the shelter.

“No one wanted to separate them, but no one wanted to adopt two dogs,” she said. “I saw their picture and told my husband we were going to get them.”

And each day Scooter and Sadie thank Tanksley for giving them a permanent home.

“All these dogs want is to love and to get love,” she said. “They want you as much as you want them.”

Cox said more people like Tanksley and the other animal lovers that came out to Bark in the Park are urgently needed. The shelter continually operates at over capacity and more dogs and cats are brought in each day.

“It’s not unusual for us to take in 20 animals a day. and some days we take in 40,” Cox said. “It seems that since this spring, we haven’t slowed down at all.”

More than 75 percent of the shelter’s funds are raised through organized fundraisers and Bark in the Park is one of the largest. Cox said that is because it involves both animals and humans.

“People come out here and socialize while the dogs socialize,” she said.

The funds raised at Bark in the Park are used to continue day-to-day operations at the shelter. Donations to the NACHS general fund can also be mailed to P.O. Box 549, Natchez, MS 39121.

Some of the more social dogs also took the stage to compete for trophies and titles.

Winners of the Bark in the Park titles were:

Cutest puppy

Dixie, owned by Charlotte Buckles, first place

Belle, owned by Allie Grace Chauvin, second place

Tanner, owned by Krystal Woods, third place

Best dressed

Sam dressed as an LSU tiger fan owned by Sheila Houck, first place

Wilhelmina, owned by Jessica Coffman, second place

Izzy Rose owned by Jackie Hickman, third place

Most beautiful

Ziva, owned by Brett Brinegar, first place

Pebbles, owned by Aimee Guido, second place

Abbigayle, owned by Roy and Sandi Geoghegan, third place

Most handsome

Sir Hershey Kisses, owned by Jill Thomas and Denise Monaco, first place

Duke, owned by Chris Vest, second place

Murphy, owned by Pokey O’Beirne, third place

Best trick

Sam owned by Shelia Houck, first place

Diamond, owned by Sara Hill, second place

Princessa, owned by Shannon Rojo, third place

Best smile

Izzy Rose owned by Jackie Hickman

Best Owner Dog Look Alike

Duke owned by Chris Vest

Best Tail Wag

Murphy owned by Pokey O’Beirne

The title of Mr. and Miss NACHS 2010 are given to the top male and female dog adopted from the local shelter.

Mr. NACHS 2010

Camo owned by Lucy Miller

Miss NACHS 2010

Ziva owned by Brett Brinegar