The Wood Dale Park District is going to the dogs.

From 9 to 11 a.m. next Saturday, Sept. 20, they’re hosting a Dog Lovers’ Showcase at Wood Dale’s own White Oak Dog Park, on the grounds of the Cabin Nature Center, 111 S. Wood Dale Road.

“This is going to be a big party for dogs,“ said Ellen Hart, Wood Dale Park District marketing and public relations coordinator. “We’re hoping to hook people up with fellow dog owners and dog-friendly businesses. People will meet and greet through their dogs, play at the park, get their picture taken and visit all the informational tables.”

Dogs, who must remained leashed when outside the fenced-off dog park area, are admitted free while owners are asked to donate $2 that will go toward dog park improvements.

At the welcome tent, attendees can get a ticket for pet product raffles from local businesses and Addison’s Wal-Mart. A limited number of doggie treat bags from the Happy Dog Barkery will be handed out there too.

Need a four-legged BFF? Lisa Spakowski of Lucky Pets and Illinois Birddog Rescue, who also is a member of Pet-Sitters International, will have adoptable dogs on-hand for a special meet-and-greet opportunity. Get your pooch a free doggie facial at the Natural Pet Market & Self-Serve Dog Wash from Kathy Wolff of All Things Woof … Meow, Too Inc. After getting pretty, get a free fall-themed keepsake photo of you and your pet from the WDPD.

If discipline is needed, check-out Bark Busters’ Christine Guth, a certified dog behavior therapist and trainer, who will hold a short seminar on dog psychology, training and more.

Dr. Deeke from the Animal Medical Center of Itasca will have a pet wellness table and is giving away one year’s worth of wellness check-ups and vaccinations. Wood Dale’s own St. Francis Group, which runs Carroll’s Kennels and the St. Francis Pet Crematorium, will show off their pet emergency vehicle.

Even more events and informational tables still are being finalized.

Besides highlighting the dog park while bringing local dog owners and pet services together, the Showcase is also the grand opening of a recent extension to the dog park and doggie drinking fountain.

“The extension is really exciting because when you have a large dog, they need a lot of room to have a good time and this extension will give them more than enough area to safely play around in,” Hart said.

This is the second Dog Lovers’ Showcase. Last year it piggybacked on the WDPD’s annual Fall Fest. They are striving for the Showcase to become an annual standalone event.  “We want this to become bigger and better every year,” Hart said. “We want to add new activities and vendors, grow this into something huge that dog owners will be waiting for each year. Instead of being a quick event in the morning of Fall Fest, we now have an entire Saturday open for only the Showcase.”

Actually, Fall Fest is Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Cabin Nature Center. The 29th annual free event, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is packed with games, hay rides, crafts, bingo, food and more. Parking is available across the street at Oakbrook School.

“Fall Fest is a great event that has a huge turnout every year,” Hart said. “It was fun last year to have so many dogs walking around Fall Fest, but we want the dogs to have a day all to themselves. There’s nothing like a day full of wet noses and doggie kisses. Really, how can you not have fun when you have both dogs and dog lovers spending the day together? ”

For  information about next Saturday’s Dog Lovers’ Showcase (or Fall Fest), contact the Park District, (630) 595-9333, or visit www.WoodDaleParkDistrict.org.

Border Bounding is a weekly column appearing on Thursdays. Ideas and items for the column can be e-mailed to hipychk73@yahoo.com.