In dogged pursuit of a cure

CLOVIS — Saturday was a day for the dogs, as Clovis canines and their families gathered to fight cancer.

The fifth annual Clovis Bark For Life event was held at Hillcrest Park on Saturday. The event is a preliminary fundraiser for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in June.

"We've always done Relay for Life, but I've never heard of Bark for Life before," said Tara Anderson, a veterinary technician at Clovis Vet Hospital.

Anderson is new to town and was exited to bring her dog, Berlin, to hang out at the park.

The event had fun activities for dogs and kids alike, including booths for snacks, dog treats, face painting, jump houses, and a dunk tank.

The organizers set up the games and booths "carnival style" said Sherrie Nymeyer, this year's Bark For Life chair. Individuals registered for the walk and purchased tickets to be spent at each game and snack booth.

Each dog was registered to participate in the canine events like the walk and the Best Trick Competition.

Dogs Theodore Ruffsevelt (Teddy) and Dakota each demonstrated their abilities to the crowd. Dakota and his human Corey Hickerson did sit, stay and "bang, bang" (play dead). In the end, Teddy and his human, Jill Balkun, won with Teddy's spin trick and Balkun's tie breaker trick: Contorting her arms with interlocked hands behind her back over her head.

Balkun and her husband Justin say they knew Teddy would really wow the crowd with a trick he can only do at home: Ring a bell to be let outside.

"He likes to eat moths," said Balkun, "so he will ring the bell just to go and eat a moth and come back in."

In addition to the walk and contests, the Cannon Air Force Base Security Force held a dog bite demonstration to show the crowd the security dogs' protective skills.

Nymeyer encouraged dogs and their owners to dress up for the event to add to the fun.

"My girls wouldn't handle it," said Christina Kellenbence of her two dogs, Maggie and Nadia. She said they would just knock the clothes or hats off of themselves.

Kellenbence and her husband Nick helped out by running the candy and snack booth at the event.

The event co-chair, Amy Silverbush, embraced the challenge by dressing up and painting her face to look like a Dalmatian.