Becky Henderson, a proud dog owner at Art 4 Paws posing with the awards Jack racked up at the amateur dog show. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – Downtown Madison was abuzz with barks, howls and meows Saturday as the fourth annual Art 4 Paws event, sponsored by the Madison Arts Council, took over Front Street on April 18 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

A mix of crafts, kids activities and vendors catering to the needs of Madison’s furry friends were on hand for the festival. Guests were encouraged to bring their pets. Dogs dominated the day, but several cats and one or two rabbits made appearances.

New for this year’s installment of Art 4 Paws was an Amateur Dog Show, which took up the last hour of the event. Categories in the contest were smallest dog, largest dog, cutest dog, best personality, best trick and best dressed.

At the conclusion of the show was most adoptable, in which dogs available for adoption by various area rescue agencies were paraded out in front of guests.

The top dog award for the day went to Maggie, a canine member of the SARTEC K-9 Unit. SARTEC, short for Search and Rescue Technicians, is an all-volunteer K-9 unit from Madison County trained to work with law enforcement. Volunteers from the unit were on hand to inform attendees and answer questions.

Businesses such as Petz Carlton, a Madison pet boarding company, were also there to spread the word to their key demographic.

“This is definitely a client-building effort for us,” Josh Forehand of Petz Carlton said. “Any chance we can to use our mascots for marketing, we do.”

One of the business’s mascots, Phoenix, fetched the first-place prize for largest dog.

Lauren Merschat, 8, had a booth to sell handmade bracelets, headbands and hair ties. Proceeds from Merschat’s crafts went to various charitable organizations, such as the Autism Research Foundation and Madison Animal Rescue Foundation (MARF).

“I think it has been a good turnout,” Tina Clark, one of the organizers, said at the festival. “A few vendors didn’t show up on account of the weather, but for the most it’s been good.”