Barbie, Ken to Get Hitched at Open Door Event

Open Door Animal Sanctuary, a nearby no-kill animal shelter, is planning to unleash its dogs into brand new play yards at an open house and grand opening event starting at 11 a.m. May 12. The event will conclude with a doggie parade and ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m.

“We are excited about the opening of our dog park,” said Tracie Quackenbush, Open Door Animal Sanctuary’s executive director. “Our new play yards are just one more step toward our ultimate goal of providing the highest quality of life possible for the 400 animals we care for each day.”

The completion of the dog park is a culmination of many months of planning. The existing outdoor runs were torn down and replaced with a much larger, three-section dog park. The new play yards are designed to can accommodate three times the number of dogs and create a more social environment. The park is multi-tiered with a gravel surface divided by cedar fencing. The park will be named in honor of longtime board member Don Nichols.

“We are looking forward to the official opening of the park and invite the public to attend the grand opening,” Quackenbush said.

Doggie nuptials between Barbie and Ken, a pair of Chihuahuas at Open Door, will be part of the celebration. Festivities will include music, prizes and tail-wagging fun for the entire family. Guests who bring an item from the wish list at www.odas.org will be entered into a drawing for a deluxe basket of pet goodies.

Open Door Animal Sanctuary is located at 6065 Duda Road in House Springs, MO.