Make your Merry Oaks dog a star

In Merry Oaks, we love our dogs and dog neighbors.

So here’s a chance to win a year’s supply of dog food from Pedigree and Food Lion, a gift basket, a painting and unending fame for your four-legged companions.

Send a photo of your dog and $12 to Mecklenburg County’s Top Dog contest, and your pet could become the grand marshal of the parade at Bark in the Park, a dog festival on April 24 at Metrolina Expo, 7100 Statesville Road. Your dog could also become the logo for the event.

Here are details on the dog contest from Mecklenburg County.

Three top dogs will be announced on March 31, 2010, and the public will get to vote on the winner from April 1 to April 16.

Park and Rec also seeks volunteers to help with Bark in the Park. Interested? Call Lori Saylor at 704-336-5478 or email her.

Good luck. I hear some cats are lobbying for equal time.

Photo: Lulu the Wonderdog, a neighbor’s loyal, sweet partial Rottweiler, in 2007.