Bark In the Park Goes Virtual, Introduces Scavenger Hunt to Fight Animal Cruelty

Under normal circumstances HSMO’s Bark in the Park event is the largest dog festival and dog walk in the Midwest – as well as one of the Humane Society of Missouri’s largest fundraising events.

Due to uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, this year’s Bark in the Park has been converted to Bark in YOUR Park, a virtual dog walk and scavenger hunt benefiting the Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force.

Taking place April 1 – 17, participants are encouraged to walk, run or hike with their dog in their own park, neighborhood or trail, raising funds along the way. Special thanks to our friends at Purina for matching all registration fees for Bark in Your Park, up to $25,000!

Participating is easy! There are just three steps:

• Go to hsmo.org/bark to register as an individual, form a team or join a team.
• Ask your friends, family or co-workers to support your “walk” and help you reach your fundraising goal.
• Any time between April 1 – 17, 2021, you can walk, run or hike with your dog in your neighborhood, park or trail.

This event also marks the first time HSMO has held a scavenger hunt! Beginning April 1st, we’ll text participants 3 clues for a park to get started. Each set of clues represents a park located in either St. Louis City or County. Once you’ve solved the clues, visit that park and take a photo that identifies where you are (e.g. a sign, statue, fountain or anything else that identifies the park), then post your pic on the Bark in YOUR Park Facebook event page using #BarkinYourPark.

We will message you clues for a new park every few days. Identify and visit as many parks as you can! Each photo entry will be equal to one entry into a drawing for our Grand Prize—a St. Louis Give Local/Live Local Prize Pack which includes gift cards and swag from locally-owned pet-friendly businesses—a $200 value!

In order to participate you must be registered as a participant for Bark in YOUR Park— registration is just $25, and all registered participants receive an official Bark in YOUR Park T-shirt and goodie bag. We also want to remind you that all your dollars go directly to HSMO’s Animal Cruelty Task Force – dedicated to investigating, healing and preventing animal abuse – and provides HSMO with essential financial assistance.