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The 8th Annual SMAWL Animal Fair at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds featured much to do for the two-legged and four-legged variety of attendees. The event sponsored by the St. Mary’s County Animal Welfare League (SMAWL) featured a large crowd under sunny skies.

The fair included a parade of pets and a Blessing of the Animals by Rev. Greg Syler of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Valley Lee. It also included a musical dog sit, king and queen pageant, pet pageant and silent auction. A number of rescue groups were on hand to show adoptable pets and provide information. And dozens of vendors, many of whom were pet oriented, lined several buildings at the fairgrounds.

In 2011SMAWL rescued, rehabilitated and adopted 39 dogs and 32 cats. They provided spay and neuter grants to almost 400 pet owners and vaccinated over 700 animals through their monthly rabies clinics. Volunteers visited PETCO in California twice a day every day to care for their adoptable cats residing there.

Proceeds of the animal fair go to the care of the animals in SMAWL custody. Attendees at the animal fair included a reunion of adopters of a litter of puppies born under SMAWL’s care after the mother was rescued.