The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians, or at least a portion of it, will go to the dogs Saturday morning, and the four-legged visitors couldn’t be happier.

Pooches of all shapes and sizes will be primped and on parade as the area’s best friends and their human counterparts get ready to strut their stuff and sniff a bit.

Saturday will be year 23 of Bark in the Park, an annual fundraiser for the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.

The event is a dog show, of sorts, but one in which bribes to the judges are welcome since all the money goes to help fund the non-profit organization.

A week from Saturday, the NACHS will officially open its new humane shelter, just down the road from its existing and long-outdated facility.

The new shelter has been a long-time coming and wouldn’t have been possible without the caring, generous people of our community.

Through direct donations, volunteering time and participation in fundraisers such as the Bark in the Park, the new shelter has been made a reality.

We hope the community can take pride in knowing that the organizers worked hard to see the project through and say “thanks” when you see them Saturday as you attend the Bark in the Park.

Even if you don’t have a dog, it’s almost guaranteed that one in attendance Saturday would love for you to give him or her a good behind-the-ear scratch.