The Dog Days of Summer

The doggie play day at Oats Park, billed as the “Bark and Splash Bash,” saw more than two dozen dogs join some shelter dogs for a day of fun last Saturday.

Community Service Officer Kayla Norcutt with the City of Fallon Animal Shelter said the event was “awesome” and the dogs had fun. The dogs had access to everything at the city’s Splash Pad adjacent to Oats Park Pool.

“It was like a dog park with hoses,” Norcutt laughed, adding the dogs got the zoomies and just enjoyed running around the splash pad and grassy area. She said they saw all breeds of dogs, from a 15-pound corgi to a pair of greyhounds, poodles and rottweilers. She especially enjoyed watching a shy golden retriever from Fernley break out of its shell and bound around the splash pad energetically. “She had the best time!” Norcutt said.

The Fallon Animal Control staff also participated in the “Together We Are Stronger” 5K Color Run/Walk sponsored by the Churchill Community Coalition. Norcutt said three staff members ran the 5K with two of their shelter dogs, and it was the first year this event has allowed dogs.

Norcutt said after the humans received awards, the dogs did too. There was the “cutest dog,” and the “dog who most looks like its owner.” But when the “ugliest dog” contest was up, Norcutt was stumped — she couldn’t let the “two cutest dogs ever” take the ugliest dog award, so she ran to her truck and grabbed Buck, the shelter’s longtime resident husky.

Buck, the well-behaved 10-year-old husky, is an owner surrender and as of Sept. 30, 2025, has spent 148 days at the shelter.