This high-jumping dog competed at Disc Dog Days at Dublin Park in Madison. Madison Animal Rescue Foundation received event proceeds. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Madison hosted a first-time event for Alabama that has benefited Madison Animal Rescue Foundation (MARF).

Dublin Park hosted about 65 teams for Disc Dog Days on May 9-10. Professional trainers showed their dogs in acrobatic exercises to compete for the state championship and qualify for world championship competition.

“We were proud to host it in Madison,” Mayor Troy Trulock said.

MARF received $400 from the event, director Miki Bennett said.

“MARF currently has three heartworm-positive dogs, has had two parvo dogs in the last few weeks to treat and has a cat that needs an amputation,” Bennett said. “Those are special-need cases that cost thousands of dollars over and above our monthly average of $10,000 for routine vet costs.”

Teams from across the Southeast, along with teams from Missouri and Michigan, participated in Disc Dog Days. “We had five world champion dogs and their trainers and other teams competing to qualify for the world championships in Chattanooga in September,” Trulock said.

Madison resident Bill Coirier met with Trulock and suggested hosting Disc Dog Days. “I said, ‘Absolutely,'” Trulock said. “We had a series of meetings with MARF, Madison Chamber of Commerce, our parks and recreation team and Bill Coirier to make this event a success.”

For the event, Madison families brought their pets and entered fun contests like “Best Dressed” and “Loudest Bark.” The professional owners and dogs demonstrated Frisbee throwing/retrieval skills and vied for “Best Talent” and “Best in Show.”

Every Saturday, MARF offers adoptions at Petco, 8213 U.S. 72 near Target, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adopters can complete an application or in-person interview.

For more information, visit madisonarf.org.