ANACORTES — Dogs from as far away as British Columbia and Marysville gathered together Saturday for a day of all things canine during the fifth annual Bark in the Park at Storvik Park. 
Dogs pushing 200 pounds mixed with pooches the size of pop cans, and everything in between. Some wore costumes, such as handmade leather chaps with fringe or tutus and princess crowns. Others went with a simple bandana — all with surprisingly little barking or aggression. 
“This is absolutely our best yet,” said Amy Terhune, coordinator of this year’s event. “Now people know what it is and look forward to it.”
More people flock to Storvik Park each year to enjoy the dog festivities as word gets out about the event, Terhune said.
She began Bark in the Park to raise money for Skagit County’s first off-leash dog park, which will open this July in Anacortes at Ace of Hearts Rotary Park on H Avenue. 
But the event has taken on a life of its own, becoming a great way to have fun and raise funds.
At Saturday’s event, dogs and their owners competed in a cake walk, strolling around in a circle of balls to music until the music stopped. If the ball where the dogs stopped had the winning number on it, the dog won a liver pie. 
Other costumed dogs performed choreographed dances with their owners to songs including “Mr. Bojangles” and “Walking on Sunshine.” Dogs weaved around and jumped over their owners’ legs, and walked back and forth to the beat of the songs. 
In the audience, other dogs and owners watched with amusement. 
Some dogs took part in the more athletic fly ball activity, running and jumping over five hurdles before grabbing the ball and then jumping over the hurdles again. People cheered and dogs couldn’t contain their excited barks. Others took part in the agility courses. 
Anacortes Police Department Animal Control Officer Marie Patovan and her dog, Ryder, demonstrated several tricks. Patovan was able to direct Ryder to go where she wanted with simple movements of her legs. Patovan asked Ryder to bring her a stool, and the pooch immediately obliged. Then he stood on top of it. 
“Everyone sees him as a work dog,” Padovan said after the demonstration. “I wanted to show them that he’s a lot of fun and he’s a thinking dog.”
This year was 3.7-pound Yorkshire Terrier Frodo’s first Bark in the Park.
Frodo was one of the dogs rescued from what officials say was a “puppy mill” shut down by police in Big Lake last January. 
His new owner, dog groomer Wendy Richeson, said all but two of the dog’s teeth had to be removed, but he has settled into his new life. 
Another Bark in the Park participant, Sue Mitchell, had helped Frodo when he was first rescued at the Humane Society of Skagit Valley.
“It’s so good to see him like this,” Mitchell said.