FORT RUCKER, Ala. (April 12, 2012) -- Picerne housing is going to the dogs … and their owners.

This is the third year Picerne Military Housing will host the Woofstock festival for the Families and pets living on post, said Brandon Masters, communications manager.

The event, to be held April 20 from 4-6 p.m. at the event field on 7th Avenue, will feature vendors, giveaways, free food and live music. Residents are invited to bring their pets as long as they are kept on a leash during the festival, explained Beth Martin, community management portfolio coordinator.

"It's always a lot of fun," she said.

In addition to the vendors and giveaways, the Ozark-Dale County Humane Society will be hosting an adopt-a-thon and the Fort Rucker Veterinary Clinic will have information about the animals available for adoption at the stray clinic on post. The vet clinic will also have information about the microchips that are required for animals living on post, Martin added.

"We don't want to exclude the residents who don't have pets, so we'll have activities for the kids, and food and music. We try to make it all encompassing, but this event really does focus on the pets," Masters said, adding that McGruff the Crime Dog will be attending and military police will be doing demonstrations with some of their dogs.

Most of the vendors and prizes at the festival will be pet-related, according to Masters. Some of the giveaways include doggie daycare gift certificates, spay and neuter certificates, treat samples and dog toys.

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is also sponsoring a dog biscuit contest, Martin said. At the festival, people will be asked to guess how many dog biscuits are in a jar. The person who gets the closest to the actual number will win a big basket of prizes.

In addition to the demonstrations and prizes, pet owners will be invited create their own memento of the event. "We pre-print dog poems on cardstock and the owners can bring their pets and put their paws in ink and then put them on the paper," Martin said. "It's something for them to save and keep."

The Woofstock festival, one of seven big events sponsored by Picerne Military Housing each year, started when the "bark parks" opened, but it had to be moved to the event field because so many people attended, Masters explained, adding that between 700 and 1,000 people are expected at this year's event.

"We want to improve the quality of life for our Families and give them something extra to do while they are here," Masters said.