Celebrity ballplayers from Fayetteville’s own Swamp Dogs, along with their mascot, and NFL Carolina Panthers player Tank Tyler and his dog, Deuce, will be special visitors at the 10th annual Dog Wash Saturday, July 24, to benefit Solutions for Animals, a nonprofit homeless animal shelter near Raeford.

The Dog Wash begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. and is co-sponsored by Five Points Pet Resort in western Hoke County. The wash is held at the resort, on Montrose Road off N.C. 211 in Raeford. Admission is free, and money collected on services and products is used to feed and care for the homeless animals at the shelter.

“The baseball players are expected to be present from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., and you just might get to see them bathing dogs with other volunteers while the team mascot stands by,” says Cindy Bristow, owner of SFA, who supports her shelter with the help of volunteers. “All are available for photo ops. Give a donation to SFA, and these celebrity athletes will smile with delight. Tyler will be specially happy to give autographs to people who give a donation.”

The low price of $5 will get your favorite canine a bath done by willing volunteers who supply the shampoo, water and towels, and another $5 will get your dog a nail trim by specialists from Five Points.

Sleepy Guts Productions’ Nelson James, of Raeford, is the DJ. Souvenir T-shirts and more will be available with suitable messages, provided by SFA Doggie Police, Shelly and Stephanie of Friendly Reminders Inc. Culprits will go to Doggie Jail, where the “worst behaved,” “too cool,” “crotch sniffers” or “oops poopers” will be kept until bailed out.

There will be raffles, prizes, ice cream, a kids’ booth, face painting, games, food by Dog Nation Grill, of Southern Pines, pony rides, as well as hourly “best shaker” prizes.

Pine Tree Animal Hospital will be providing rabies vaccinations and discounted flea and tick preventive. The Moore Humane Society and SFA will have adoptable doggies looking for a home.

For information or to volunteer, e-mail sfapoopscoop08@aol.com, or call (910) 875-7244.