Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

I’m not sure how to tout this. As a free concert with a dog walk, or a dog walk with a free concert.

So I’ll start with Tommy’s group, the Johnny G Lyon Band, which will give a free concert at Al Lopez Park Saturday between 9 a.m. and noon.

But don’t come unless you like dogs and kids.

The event, of course, is the Animal Coalition of Tampa’s major annual fundraiser, Stride for Strays, which will feature about 30 teams of walkers who have raised money for the coalition’s low-cost spay/neuter clinic.

Before we go any further, and in the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I am a paid community liaison for the coalition, and Tommy’s band is getting paid to perform, too.

Anyway, the team that raises the most money gets a Golden Dog Bone trophy and a private suite at Tropicana Field for a Tampa Bay Devil Rays home game next season.

The Johnny G Lyon Band will provide live and loud entertainment except when emcee Dick Crippen, of the Devil Rays and Brighthouse Cable’s local sports channel, Catch 47, takes the microphone to announce something or other.

Stride for Strays’ major sponsors include Publix Supermarket Charities, Synovus Bank of Tampa Bay, the PetCo Foundation and the ASPCA’s Mission Orange.

Other donors include the Tampa Tribune, Big Cat Rescue, Sticks of Fire.com, the Johnny G Lyon Band, Printshack, MJ Clark, Bark Busters and other wonderfully supportive animal lovers.

Ken Suarez of WTVT Fox 13 News will be on hand, as will folks from Hillsborough County Animal Services and representatives from a number of breed rescue groups.

Vendors will have stuff for you to buy including snacks and breakfast food items, beverages, ice cream, pet paraphanalia and other goodies.

And the Humane Society of Tampa Bay will have its Mobile Adoption Center onsite just in case you want a forever friend.

Join us.