Today’s edition of the Suffolk News-Herald includes 39 of our favorite pets in the city.

The Priceless Pets Photo Pageant was a great success this year, giving proud pet owners a chance to show off their four-legged family members and compete for one of three different awards to be given during the annual Mutt Strut, set for Sunday at Bennett’s Creek Park.

But the real purpose of Priceless Pets was not to give pet people bragging rights for their favorite pooches, kitties or even gerbils. The section, which you’ll find inserted into today’s paper, is intended as a reminder about and encouragement to attend Mutt Strut, one of the main fundraisers for the Suffolk Humane Society.

Suffolk Humane was born in 2007 from a group of committed volunteers that saw how many animals were relinquished by their owners in Suffolk. These people wanted to make a change and vowed to partner with the City of Suffolk’s Animal Care Center to get the word out about adoptable animals right here in our community.

Since 2007, the humane society has branched into offering reduced-price spay and neuter services, it has partnered with PetSmart to offer adoption opportunities for cats, it has developed a robust working partnership with Suffolk Animal Care and it has offered a variety of educational opportunities for folks in the community who have questions about how to raise their animals.

But these initiatives are not cheap, and the humane society relies on donations to do its work. Hence the need for fundraisers like Mutt Strut and this newspaper’s continuing efforts to support the organization with publicity and financial contributions.

Mutt Strut is your chance to help and to have a good time while doing so.

New this year is a “pet lookalike contest,” where the pet owner judged to look most like his or her pet will win a prize.

Also new this year is a bobbing for hotdogs contest. Contests returning from past years include the Frosty Paws-eating contest and the “race the wind” contest, where police officers will break out their radar guns to measure which pup runs the fastest.

The Suffolk Public Library will bring its pop-up library, and it will be next to the therapy dogs.

Numerous other activities, including a magic show, demonstrations by the Suffolk Police K-9 unit, obedience rally demonstrations and more will be available, and there will be a variety of vendors on hand with pet-related items for purchase.

Of course, one of the main events will be the dog walk, which costs $15 per person, with participants urged to secure pledges from others to help increase the amount of money raised. There will be prizes for top individuals and teams, and the whole event is designed as a great day out for family, whether furry or not.

Mutt Strut takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bennett’s Creek Park, located at 3000 Bennetts Creek Park Road.

Bring your dog. And if you don’t have a dog, this might be just the place to find one that’s looking for a new forever home.