Get a long little doggie! A pair of thirsty dachshunds gets some relief during the San Antonio Botanical Garden’s ''Dog Days of Summer'' event last year. Courtesy photo

Special to the North San Antonio Times

Have a day out with your best furry friend, as the San Antonio Botanical Garden opens its gates to dog lovers in San Antonio Aug. 2 and 3 for the popular “Dog Days of Summer” event.

Presented by Milk-Bone®, the event offers a variety of special pet-related activities. The garden will open early at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Visitors are invited to bring their dog (on a leash) and enjoy the day!

And the day can even turn into a bonanza for you and your pooch as visitors are invited to “Make a Milk-Bone Moment™!” The company is searching for the first ever Milk-Bone® SpokesDog. During both days of the Dog Days of Summer event, visitors can participate by having their dog pose for the camera and share a favorite.

The top 100 Milk-Bone Moments™ will be posted on www.Milk-Bone.com and America will vote on the finalists to determine the favorite. The winner of the search will receive a $100,000 contract for their dog to serve as the SpokesDog. There will be plenty of samples of snack products and dog contests throughout the days.

Dog Days of Summer is co-sponsored by the San Antonio Animal Care Services, Animal Defense League, Humane Society/SPCA of Bexar County, and the San Antonio Botanical Society. All of these pet care organizations will be represented at Dog Days and have educational material to share. A donation of $5 per dog will be collected and given as a contribution to these sponsors.

From 8 to 11 a.m. Aug. 2, special activities will be offered:

• A variety of dogs available for adoption will be on site.

• Microchipping will be done at a discounted price of $25 per animal (this includes implantation and registration). Microchipping helps an owner track their pets should they become lost.

• Pet licenses will be for sale. (Bring proof of rabies vaccination.)

• A display of plants that are poisonous to dogs.

• A selection of pet products will be offered.

Visitors can sign up for the free raffle with a chance to win a basketful of dog goodies. The basket has been donated by the Humane Society/SPCA of Bexar County.

Large plastic pools of water will be located throughout the Garden for the animals to drink and “mutt mitts” will be provided for responsible dog-owners to help pick up after their pets.

So why “Dog Days”? In the summer, the brightest of the stars in the Canis Major constellation (meaning “the big dog”) is named Sirius, so Sirius is referred to as the Dog Star. It is so bright that the ancient Romans thought that the earth actually received heat from it.

In the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the sun and the ancients believed that its heat actually added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time “dog days,” from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after. On present day calendars, dog days occur July 3 through August 11 … definitely a time of hot weather in San Antonio.

The Carriage House Bistro is open for brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 2 and 3. The Bistro is located inside the historic Carriage House at the Garden. Although no pets are allowed inside the restaurant, there is outdoor seating for pet lovers to enjoy a meal.

Regular admission to the San Antonio Botanical Garden is: $7 adults, $5 military, seniors and students, $4 for children 3 to 13. (No admission charge for Botanical Society members.) For more information on the Dog Days of Summer or other events at the garden, visit www.sabot.org.