5A's Animal Shelter to Host "Barks and Bikes" Adoption Event

Our Daily Show Interview Barks & Bikes on April 11th for 5A's- Adopt All Day!

ALTON - Community members have the chance to “adopt on the spot” during a 5A’s Animal Shelter event.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026, Ted’s Motorcycle World will host all 5A’s dogs for a “Barks and Bikes” adoption event. Attendees can visit with the 5A’s dogs, play poker, compete in doggy dress-up contests, and enjoy a variety of raffles, snacks and more throughout the day. Proceeds go toward the 5A’s work, but Carol and Greg with 5A’s emphasized that the goal is to adopt out as many dogs as possible.

“You get a new family member,” said Greg. “That’s how we see it.”

Greg and Carol shared that 5A’s is celebrating its 70th anniversary with the free Barks and Bikes event. Attendees can play poker, with a 50/50 payout, throughout the day. There will also be free hotdogs, burgers, soda and coffee available. They have a few raffles planned, and they emphasized that this open house-style event will be a lot of fun.

At 11:30 a.m., people are encouraged to bring their dogs to the “Diva Dog” competition. This will be followed by the “Biker Dog” competition at 1:30 p.m.

It costs $10 to enter your dog in these dress-up competitions. The Diva Dog winner will receive a wine basket, while the Biker Dog winner will receive a beer basket.

Greg added that they are accepting food trucks and vendors who want to be a part of the event. You can call 5A’s at 618-466-3702 to inquire.

But the main goal of the day is to connect dogs with potential owners. They will bring three or four dogs every hour to the event, and there will be an area where attendees can play with the dogs and get a sense for whether the dog would be a good fit in their home.

Greg and Carol are especially excited to give “a chance” to the older dogs, who are sometimes overlooked in the shelter. They noted that most of these dogs are as cuddly and playful as ever, and they just need an opportunity to find their families.

“Some of the older dogs don’t get their chance. They’re going to get their chance this time,” Carol said. “We just have to get some people out there, that’s all.”

Carol and Greg, as well as their “really devoted” staff, are looking forward to the Barks and Bikes adoption event on April 11. They encourage people to visit their official Facebook page for updates, or to check out the official website to learn more about their work and the available animals.

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