With springtime fully established — check your car in the morning for the telltale layer of pollen, in case you’ve somehow failed to notice the change in the weather — it’s time to get your pooch ready for Suffolk’s premier animal-friendly event, the Suffolk Humane Society’s eighth annual Mutt Strut.

Scheduled to take place May 1, the fundraiser is a favorite of animal lovers around the city. Just how often does one get a chance to walk the dog and raise money at the same time, anyway?

This year’s Mutt Strut will be held at Bennett’s Creek Park, a location change that organizers hope will encourage participation by folks in the nearby communities. The park location also provides a ready-made walking track for those who wish to participate in the pledge walk.

And the humane society is encouraging as many people as possible to do just that; there’s a $35,000 goal to meet, and the pledge walk is where most of the money is raised.

Individuals or teams can register for the walk online at shsmuttstrut.dojiggy.com. The cost is $15 for each person. There will be prizes for top individuals and top teams, including an iPad Mini for the top overall fundraiser and a pizza party for up to 12 people at Sal’s for the top team. Human pledge walk participants usually bring their pooches along on a leash or walk in honor of their cat or in memory of a beloved pet.

But even if you don’t participate in the pledge walk — and you should, by the way — there will be plenty of fun to be had at Mutt Strut. Organizers expect to have games, entertainment, vendors, adoption opportunities and more available for guests to enjoy.

The Suffolk Humane Society’s admirable dual mission is to promote the bond between animals and people and to reduce the problem of pet overpopulation through education, advocacy, adoption and spay/neuter programs. Mutt Strut aligns perfectly with those goals and — as a great bonus for folks in Suffolk and their four-legged friends — also provides a great day in the park for people and their pets.

We encourage you to make plans now to attend.