The group will hold an event on Sunday similar to RSPCA’s Million Paws Walk, with fun runs open to residents and their pets.

PAW event development ranger Sean Greenhill said if the first Barkfest was well received, it would be expanded to include stalls and workshops in 2018.

“During winter I was in Sydney and went to this dog festival being held, and thought we should do this sort of thing in Albury,” he said.

“We had a chat about it at PAW and it turned out doing an event like this was something they have wanted to do for some time.

“What we’ve got is the fun run or walk this year as a trial for a full-blown canine festival in 2018.

“We’ll aim to have grooming, dog training, treats, dog sports – we’re talking to Mars Petcare about their involvement.”

Mr Greenhill began in his role earlier this year, with Parklands keen to expand its events.

“For our Riverina Trail Series, numbers were up 150 per cent on the previous year,” he said.

“The benefits of getting people out in the bush and being active are well documented, not just in terms of physical health, but mental health.”

The fun run and walk will take place around the Gateway island Trail network from 9am, with distance options being the three-kilometre Dog Jog and The Fast and the Furryous running for five kilometres.

For more information and to enter go to www.riverinatrails.org/border-barkfest.