DANA POINT : Walk Will Benefit Pet Rescue Group

Connie Hines, co-star of the “Mr. Ed” television show, will be a celebrity judge at the first Tails and Whales Wag-a-Thon.

The event, to be held in conjunction with the Festival of Whales on Saturday, will benefit the Animal Rescue Foundation, a local group that helps find homes for stray pets.

There will be two-kilometer and four-kilometer walks. Walkers with pledges of more than $200 will qualify for a drawing for a trip to San Francisco. Several other prizes, ranging from hotel packages to dinners and entertainment passes, will be given away.

Participants can either walk their favorite pet or walk alone. Event organizers noted that surrogate pets can be found for anyone who wants a partner for the walk.

“We’ll provide a pet for anyone who needs one,” said event co-chairwoman Mary Obenberger. “And the pet can be taken home after the walk.”

Registration starts at 8 a.m., and the walk begins an hour later.

Special prizes will be awarded for the best pet trick, best costume, best owner-pet look-alike and most money pledged.

In addition to Hines, who played the wife of Wilbur Post, owner of the famous “talking” horse, Assemblyman Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) will be a celebrity judge.

The preregistration fee is $15; registering on the morning of the walk will cost $20.

For more information, call (714) 661-6161 or (714) 489-5945.