BOARDMAN — You could say that Kelly Welsh and Libby go together like peanut butter and jelly.

“She’s fiercely in love with me, and she’s loyal,” Welsh, of Laurel, Maryland, said, referring to her 11-year-old miniature dachshund mix.

Welsh made the 300-mile trip to the area to visit her friend, Lisa Zimmerman of Boardman. Before or while in town, Welsh also had entered her beloved Libby in the third annual PAW-Lapalooza dog show Saturday afternoon at Boardman Park.

Hosting the two-hour, family-friendly community gathering, which also featured plenty of activities for the pets, was the Junior League of the Mahoning Valley.

It took a bit of friendly cajoling and encouragement, but Libby was finally persuaded to eat peanut butter off a plate, which was part and parcel of the peanut butter licking contest, one of several events that made up the show.

The others were best talent, oldest to youngest, best costume, what’s in a name and judge’s choice, followed by an awards ceremony.

Welsh met Libby at a dog show that a local nonprofit entity called Partnership for Animal Welfare hosted. The organization rescues dogs from high-kill shelters before the animals are fostered then placed in loving, forever homes, Welsh said. She added that Libby also is easygoing and “goes with the flow.”

“I got him seven years ago,” Zimmerman said about Rupert, her Old English sheepdog. “I had a sheepdog when I was a kid, so I wanted to get another one as an adult.”

To hear Zimmerman tell it, when it comes to descriptive characteristics, Rupert is all over the map. He may be clumsy, silly, lazy and quirky at times, but overall he’s akin to a loveable “big clown,” she said, adding that he also gets along well with other dogs.

Each of the events was divided into two categories: medium and large dogs, as well as small and toy ones, Marla Zelinsky and Ali Cole, PAW-Lapalooza co-chairwomen, noted. The oldest pet was about 15, Zelinsky said.

The gathering was open to all dogs that had proof of having been vaccinated, Zelinsky said, adding that the show also featured nine or 10 vendors.

One of those who had set up shop was Renee Blashak of North Canton, who started a business several months ago called CoCo’s Boutique, named after her dog.

“I began last fall when I retired” as a juvenile parole officer, she said.

Blashak had for sale a variety of sweaters, dresses, bowties for male dogs and other merchandise handmade from yarn. Perhaps the most noticeable attraction on her table was a stuffed replica of her dog, CoCo.

Other vendors included The Dog Stop of Boardman and Drone Animal Rescue, which relies heavily on pilots and ground rescuers who use sophisticated, high-tech means to save household pets and farm animals, then reunite them with their families.

The pets in Saturday’s dog show also were given “swag” bags that contained Frisbees and other small treats.