Downtown Dog Ambassador Program
Downtown Harrisonburg has gone to the Dogs!
Love bringing your dog downtown? Does your pup have what it takes to be a downtown dog influencer?
Learn more about this program and upcoming events below.
Presented by
What Are Hburg Hounds?
“Hburg Hounds” are dog ambassadors willing to share their love for Downtown Harrisonburg’s pet-friendly destinations on social media. Sign up to participate for free at one of our upcoming annual events or sign up online using the form below.
All Hburg Hounds are encouraged to share their experiences in Downtown Harrisonburg, tagging @DowntownHarrisonburg on social media to get reshared on HDR’s channels. As a thank you, we will send you regular news about exclusive Hburg Hounds events, swag items, and more.
What Makes Hburg Hounds a PAWsome Opportunity
Support Dog-Friendly Downtown Businesses
Get Cool Swag
Become a Downtown Celebrity
Connect with Pet Lovers
Make Your Mark on Downtown
Discover Dog-Friendly Events
Share the Love
Meet Opal, Downtown Harrisonburg’s First-Ever Dog Mayor!
Congratulations to our first-ever elected dog mayor of Downtown Harrisonburg, Opal! Opal scored highest in both our social media likes and donations with her campaign to create a PAWsitive future for all downtown dogs FURever!
Thank you to all 30 of our dog mayor candidates and to everyone who donated and voted in the 2025 election. Thank you for your support of HDR and our dog-friendly downtown!
Together, we raised over $6,000 for HDR’s mission, which includes dog-friendly programs like festivals and concert series, supporting small business owners, and keeping momentum with the Hburg Hounds dog influencer program.
Sign Up for Hburg Hounds
Hburg Hounds FAQs
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We compiled the many businesses that welcome dogs in our dog-friendly city. View our Dog-Friendly Guide!
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In Downtown Harrisonburg, there are many weekly and annual events to look forward to with your dog. Take a look at our upcoming events or follow our social media (Facebook; Instagram) for updates!
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Harrisonburg’s dog mayor is a ceremonial position, so no need to worry about your dog’s schedule getting filled with council meetings and engagements. However, Harrisonburg’s dog mayor will be invited to participate in various downtown events and exclusive photo ops as a Hburg Hounds celebrity!
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HDR is planning to hold dog mayor elections every other year. The next dog mayor election will be in 2027. We will let all of our Hburg Hounds know when dog mayor applications are open via email.
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For other questions, please email us at hdr@harrisonburgva.gov. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Donate to HDR to keep things like this possible.
Thank you for your support!
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Thank you to our sponsors!
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Thank you for your support! 🦮 Thank you to our sponsors! 🐶
