It wasn’t quite the dog days of summer, yet canines were among the main attractions Thursday evening during the kickoff of Greensburg’s three-day Summer in the City festivities.

Betsy Scheeren, a dog sitter from South Greensburg, was right in her element as she used both hands to vigorously pet Morgan, a 5-month-old female mix of pit bull and Labrador retriever.

The puppy was joined by a male Dalmatian and several adoptable cats in an exhibit presented by Westmoreland County-based Wayward Whiskers Animal Rescue.

“I love her eyes,” Scheeren said as she gazed into Morgan’s unusual gray irises. After 12 years of working with dogs, Scheeren said, “I haven’t found one I haven’t loved yet. I love them all.”

Morgan came with her owner, Tammie Guth of Jeannette, who coordinates the foster caretakers who house the pets Wayward Whiskers rescues from poor conditions.

“It’s good for people to be able to see that this breed is not so scary,” Guth said of the pit bull portion of her dog’s bloodline.

Ozzie Hewitt, 3, of Greensburg also was excited to pet the pup, while his mom, Sofiya, enjoyed visiting with Bucky, a Nigerian dwarf goat that came to the event from the Heal Animal Rescue sanctuary in Unity.

“It’s not something you usually see,” Sofiya Hewitt said of the goat, which was part of the Critter Corner, a new feature of the annual downtown Greensburg event.

A native of Bulgaria, Hewitt stayed in Greensburg after attending Seton Hill University. In addition to her son, she took in Thursday’s event with her husband, Bill, their daughter, Esmera, 1, and Hewitt’s mother, fellow immigrant Nona Aliosman.

“It’s really nice to have local events like this,” Hewitt said.”We go to all of the concerts in (St. Clair) park.”

Bucky enjoyed being fed blueberries by festival visitors. Of six rescued goats at the Heal site, “He’s one of our most social goats,” said animal caretaker Hannah Brasile of Greensburg.”His purpose is just to live his best life at our sanctuary.”

Other attractions through Saturday

Another new feature was a choreographed musical routine performed by the Hempfield Area cadets, a new troupe of twirlers in grades K-6 intended as a feeder group for their junior high and varsity counterparts at the school district.

“Their excitement overflows,” said Ali Troutman, the Hempfield Area band front director. “They’re wonderful to work with. They’re constantly building their skills.”

A cloudburst after 7 p.m. curtailed Thursday’s activities a little ahead of the scheduled 8 p.m. closing time at the Pitt & Penn parking lot along Pennsylvania Avenue.

But the event “was really good while it lasted, and we’ll be back tomorrow,” said Amy Beeghly, president of the Greensburg Business and Professional Association, which joined the Greensburg Community Development Corporation in organizing the event.

Summer in the City will continue from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Friday will be Greensburg Salem Night at the Pitt & Penn parking lot.

From 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Greensburg Salem School District Superintendent Ken Bissell and high school Vice Principal Adam Jones will be among volunteers taking their chances in a dunk tank that will raise money to benefit the Greensburg police K-9 program.

Also, the teen Westmoreland Performing Arts troupe will present Broadway and rock numbers, visitors will enjoy an ice cream social, and local artists will create caricatures and balloon sculptures. Activities for kids will be provided by the school district and by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Laurel Highlands.

Live music is slated from 6 to 10 p.m. with Adelaide in Autumn, described as a pop punk ‘n’ roll band; alternative group Outside Eliza; and Essential Machine, an indie rock family band.

Saturday’s lineup includes an indoor community yard sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Greensburg YMCA at Maple Avenue and Pittsburgh Street. Beginning at 11 a.m., the Y also will offer concessions and field games for kids.

A pet parade will start at 10:30 a.m. at the Petagogy pet supply store on Pittsburgh Street and will end at the Pitt & Penn lot.

Activities will return to the lot, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday — including the dunking booth, backyard games and a Great Gem Dig, for kids.

Greensburg Fire Department will display fire trucks and demonstrate search and rescue techniques with its bloodhound team.

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