One of Randy Long’s burly pet Akitas loves it when Pink Floyd is played on the stereo. She’ll situate herself directly between his Bose 901 speakers and lay on her back with all four paws in the air to the strains of “Wish You Were Here.”

More than 70 Dogs at Long’s Akita Rescue Farm will be experiencing a similar comforting vibe this weekend.

Long is staging Dog Stock 2005, a three-day benefit concert in which 21 bands and a gaggle of comedians will perform on his Melvern farm (about 30 miles southwest of Ottawa).

“With my background in the music business and the need to raise awareness and raise funds for these dogs, I found the two were a happy marriage,” says Long, a veteran rock band manager.

Now in its third year, Dog Stock has expanded to include an extra day of music and an added emphasis on national acts, all of whom are donating their time and talent.

“You know what can make those dogs dance? A little zydeco,” says Chubby Carrier, laughing.

Randy Long, left, pets his dog Gossip on the site of Dog Stock 2005 at his Akita Rescue Farm in Melvern. Guitarist Jeff Scheetz will perform Saturday and Sunday at the three-day event.

The Louisiana native is leaving his hurricane-ravaged state to headline the benefit. He’ll close out Sunday with a midnight-3 a.m. slot featuring his “high-energy, swamp-funky zydeco.”

“I love dogs,” the accordion player says. “I’m on the road so much I can’t have mine.”

Carrier says he’s done a number of benefits during his career, but none as unique as this one.

“What a great cause,” he says. “How could you not be involved in something like this?”

Dog-loving concept

Last year’s event drew a few hundred people. But with a combination of more advance publicity and presumably mild weather, Long hopes to eclipse those numbers.

This year’s gathering should also benefit from the introduction of a liquor license.

“I don’t think there’s anyplace else in Osage County selling liquor on Sunday night but us,” he says.

Chubby Carrier

Long promises the concert will deliver a number of standout performers. In addition to the renowned Carrier, Long is proud to present guitarist Jimmy D. Lane – the son of legendary bluesman Jimmy Rogers – whose latest album is a collaboration with Double Trouble.

Also notable is California indie pop band The Heavenly States, the first American rock band to play Libya.

“The routing genie really worked in our favor,” Long admits.

Ironically, not all the musicians are necessarily fond of Akitas … or canines, for that matter.

“Kasey Rausch out of Kansas City, she’s not a dog lover,” he says of the singer-songwriter. “In fact, she’s kind of freaked out by dogs. She doesn’t want to get any dog hair on her or be licked. But she’s into the concept of being a dog lover.”

Powerful and in-tune

Long’s involvement with the Akita Adoption and Rescue Foundation started a decade ago. He first became smitten with the Japanese hunting breed when he took in an Akita from a K.C. rescue organization as a companion for his husky.

During that span he has adopted out nearly 500 dogs. Currently, he houses the animals in large, individual pens under shady trees on his 81-acre property.

“Akitas are much more in tune with humans,” he says. “They really think things out. You can see the wheels turning in their eyes when a new situation develops. On the other hand, they’re more responsibility than your average dog because they’re very big; they’re very powerful. For the very same reason they’re great with people, they’re not great with animals because they have this vast history as a hunting breed.”

He says the average life span of the regal beasts is 10-12 years.

“But I have dogs out here that I rescued from a horrible puppy mill in Nebraska years ago, and they’re now 16 years old,” he recalls. “As soon as they got good treatment, they’re like, ‘Hey, we can retire now.'”

Big festival vibe

“If it were the wiener dog rescue foundation, I’d probably be as excited about doing it because I have a passion for any animals that are mistreated or abused or unwanted,” says guitarist Jeff Scheetz.

The Kansas City blues-rocker has played all three Dog Stocks and will perform two sets this weekend: 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 p.m. Sunday. Scheetz and Long not only collaborate during this concert but throughout the rest of the year as well; Long manages The Jeff Scheetz Band.

Scheetz thinks this year’s musical lineup will result in quite a draw.

He says, “It’s a pretty eclectic mix of stuff, which gives it more of a big festival vibe than a local ‘bunch of bands’ thing.”

Although Scheetz fully believes in Dog Stock, he’s not as convinced as Long that the Akitas are big music lovers.

“I don’t know how much they appreciate the loud noise,” he says. “On the other hand, they live out in the middle of nowhere, so it’s probably pretty exciting for the dogs.”