TORONTO -- The fur could be flying at an east-Toronto mosque Friday afternoon when a group of dog owners plan to walk their canines outside the building during prayer sessions.

It was late August when two groups - the Canadian Hindu Advocacy and Canadians United Against Terror - set up a Facebook page inviting people to walk their dogs in front the Salahuddin mosque in the east end.

Their call was a response to an incident in August that took place during an anti-Israel demonstration at Queen's Park by an Islamic group and a Jewish man was arrested for his involvement in an altercation where he was shoved and his dog kicked.

Some devout Muslims believe dogs to be unclean and vehemently avoid the animals.

The Queen's Park demonstration was a rally to mark al-Quds Day, an annual event originated by former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini calling for the destruction of Israel and the rising up of a Palestinian state.

One organizer of Friday's dog walk told QMI Agency demonstrators will set up on the sidewalk outside the mosque's main entrance.

"They'll see us when they go in, walking our dogs, and we'll have a loud speaker and they'll know why we're there," said Ron Banerjee of the Canadian Hindu Advocacy. "In a democratic society, we are kind to our animals."

Banerjee admitted that while the Facebook page as of Thursday night listed 349 as planning to attend the event, organizers have received only around 40 personal confirmations.

The Facebook page has had its share of controversial visitors as well.

It was near the end of August that Facebook administrators removed posts by Iranian-born Toronto resident Ali Shirazi after he threatened to throw dog owners who come to the mosque into a "lake of fire."

He also warned that their beloved pooches will be shot.
The event has attracted at least one radical evangelist south of the border.

Controversial Christian fundamentalist Terry Jones had reportedly endorsed the dog walk. Jones is known for his threat in 2010 to burn hundreds of copies of the Qur'an - the Muslim holy book - to mark that year's anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In April he carried out his threat by burning several of them.

Jones is more recently known for hanging an effigy of US President Barack Obama in response to the president's endorsement of same-sex marriage.