Pawlooza happens this coming Saturday, August 20th from 10 to 6, at Steve Plunkett’s Fleetwood Farm on Elviage Road, near Westdel Bourne in west London. It is a huge dog party organized by ARF Ontario (Animal Rescue Foundation) in London.
Admission for the day, including parking, is $10 per vehicle. Hundreds of vendors of dog stuff are there, along with specialty groups like dog sports, specific breed clubs and rescue groups.
Each group keeps the money it raises through sales and donations, and the overall funds raised go to ARF and LEADS, a special needs employment and training programme. You’ll see vendors from all over the province. There’s lots of food for both you and your dog. There are demonstrations of dog talent like agility and obedience.
Dog fun
Your dog can go swimming or compete in dock diving in the small lake on the property. But if, like us, you have non-swimming dogs, you can find a spot along the bank and watch Labs fling themselves off the dock into the water time after time.
Just the property itself is enough to make you want to go. The grounds are incredibly beautiful. Booths are lined up in several rows, so you can shop to your heart’s content. Then you can wander in the landscaped grounds and woods.
If you are thinking about getting a dog, there will be lots of dogs there with their rescue groups. You can talk with knowledgeable people about the characteristics of different kinds of dogs, and you can see pretty much every breed of dog walking around the grounds. You can even find out exactly what kinds of dogs created your mutt with a DNA test. If you want to get inside your dog’s head (and who doesn’t), you can visit the dog psychic’s booth.
Homeless Animals Day
Its date is a deliberate choice. Since 1992, the 3rd Saturday of August has been International Homeless Animals Day. The International Society of Animal Rights picked that day to focus attention on animals in need of help and a home.
So mark the calendar and have a great doggy day. Your dogs of course are welcome – it is a dog party after all. But if you want to go without a dog, you’ll still have a great time.
See my Pawlooza: Rescue Me! for our time at the 2011 STDOA booth. From my St. Thomas Dog Blog Aug. 12, 2011. Date, time and cost is from Pawlooza website for 2016.
