 The Pawsitively Elgin Dog Festival coming up this July is the perfect event to support local animal shelters and celebrate your fur babies! To get to know what the organization is all about and what the festival offers, event organizers recently sat down and answered a few question for us. Read on to learn more!  Biography We're a group of 10 dog-loving people who strongly believe in the work animal rescues do and want to support them in their mission. We are 100% volunteer driven and spend hundreds of hours a year putting the festival together...and we wouldn't have it any other way. We also love a great pawty! When, and why, did the Pawsitively Elgin Dog Festival begin? In 2017 members of our committee attended a dog event which turned out to be very disappointing and one of them said to the other, “We can do better”! In 2018 that was proven. The event is 100% volunteer-driven and continues to grow every year. We are super excited to be at Pinafore Park in St. Thomas this year!
What do you think people would like to know most about the event? Our whole event is based around animal rescues and the important work they do in our communities. Each year the proceeds of the festival go to two local animal rescues. The rescues apply and the Paws Organizing Committee votes for who the beneficiaries will be for the year. Both beneficiaries are involved with the planning of the event. We do have a lot of shaded areas, water stations provided by the event and a lot of vendors put out water bowls. We have a doggie first aid station just in case and several of our vendors and sponsors are veterinarian clinics. We say, “Dogs Welcome – People Tolerated”. All dogs are special and that’s how we want to make them feel by ensuring they are very comfortable in our event’s environment. Pinafore Park is very large, which will allow the dogs plenty of space to be away from the hustle and bustle, or they can be right in the middle of it. Activities! We have a lure course which is extremely popular, and an agility section where doggos can give it a try. There is also a scent course, water to play in and hundreds of people who are more than happy to give behind the ear scratches and tummy rubs. We love that several of our vendors are in the pet treat business, and they have samples out for picky puppies…and those that are not-so-picky! Our VIP area is the perfect place to pamper a pup with nail grooming and painting, a little spritz, pupachinos with various toppings, pictures on the red carpet (with awesome props), a SWAG bag full of doggie delights and the list goes on. There really is something for everyone. Attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs, or a blanket and park themselves under a shade tree and watch the puppers and people go by. It’s a stress-free, fun-filled day that in the end, benefits two dog rescues.
Rules! We take the safety of our attendees and their doggos very seriously. All dogs must be on a leash, and we discourage the use of retractable leashes as they can be dangerous in a crowded space. We feel most dog owners are responsible and know their dogs. What can first-time attendees expect from the Pawsitively Elgin Dog Festival? Attendees can expect a full day of fun at Pinafore Park! There is a ton of room to enjoy the day whether they are participating in a contest on the stage, shopping at the vendors and sponsors sites, enjoying some food, enrolling their dog in a little agility or scent work, or watching the Flying Furballs show – our doggie entertainment. Do you have any tips or suggestions to help them make the most of their experience? To make the most of the day, I suggest checking out our social media sites leading up to the event for information about the contests and other things happening in the park that day. Make sure you bring a hat and water bottle if the day is super warm – there are lots of water stations for the pups around the park. Once at the event, take the time to enjoy the event all day. Talk to our sponsors and vendors and definitely take advantage of the free samples! Enter the competitions – there are great donated prizes. And last but not least, all dogs need to be pampered, so make sure they become a VIP! If you have any questions or need help, please reach out to a “pack puppy” volunteer. They are easy to spot in their PAWS volunteer t-shirts.  What is the most rewarding part of being involved in this event? Petting dogs! And then there is the after-event party where we get to hand cheques to two deserving rescues! I’d love to say that the money we’ve donated has helped to build more shelters and feed countless dogs, but the truth is at least 90% (if not higher) of the money the rescues get goes directly to their vet bills. I don’t think people realize how much debt a rescue can carry in just the vet bills alone. When adopters pay the adoption fee, the rescues are not making money overall. One dog’s vet bill may be well below the adoption fee, and another’s vet bills were double the adoption fee. In the end, most rescues do not break even and rely on fundraising to get them through. What we hear back from the rescues is what a great feeling it was to either pay off their vet bill or put a very large dent in it and the relief they feel. That makes all the hundreds of hours we pour into the event worthwhile! The festival is running on July 20th 2024 at Pinafore Park from 10am-4pm.
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