You are currently browsing the daily archive for April 8, 2009.
A shout out to new mom Kristy Pachciarz of Auburn Parks Dept, thanks for including us in this year’s festivities & best wishes to you and your family!
Pigs were dancing, parrots were rollerblading, goats were playing basketball and thousands of excited tails were wagging at the City of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation’s inaugural Petpalooza event, held on Saturday, May 31, 2008. This first time event was kicked off with a Dog Trot 3K Fun Run and also featured an animal-related entertainment stage, a petting zoo, pony rides, Skyhoundz Disc Dog Championships, a pet parade, an ‘Unleashed’ pet contest, animal-inspired inflatable rides, children’s activities, over 65 vendors, food concessions and much more.
Highlights from the event included the noon pet parade, featuring over 500 participants and their pets, dressed up in various costumes, riding in wagons or just walking along side their owners. The ‘Unleashed’ Pet Contest attracted the most spectators at the entertainment stage, with seven fun categories including the Best Pooch Smooch, Best Voice and Best Pet Trick. The title of Best Pet/Owner Look-a-Like went to a 60’s couple…a man dressed as a hippie and his shaggy-haired, peace sign and tie-dye wearing dog. The Valentine Performing Pigs, who have graced the stages of The Dave Letterman Show and Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show, wrapped up the day’s entertainment.
Those who were brave enough to come with children and their pets, had plenty to do. In addition to the entertainment stage and host of vendors, the festival provided a petting zoo and pony rides, animal-inspired inflatable rides, face painting, as well as other fun activities aimed at children, including duck races, cow milking and a fishing pond. Of course, if the dogs were anxious to participate in some fun of their own, there was an agility area and the disc dog competition available.
Auburn’s Petpalooza blew event coordinator’s expectations and will be back in a big way in 2009! This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, May 30 at Auburn’s Game Farm Park, from 10:00am – 4:00pm – and you’re going to want to ‘paw’ticipate! Once again, the Dog Trot will kick off the event at 9:30am. Registrations are already being accepted for this owner/pet fun run and the first 100 to register receive a FREE event bag jam-packed full of wonderful goodies. The City of Auburn is currently accepting event vendors and sponsors. For more information about Auburn’s Petpalooza, visit www.auburnwa.gov or call the Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation Department at 253-931-3043.
Kristy L. Pachciarz, CPRP, CPO
Special Events Coordinator
Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation
-
- Canine Cuisine menu, one of the many perks offered in Salish Lodge’s Pet Friendly Packages
As you pass through the mosaic glass doors in downtown Tacoma’s Murano you don’t just enter a hotel, you enter a vertical art gallery. Take a midnight elevator tour with us as we explore the glasswork display by each floor’s commissioned artist. Than take a stroll through the elegant modern décor of it’s many bars & sitting rooms. You won’t regret a weekend at the Murano. And although many attractions, including Point Defiance Park, Tacoma Art Museum & the Museum of Glass, sit nearby you may find it unnecessary to leave this hotel’s posh comfort.
As a life-long dog lover & Washington resident I have spent countless hours searching for new & exciting things that our family of four can experience together. Kiko & Maxx are our four-legged kids, and, along with my husband Alan, we love exploring the northwest’s cities and back roads. Our experiences range from camping and back-packing the Olympic Rain Forest to reveling in the most luxurious of resorts and spas. Although our boys are no longer the athletes they were in their youth, travel remains one of the great highlights of their lives. Thankfully, over the years the number of ‘dog friendly’ places and events seems to be growing. Hotels, parks and even legislature are at last taking note of our desire to include our four-legged family members in our outings & vacations. One of our goals is to search out and share these places & experiences with all of you. So please take a quick peek at a few of the adventures we’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy with our boys this year. You may be surprised at whose locations have joined the dog friendly list…
Dear Readers,
On behalf of our staff at Seattle Dog Magazine I would like to offer you our heartfelt thanks for your ongoing patronage and support as we transition into our new roles. We hope that you enjoy reading our newest issue as much as we enjoyed writing it! Here’s a quick preview. As always, we welcome and appreciate your feedback, so please let us know if you have an opinion or article suggestion.
Erin Bradley
Editor-in-Chief
Seattle Dog Magazine
