DINUBA – Nebraska Park was filled with howls, barks and the jingle of name tags as residents gathered for a “paw”-some afternoon.
On Oct. 4, the city’s dog lovers gathered for the annual Dinuba Dog Days event. Local organizations, vendors and community members gathered for a day filled with activities, food and a series of adorable dog competitions.
“(Dog Days) really just shows that good people like animals,” said Katie Baker, director of service dog programs for California Service Dog Academy. “So it’s a fun way to get together, support one another and enjoy our time with our pets.”
This yearly event serves as a fundraiser for Jimmie Low Dog Park, maintaining the park and expanding available obstacles for both big and small dogs. It also serves as a way to raise awareness for animal-based organizations, and the services that are offered in the region.
Visalia Animal Services was present, and brought along a handful of furry friends whose adoption fees were completely waived for the day. They also made guests aware of the Tulare County Animal Services’ promotion, sponsored by the BISSELL Pet Foundation, where all dogs can be adopted for $50, and cats for $10 off until Oct. 15.
The campaign, titled “Empty the Shelters,” aims to address overcrowding in shelters, and is taking place in 40 different states.
“We’re seeing (overcrowding) in all communities across the United States right now,” said Candace Harrington, animal services manager for Visalia Animal Services. “It’s just that there’s so many animals that are coming in, but not always enough homes for all of them.”
Harrington noted that events like Dinuba Dog Days play a significant role in raising community awareness, and helping sheltered animals find their homes.
Once guests got acquainted with the various booths, everyone gathered for the dog walk parade led by Snoopy and the Dinuba Fire Department’s mascot, Sparky. The pair led the group on a walk through the park, ending right in front of the dog park to start the costume competitions.
Pups lined up for their shot to win the first or second place for best costume, or the elusive first place for most creative costume. The competitions were dog-eat-dog, but a few rose above.
Willow, a blonde spaniel, won first place for best costume as a mob wife movie star, complete with a pair of stunning shades and a luxurious head scarf. A white and orange collie named Zoe won second place as an “old lady,” sporting a dog costume of an orange vest, plaid pants and a cane.
Most creative costume easily went to a chilled-out corgi named Natty, dressed as a can of Natural Light beer or a “Natty Light,” complete with a rolling cooler.
After the competition was a series of training competitions such as best fetch, stay, roll over, tail wag and more. Returning from last year’s Dog Days event was Doctor “Doc” Holiday, a Staffordshire bull terrier-Queensland heeler mix, who secured first place in the roll over competition and second in the fetch and stay competitions.
The event reached its climax with the tennis ball drop, the big fundraising promotion for the day. Guests purchased tennis balls with numbers to be dropped from a hung container. For his standout performance in the competitions, Doc was chosen to select three balls from the floor for winners to receive prizes donated from local businesses.
As the event closed out, dogs and their owners trotted back to their cars after an afternoon packed with community fun.
Heather Leiferman, events coordinator for the city of Dinuba, noted that her and team will be going back to the drawing board immediately to plan for next year, in hopes of bringing it back even bigger and badder.
