The Friendly Groomer and Victor’s Tattoo

Minutes after we arrived at Pawlooza dog festival my schnoodle Victor wanted a tattoo. Not really a tattoo (and not really his idea), it’s a spray “paint” orange heart on his back-end thanks to Kelly Keillor, assistant groomer at The Friendly Groomer in London, Ontario. Fee was a donation.

Most of the money spent at this event goes to good causes, and by ‘good causes’ I mean more than 50 animal rescues given free booth space at this excellent event.

Dogs, not cows, at Pawlooza 2015

The Friendly Groomer booth is one of many – many – at Pawlooza promoting businesses, raising money for non-profit dog, cat, guinea pig, bunny and wildlife organizations, selling all natural treats and signing up people and their pets for services. Pawlooza is one of the biggest, and so far best, dog festivals I’ve attended.

Held annually on the third Saturday of August (this year on August 15) from 10 am to 6 pm on the 105-acre private Plunkett Estate in London, Ontario, this massive festival – deserving of the ‘looza’ moniker – raises money for ARF animal rescue and LEADS employment services. About 25,000 people and 6,000 dogs attend. Troops of volunteers corral cars and festivals goers seamlessly at the impressively well-organized extravaganza. Parking is $10, and you need a car to get to this rural estate outside the city of London.

Service dog in training…

(FYI: The Plunkett property, complete with golf course, running stream deep enough for doggie dock diving and 32-car garage, is dubbed by locals as ‘the most public private estate in the city’ because of the number of fundraisers Steve Plunkett and Jan Field host every year.)

The star of the show? Dogs, of course. Everyone’s dog.

Hundreds of dogs, all shapes, sizes, and breeds, led their people parents on leash. There was an off-leash fun zone near behind the main stage that hosts event such as the Next Top Dog Model event, at the back of this residential property. The home – albeit palatial home – feel makes Pawlooza a celebration of like-minded animal lovers rather than an expo.

Not even the beating sun of one of the summer’s warmest days could melt the love of all things furry palpable at my favourite animal event this year.

Here are some highlights:

Dog diving at Pawzoola 2015

• Almost every breed of dog rescue organization from Southern Ontario attends including fostering organizations and some friendly furry faces looking for forever homes
• A silent auction filled with donations from vendors
• Dog DNA testing
• Pet first aid classes running in September
• A VIP tent where for $5 you existed with a swag bag and a doggie massage
• Dog agility demonstrations from Cruisin’ Paws Agility, whose on-site training facility is also part of this 105-acre estate
• Spray paint tattoos and streaks from The Friendly Groomer
• A vegetarian BBQ and grill … important for animal lovers

Here’s the sway and stuff we came home with:

• A red and green flower collar for Victor ‘cause that boy is dapper (from the Westies in Need Rescue)
  

  Victor with his new bow

• Awesome horse print pillowcases (from the Tiny Paws Dog Rescue)
• Another (this time dog-print) bandana (from Ontario Sheltie Rescue)
• Milk-Bone brushing chews from one of the corporate sponsors
• And all-natural bone chews from The Barkery for both Victor and Sasha

Loved this? Check out other dog festivals here.

What to win a dog harness like Victors’s wearing? Check out www.horsetrotting.net for contest info.

Pawlooza 2015