Is New Canaan Going to the Dogs? It Will Be on Sunday

The dog days of summer will arrive early in New Canaan this weekend.

On Sunday, June 8, from noon to 3  p.m., Village Critter Outfitter, Aetheria Relaxation Spa, New Canaan Veterinary Hospital and Bow Wow Day Camp are hosting the annual New Canaan Dog Days outdoor FUNraiser festival for dogs and their human companions in downtown New Canaan, rain or shine.

The event will benefit PAWS and STARelief. Several other pet related nonprofits will be in attendance with adoptable animals and information.  Lower Cherry Street between Main St and Burtis St. will be closed to vehicular traffic from 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Approximately 2,000 participants are expected with their canine companions.

Visitors to this free family friendly day will witness a Cool Dogs in Hot Rides parade at noon to kick off the event. Classic cars, painted trucks and vans, a treat mobile, motorcycle and more will be part of the parade. Additional cars with dogs, bicycles with baskets with dogs, wagons with dogs, wheelchairs, all invited to participate. The most unique vehicles will be parked in the Cherry Street Shopping Center parking lot for the duration of the event for visitor viewing and voting for crowd favorite.

Human/Pet fashion contests will yield prizes in two categories — best matching outfits and Best theme. Festival attendees will be able to use their mobile phones to vote for their favorite costumes and post pictures on Facebook. A parade of costumes/fashion will be held at 2:15 p.m. People that want to participate should register for their number at the information desk beginning at 12 noon.

Contests with ribbons, prizes and a portrait taken by Venture Photography of the winners include: Best Pet Trick, Best Tail Wagging, Best Kiss, Look-Alike and Dunkin’ forDogs (hot dogs that is!). Take selfies with mascots and/or a Mini car for dogs. A cooling station will keep paws and feet chilled. SWIRL yogurt has unique themed yogurt flavors fordogs and people! Club Sandwich will host a doggie coffee café with treats for humans and their pets.

STARelief provides food and supplies to pet owners in need. Local residents are asked to bring pet food and gently used or new pet supplies to the Dog Days event to help fill the wish list of supplies at STARelief.  Each person that donates will receive a chance to win one of several door prizes donated by area businesses.

Gift Bags with both human and pet goodies worth more than $300 will be available to the first 100 donors at the information desk. Funds from bag sales will support PAWS no-kill shelter/rescue in Norwalk, saving dogs and cats for more than 50 years.

Agility and obstacle training will be conducted by Bronze Sponsor – Bandilane Canine Center from Stamford. Other bronze sponsors include The Hairy Barker of Darien, Bravo Pet Foods, Stella and Chewys and Strawberry Hill Animal Hospital.

Key sponsors helping to support these worthwhile non-profits are Lone Pine Kennel (Greenwich), Gentle Goodbye Vet Hospice, Veterinary Cancer Center (Norwalk) and Bankwell (New Canaan and Stamford) who will all provide information and gifts for the crowd.

Parking is available on the street, at the Morse Court and Locust Avenue Lot, at the corner of Locust and Cherry, Old Center School Parking Lot, corner of South Avenue, Maple Street, and Main Street, and a little bit of walk away at the New Canaan Train Station.

Schedule Highlights: 

• 12:00  Car Parade, followed by Viewer Favorite Voting
• 12-3  Exhibits, Coffee Cafe, Music, Photos
• 12:20  Agility/Obstacle Demonstration
• 12:30  Tail Wagging Contest
• 1:00 Dunkin’ for Dogs Contest
• 1:20  Pet Tricks Contest
• 1:45 Agility Obstacle Demonstration
• 2:00 Best Kiss Contest
• 2:15 Fashion Parade & Viewer Favorite Winner Announced
• 2:30  Look Alike Contest

More information about the event can be found at www.newcanaandogdays.com.