'Bow WOW' Event Gets Tails Wagging

Despite intermittent rain and gloomy weather, over 100 dogs and their humans attended the Bow WOW Event at the in Buffalo Grove.

According to Jane Dibbern, president of the Friends of the Parks Foundation, “The dog park opened last year to low attendance. The Bow WOW event will hopefully bring out some new people who haven’t been to the dog park yet. The park is still fairly new, and we want people to know about it.”

The Friends of the Parks Foundation gave away tightly wrapped dog waste bags at the event.

For some, the Bow WOW Event was their first visit to the dog park. “We haven’t taken Daisy to the dog park yet, but I think this event and the park are a great way to socialize and meet dogs,” Bonnie Gold said. Her dog, Daisy, just turned 1 year old.

Two shelters set up booths and brought several animals available for adoption. 

“We approached shelters for the Bow WOW event because we want everyone to see that shelters are in our area. There are dogs at the shelters that need homes; maybe people can go to a shelter to adopt a dog instead of buying a puppy,” Lynne Schneider, treasurer of the Friends of the Parks Foundation, said. “Even if people aren’t thinking about getting a dog right now, they’ll remember the shelters when that time comes.”

Local vendors were also approached to set up a booth. “We wanted dog lovers to find vendors that they didn’t know existed," Schneider said.

Volunteers from Fortunate Pooches and Lab Rescue had several dogs that had arrived from a high-kill pound the previous evening. Maggie, a labrador, and Lucas, a beagle, were available for adoption. The organization also accepted applications for adoption and was completing on-site adoption.

“The dog park has been a great success,” Board President Scott Jacobson said. “We had the grand opening of the dog park last year, and we felt that the Bow WOW Event would be a great thing for the park. It’s definitely well-attended.”

“If people aren’t ready to adopt a dog, they can always foster a dog,” volunteer Margo Krizka said. “It’s a great way to see if the dog works with your family.”

Orphans of the Storm Animal Shelter also brought several dogs available for adoption. “We have so many nice dogs here, they’re so energetic,” volunteer Nancy Lukasik said. Applications for adoption were available; in addition, Orphans of the Storm had sweatshirts available for sale.

Scott Zielinski and his family recently moved to Buffalo Grove. “We have two dogs at home, and we’re interested in the dog park,” he said. “We might be interested in joining the park.”

Roberta Star and her dog, Lilly, also attended the Bow WOW event. “It’s wonderful to see other dog lovers get together at this event,” she said. “Lilly is 14 and doesn't use the park, but my grandpuppy does. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to be able to use it.”

Vendors included which handed out portable water bowls and Frisbees, as well as handouts detailing dog safety tips. According to office manager Angie Anderson, the hospital sees about 1,500 dogs a year.

, a Buffalo Grove-based business, also set up a booth at the event. “I think this event is great, as it gets the dogs out and the owners can all socialize together,” owner Tamara Lundgren said.

There were even some treats on hand for humans. "We are dog people, and we felt this event would be a great place for us to advertise," Carla Solar, owner of a franchise, said. "We can include dog-themed stuffed animals with a bouquet, and we can include dog biscuits, too."

The event also included a demonstration by Deputy Robert Bell and his K-9 companion, Conan. With Alex Rothacker of TOPS Kennel, Bell demonstrated how Conan can smell for drugs, and also conducted a question-and-answer session with the audience.