Dog Fest expected to fetch 15,000 visitors

Photos: 2009 DogFest

Taste of Cincinnati expected  to draw 500,000 people
5:37 p.m.
Local ingredients key for bartender
5/16/12
How well do you know Kings Island?
5/13/12
Time cover shows mom breastfeeding 3-year-old
5/11/12
Lebanon Theatre Company presents ‘Angel Street’
5/11/12
> More headlines

DogFest 2009 was held at the Voice of America Park in West Chester Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2009. DogFest is held to educate visitors on responsible pet ownership.

Staff photo by Nick Graham DogFest 2009 was held at the Voice of America Park in West Chester Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14, 2009. DogFest is held to educate visitors on responsible pet ownership.

Annual event benefits area dog shelter.

By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer Updated 2:14 PM Thursday, June 10, 2010

WEST CHESTER TWP. — Thousands of paws and claws — not to mention a whole lot of fur — will descend upon the West Chester Twp. Dog Fest from June 12-13 at the Voice of America Museum Park.

The event, which debuted in 1999, lets people bring their pets for activities including dog-themed vendors, food and demonstrations. It benefits the Progressive Animal Welfare Society, a no-kill animal shelter located at 2790 Cincinnati-Dayton Road, said Liz Johnson of PAWS.

Dock diving is a new event. It’s staged by Ultimate Air Dogs, a Michigan-based group.

The dogs compete in jumping for distance or height from a dock into a body of water, according to the Ultimate Air Dogs website.

The dogs will be competing in three kinds of events: Splash, Catch It and Fetch It.

In Splash, dogs run down a dock and fly into a pool, with the distance judged from the end of the dock to the base of the dog’s tail. Each competitor gets two jumps per splash, with the bigger of the two jumps counting as their score.

Catch It adds the twist of the dog catching a thrown object, while Fetch It involves the dogs grabbing onto a suspended bumper that is moved farther out in successive rounds.

Dog Fest “started as a way to educate families about the existence of the many wonderful animal shelters and rescues in the greater Cincinnati area that take in stray and abandoned animals from the streets,” Johnson said.

About 15,000 people are expected to attend the event. The admission is $8 per carload.

There will be eight food vendors and more than 110 booths of dog-themed equipment and trinkets. Dogs and owners are welcomed to participate in a pet parade and other activities, but owners can’t use retractable leashes. Dogs will also be available for adoption.

“One thing I like,” said Jan Bollinger, a PAWS volunteer, “is seeing the animals that had previously been adopted coming to Dog Fest. It’s like a reunion and a neighborhood event.”

The event will be held behind the VOA Museum on the practice soccer fields. Visitors are asked to enter off of Tylersville Road, and to exit on to VOA Park Drive and then on to Cox Road.

How to go

What: Dog Fest
When: 11 a.m. to  5 p.m. June 12-13
Where: Voice of America Museum Park, 8070 Tylersville Road, West Chester Twp.
Cost: $8 per vehicle

Share this article