Dog Day Afternoon

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Downtown residents gave their dogs something to bark about

by Dale Youngman

Something to Bark About

The fifth annual Dog Day Afternoon event was held at The Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels, hosted by the pastor, Monsignor Kostelnik, his dog Joaquin, and Hal Bastion, Senior Vice President and Director of Economic Development for the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, and his dog Scooter. The event, held on Tuesday July 26, has become one of downtown’s most popular social events among locals, with more than 700 dogs and 1200 humans RSVP-ing to attend.

The event is actually a way to build community, explain its founders, because people with dogs tend to talk to one another. The Monsignor also wanted to do something to activate the beautiful plaza at his church. As both he and Hal are dog lovers, it was decided to create a pet event for locals only. Growing from 50 people in it’s first year, the event now boasts pet adoptions, photo booths (Furtographs for pet portraits), special canine and human treats, and multiple supply and service vendors, including dog–walking services (Walk Fido), pet salons (Downtown Doggie U Wash) , cage-free dog boarding (Go Dog LA), dog trainers (Bark & Clark), and doggie daycare (Bark Ave). and full service high-end pet retailers such as Bark Avenue and Pussy and Pooch, Pet retailer and grooming salon Pussy & Pooch provided a community doggie loo and hydrant, as well as loaded swag bags, gourmet chef prepared pet meals, and a spinning prize wheel..

The event was a howling success, almost all dogs were well –behaved ( all were required to be leashed) and smiling canines were dragging their owners from booth to pen to Pawbar®, sniffing for new friends. We met several veterans of past years who were enjoying the enthusiastic crowd, including a shy old boy named Wolfie, a 3-legged Irish Wolfhound and Terrier mix, a bone-cancer survivor with a sweet disposition. He and his human Aarion live at the Sante Fe lofts, conveniently located in the same building as Pussy and Pooch. An “only dog,” he nonetheless enjoyed meeting and playing with new friends, although he turned down some gourmet pumpkin dog treats. Maybe he was dieting…

 

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