A few more pix and thoughts from Paws in the Park

Looks like most everyone had a good time at the Paws in the Park Petwalk Saturday at Bowdoin Park.

It was, of course, a benefit for the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hyde Park.

There were other nonprofits with booths there as well. As event coordinator Debbi Calabrese said, they like to share the wealth.


I decided not to take Kate with me this year. And I got asked a lot about where she was.

I took her to the last two Paws in the Parks and the last two Beacon Barks, and she always is a trooper.

But after April's Beacon Barks, I realized that Kate — now well over 14 years — was not really enjoying it.

There's an uncomfortable car ride and then the seemingly long event itself where there is never enough water, shade or comfy places to lie down.

And I'm sure Kate feels that way too. (Just kidding.) (Not really.)

So, while the weather turned out to be fantastic — overcast, with bits of sunshine, and low temperatures — I decided to go solo.

Besides, it's much easier for me to work — even though it's one of the more pleasant assignments I am given — it's still work.

Taking pictures, recording video, sending tweets, interviewing people and taking notes are lot easier without a leash in one hand.

However, there is a part of me that hates that I left Kate at home. She's never been a dog that been taken everywhere. I know some people who bring their dogs wherever they go, even if it's just to pick up a quart of milk.

Leaving her at home — this time — meant, in a not so small way, that Kate really is getting old. Is old.

This makes the thought that she isn't going to be with me forever all the more real.

Love them while you can. They deserve it.

More pix from Paws in the Park

Here are some more photos I took from Paws in the Park today.


























Photos by Michael Woyton/Poughkeepsie Journal

15th Paws in the Park fun for all

Amazingly, the weather forecasts were wrong for today. Menacing clouds gave way to blue skies at times for the 15th annual Paws in the Park Petwalk.

Held at Bowdoin Park in the Town of Poughkeepsie, the festival benefits the Dutchess County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Hyde Park.

Here's the start of the walk.



There were contests for best tail wagging (please, dogs only!), best costume and look alikes (humans and pooches). Here is a video from the begging contest.



There were traditional agility courses, ball catching and Puppies of the Caribbean. A new agility course, with a NASCAR theme, is Tail-adega Nights. Here's a look.



The festival had dog-related vendors and nonprofit organizations, like Puppies Behind Bars, on hand.

Sally makes an appearance at Paws in the Park

Sally, the terrier mix who was rescued from a clothing donation bin in Sept. 2008, came to the petwalk today, accompanied by her owner Paula Clausi-VanSteenburgh of Highland.

It was truly hard to believe it was the same starved pooch from a year ago.

Are you gearing up for Paws in the Park?

It's time again for Paws in the Park, to benefit the Dutchess County SPCA.

The Paws in the Park Petwalk will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Bowdoin Park in the Town of Poughkeepsie.

The first Petwalk, held in 1994, raised $9000 to benefit the shelter. About 90 people participated. Since then, the yearly event has grown to include hundreds of participants and vendors and provided a lot of fun on a late summer day.

Last year, it raised almost $50,000.

Besides agility and other activities, the festival this year has a "sport" called Tail-adega Nights, a game for dogs based on sports car racing, dog agility and obedience.

Here are some stories from past blog entries about Paws in the Park.

As of today, the weather forecast calls for cloudy skies with a 30 percent chance of showers. The high should be around 72.

Here's hoping it won't be as hot as in past years.

Directions to Bowdoin Park can be found here.

Paws in the Park report

Today was the 14th annual Paws in the Park Pet Walk, sponsored by the Dutchess County SPCA.

Here's Joyce Garrity, the executive director of the Dutchess County SPCA, and, of course, Kate:



Bowdoin Park was crowded with pooches and their owners.





And then there were dogs.



A new activity this year was the Puppies of the Caribbean tent. Dogs could don a pirate bandana and then make their way through an agility course.


Including walking the plank.



And get into the crow's nest. This is Addie, who is owned by Laura Wells and her daughter Margaret of New Paltz. Addie is 1-1/2 years old and is a rescue.

A favorite each year is the costume contest.





Also a crowd favorite is Kanine Karaoke. Here is winner Badger and owner Katie Carpenter of Ulster Park.



Pooches sporting yellow bows were adopted from the DCSPCA. Dogs, like 11-year-old Buddy, below, with white bows are waiting to be adopted.


There were displays, like this one from Puppies Behind Bars.


And vendors, selling dog treats.


And then there were more dogs.


This is Debbie Napolitano with Logan, China and Chance. They are with Greyhound Rescue and Rehabilitation.



Here is Annie Bliss of West Park with her Great Dane Blaze (5-1/2 years old) and poodle mix Mickey (2 years old).


And more dogs.

And Kate.

Don't forget: Saturday is Paws in the Park

Wanna see some synchronized kitties? Well, click here.

That's my offering to all you cat lovers, because tomorrow is going to be dog-centric.

The 14th annual Paws in the Park Petwalk will kick off at 11 a.m. in Bowdoin Park in the Town of Poughkeepsie. Directions to Bowdoin Park can be found here.

The benefit helps the Dutchess County SPCA.

For more information, check out this entry.

Here's a video from two years ago, filmed by my editor Maria Burnham and former reporter Kathianne Boniello, who is now at the New York Post.

Paws in the Park coming up

Kate is resting up for Paws in the Park this Saturday.

The 14th annual Petwalk, sponsored by the Dutchess County SPCA, will be at Bowdoin Park in the Town of Poughkeepsie from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be food, music and games, all benefiting the DCSPCA.

In addition to paw readings, Kanine Karaoke, police K9 demonstrations, doggie IQ tests, doggie limbo and the ever-popular poop raffle, there will be a new game: Puppies of the Caribbean, where you search for buried treasure as you walk the plank.

The Paws in the Park Web site will give you all the information you need about the walk, including how to register and start raising funds.

Kate and I will see you there.

Paws in the Park — cont'd.

Here are some more pictures — and thoughts — from the Paws in the Park Petwalk, held this afternoon at Bowdoin Park in the Town of Poughkeepsie.

The benefit walk was for the Dutchess County SPCA in Hyde Park, N.Y.


They set up a casino — please, no wagering! — for dogs and their humans to have some fun.


Below is Bucky, a 9-month-old German Spitz, owned by Jill and Ira Weiss of Staatsburg. He is trying his snout at a shell game — and successfully, I might add. If you picked the right cup, you got to eat the treat.


As people and their dogs participated in the fundraising walk part of the event, through the beautiful woods of Bowdoin Park, they passed a memorial section paying tribute to faithful and loved companions.


There were several vendors, some of which were selling dog treats and other goodies. Beacon Barkery set up a booth, along with the Le Bone Appetit, below.


There were a few competitions — you know how dogs are, as well as their owners. Some pooches were dressed up in costumes, some owners competed in the look-alike contest. There was even Kanine Karaoke. Below is a shot from the Doggie Limbo contest, made tricky by the obligatory and well-timed leash toss. "Tally me banana."


But, man, it was toasty out there. Weather reports put the temp in the mid-80s, but the heat index in the mid-90s. Fortunately for the humans, there were Italian ices to be purchased and enjoyed. For the furry ones, there were plenty of water bowls everywhere in the park. During the walk, there were several stations with yogurt and fruit for the bipeds and plenty of water for the dogs.

Always thinking, the DCSPCA people put three kiddie wading pools out and made sure the park's sprinklers in the playground were turned on.

The pools got a lot of action.


Kate commandeered one of the pools — not once, but twice. It was all I could do to get her out of it. After all, I had work to do, people to see, dogs to admire.


She also drank a lot of it, too.

DCSPCA officials estimated the turn out to be around 500 dogs and up to 1,000 family members. They were shooting to raise $40,000, and I was told by Anna Waz, the development director, that she thought they were going to be close.

But it was all about the dogs and the fun we have with them. It was good to be in the park with others who love their animals.


But I have to tell you that Kate was pretty happy to get to the newsroom. The cool, cool floor was welcome relief compared with the steamy September weather we experience here in New York.


Cuz, you can never have too many pictures of Kate.

Make sure you see the article I did on the Paws in the Park Petwalk in the Sunday Poughkeepsie Journal. You will also be able to see Kathy McLaughlin's beautiful photo gallery, full of pooches and the people who love them.