It is billed as “Canada’s largest one-day dog festival.” Pawlooza brings thousands of dogs and their owners to the Plunkett Estate in west London, Ont. “We have agility, we have dock diving behind me, we have fun zone, luring and a million different things for the dogs to do,” said Kristy Palmer, co-organizer of Pawlooza. “We have vendors that give away treats. It’s always a good time.” There was more than 140 vendors on site giving away free items and holding a silent auction for charity. The Thompson family brought their dog Fibonacci. “We live in the area, so we figured we’d come and spend some time,” said Amy Thompson. “She [her daughter Charlie] wanted to pick up some fun toys and stuff for her dog and just see what’s out there.” The volunteer-run event has been held at the Plunkett Estate each year since its inception in 2009. It supports ARF (Animal Rescue Foundation) Ontario - which rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes stray dogs and cats in First Nations and rural communities- and LEADS Employment Services, which helps people with disabilities access employment opportunities and skills training across Southwestern Ontario. “We bring in dogs at community members request if they need some assistance with medical appointments or we help facilitate affordable spay neuter surgeries, vaccines, heartworm testing,” said Jodi Tuckett of ARF. “We partner a lot with the animal hospital as well for that kind of thing and then if there are families who want to surrender their dog, then we will happily take them in and then they’ll go right into foster care. If this event didn’t exist, I’m not sure that ARF exists itself. We need the money as times are tough right now for everyone. This is a really, really important day for us.”
