August 30, 2017
Contact: Nancy Lee Gomer, Marketing Coordinator, 636-949-7535, or 636-795-1137, ngomer@sccmo.org
St Charles County, Missouri – Dog lovers from across the region will converge on Broemmelsiek Park in Defiance for the 14th annual Paws in the Park dog festival on Saturday, Sept. 16. The event, which supports local animal shelters, takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the park’s Off-Leash Dog Area, 1795 Highway DD.
Voted best in the region by the Riverfront Times, Broemmelsiek Park’s Off-Leash Dog Area is a popular place for dogs to play. The Paws in the Park is St. Charles County’s largest program of its kind.
The public is invited to bring their “best friend” for a jam-packed festival of contests, prizes and sponsor giveaways, as well as K-9 obedience skills demonstrations. Admission is free, but those who bring a pet supply donation will receive a goodie bag of great giveaways while supplies last. Donations benefit the St. Charles County Pet Adoption Center.
Food will be available for purchase for both owners and pets. Lady Bug Snow Cones and At Peace Pets will sell snow cones, brats, beef hotdogs, chips, drinks and dog snow cones.
The day’s agenda is as follows:
10 a.m.: Agility Course Demonstration, Infinite Pawsibilities. After the demonstration, dogs and their owners get a chance to test their skills as they maneuver through a set of jumps, tunnels and other obstacles in the agility course.
10:30 a.m.: Dog Contests: Best Costume, Best Trick, Fastest Ball Retrieval from the Pond, Best Dog/Owner Look-Alike and Best Kisser, under the pavilion in the Off-Leash Dog Area. Winners receive a commemorative medal.
11 a.m.: St. Charles County Police K-9 Unit conducts a series of drug search demonstrations using a seized car, followed by obedience skills demonstrations. Officers will be available to answer questions and talk to guests, after the performance.
12 p.m.: Canine Search and Rescue Association K-9 teams demonstrate how they find missing persons. Demonstrators will be available to answer questions and talk to guests, after the performance.
1 p.m.: A Gateway DockDogs team demonstrates the popular sport of dock diving from the pond in the Off-Leash Dog Area. After the demonstration, dogs and their owners get to test their diving and water skills.
Corporate sponsors are Yuppy Puppy Pet Spa in O’Fallon and Casey Ray STL Dog Trainers, St. Louis; representatives from each will judge the dog contests. Event sponsor is Sebastien’s Pet Salon, Lake Saint Louis. These and other participating businesses will offer product samples and giveaways. Additionally, a limited number of pets will be available for adoption from the St. Charles County Pet Adoption Center.
For more information about the Paws in the Park celebration, call the Parks Department at 636-949-7535 or visit www.stccparks.org.
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