Pet Fest 2015 at Lafrieniere Park was one for the books. One of those rare, autumn-feeling, gorgeous days of sunshine and fat fluffy clouds and cool breezes. Beau was thrilled for the ride, even though he didn't realize the destination, and once we got there he was all wagging tail and happy stance. We arrived at the "tail end" of the event, around 3:00, had a devil of a time finding a parking spot, and ended up walking quite a bit to get to the main event. But it was worth the exercise. Along the way we saw dogs and their folks walking to and from the Fest, and the variety of faces was entertaining and heart warming. We love our furry kids. They make us happy just by being there, and in turn they are happy just to have our company and our attention and affection. Its the best win-win I've ever heard of.
The Fest was chock-full of vendors, animal rescue groups, food & drinks and music. Our first stop was to visit our friends at the Louisiana Boxer Rescue, headed up by Connie Back, Beau's former obedience instructor and our good friend. One of the focal points of any pet event is the ever-popular Boxer Kissing Booth. The main attraction- a sweet boxer- gave this blogger a very enthusiastic kiss and swiped his tongue in my mouth! A big ewww-awww moment ;)
The turnout for this event was one of the biggest I've seen in years. A lot of people and their pets showed up, including the unexpected ones- parrots were on the list. The birds, including the ones living at the park, were completely unafraid of the influx of people and pets. Good behavior all around!
We saw lots of old friends, including Alyson and her girls and their dogs. It was great catching up and made the Pet Fest even more of an event. In a too-busy life when we are all entrenched in our own little worlds made up of jobs, family life, school events, limited free time and endless to-do lists, it is great to encounter our friends in the real world and spend time together in person. Here's a shot of Beau photo bombing the girls :)
Pet Fest 2015 was a rousing success. Beau was treated like royalty, everyone stopped to pet him and love on him and comment on his beautiful coat and gorgeous face. It was heartwarming to see him get so much affection from so many. And on the way out, we caught up with two ladies who had a miniature version of Beau- a teeny tiny puppy, the same age as Beau when I adopted him (2 months). Seeing the two together was like seeing before and after. Little Major and Beau hit it off and were fast friends.
We are definitely looking forward to next year's event. If you are an animal lover this is the place for you! Or if you're just looking to pass a good time, check this one out- it benefits the rescue groups and is one great way to spend a weekend!
