After a hiatus of 3/4 of a dog year, the Weston-Wayland Rotary Club’s Pooch Parade and Festival is back and better than ever on the Town Green this Saturday, June 11 from 10 am-2 pm. Besides being a fun outing for your pup, it’s all for a good cause (or rather, three good causes). There will be a variety of entertainment options, plus dog demonstrations, dog contests (golden retriever vs german shepherd spaghetti eating contest? Or teenager vs golden retriever? One can only hope), a range of exhibitors as well as available refreshments. And yes, then a parade around the Town Green.

Unfortunately for me, the Owlet’s timid rescue canine named Katie Puppy is unable to handle crowds so will not be in attendance but if you have a friendly well-behaved dog, come on out and enjoy the scene. No dog? Live vicariously with other folks’ dogs–entry is $10 per person or dog.

The causes benefited by the Pooch Parade are Operation Delta Dog which rescues homeless dogs and trains them to be service dogs for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and related challenges.; Buddy Dog Humane Society which gives homeless dogs and cats a new lease on life, and the Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue, which provides comprehensive medical care, behavioral evaluations, and adoptive homes to homeless Golden Retrievers. All leftover pasta will also be donated to the latter organization.

The event timeline goes like this:

Festival begins at 10 AM

Demonstrations starting at 11 AM

K9 Kevin with the Newton Police

Northeast Coonhound Rescue and their adoptable dogs

Contests starting at 12 PM

Best party trick

Best singer or talker

Looks most like a teddy bear

Parade around the Town Green promptly starting at 1 PM

Parade awards given at 1:30 PM

Biggest diva

Best costume

Chairman’s choice

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You can enter your dog into any contest on the day of the festival.

To pre-purchase tickets, please go to this link.

The We-Wa Rotary Club would also like to extend special thanks to the following sponsors: Big Dog Sponsor:
The Dog Retreat & Spa; Sled Dog Sponsors: Doody Calls, Weston Veterinary Clinic. Puppy Dog Sponsors:
My Write Coach, Dr. Dental. Appreciation is also extended to the 2022 Rotary Partners: Atlantic Advisory Group,
The Village Bank and Weston Medical Publishing