Allentown Canine Patrol and Explosives Officer Matt Geak gives a demonstration… (DONNA FISHER, THE MORNING…)
September 05, 2013|By Margie Peterson, Special to The Morning Call
With Allentown hosting a festival for dogs Saturday called Woofstock, the question, of course, is will there be a guitarist named Jimmy Hound-rix playing the "Star-Spangled Banner"?
How about a Crosby Stills Nash and Young tribute band singing "Teach Your Puppies Well"?
There is no end to the possibilities.
Alas, no Hound-rix or tribute band is scheduled for the event that runs noon-5 p.m. at Cedar Beach near the pool. But there will be a Grooviest Dog contest and a Pet-Parent look-alike competition, both new this year. Local musicians may play some Cat Stevens.
The festival, formerly known as Barkfest, aims to raise funds to build a dog park in Allentown, according to organizer Karen El-Chaar, the volunteer executive director of the Friends of the Allentown Parks, a nonprofit.
On Saturday, Cedar Beach will be all-things-canine — dog obedience seminars and agility courses, dog fashion shows and canine good citizenship testing, K-9 police dog and fire department arson dog demonstrations, for starters.
The festival was begun last year as Barkfest, but organizers changed the festival name because another group in the Allentown area was using that name, El-Chaar says. Though the festival is obviously dog-centric, some hip cats made the scene last year, she said.
"Cats are not being discriminated against," El-Chaar says with a chuckle. "If you bring a bird, you're on your own."
This year, Petco is sponsoring an American Kennel Club-judged competitive rally in which handlers voicing commands put their dogs through an obstacle course. The dog/handler team with the best score wins. The entry fee is $15, with all proceeds going toward the dog park.
A lawyer will be on hand to discuss estate planning with an emphasis on planning for care of pets after you die. A Nationwide Insurance representative will be there to talk about pet health insurance. Local clergy will offer pet blessings.
Petco, the prime sponsor of Woofstock, will have artist Brad Kramer do caricatures for $15 each that he will donate back to the festival. Petco is also doing a program on dog nutrition and dental health, as well as obedience training.
Chaar pet supplies, owned by El-Chaar's brother and sister-in-law, will hold a puppy kindergarten for dogs ages 8 months to one year. Chaar will also offer Canine Good Citizenship Testing, which dogs need to pass to be therapy dogs that go into nursing homes or other similar settings.
There will be pet food samples, but Woofstock also will have plenty of tasty people food, including Vince's Cheesesteaks, Royal Gourmet Foods serving pork barbecue, E-Z Concessions with funnel cakes and french fries and YoFresh selling frozen yogurt.
The Acoustic Project, a band that plays classic rock, is slated to play noon-12:45 p.m. and singer-guitarist Bryson K. will perform at 3 p.m. "Star Wars" characters including Vardoger Wraith will be landing at the festival, in addition to mascots, such as The Morning Call's Max M Call and Petco's Red Ruff.
There are a few festival rules so peace and harmony will abound at Woofstock: dogs must be on a collar and leash and be up-to-date on immunizations. Handlers are asked to clean up after their dogs. Aggressive dogs will be asked to leave. Leave the dog toys at home.
El-Chaar says the Friends group has a long way to go to raise the $80,000 that the dog park is estimated to cost. Last year, Barkfest raised about $4,000.
The dog park the city hopes to build would have a corral for small dogs and one for large dogs, she says. The initial plan included a sitting area for people and a dog water fountain as well as one for people. The proposed park would have fencing and a pavilion.
"Unfortunately, the city budget doesn't have additional funds set aside for a dog park," she says. "There is public demand for one but they don't have money in the budget."
The most recent proposed site for such a park is in Trout Creek Park East on Auburn Street. Woofstock expects to raise most of its money from entries to the contests, as well as from vendors selling all sorts of pet products, El-Chaar says.
Margie Peterson is a freelance writer.
Jodi Duckett, editor
610-820-6704
WOOFSTOCK
•When: noon-5 p.m Saturday Sept. 7; rain date Sunday, Sept. 8
•Where: Cedar Beach in Allentown near the pool
•How much: Free; some charges to enter contests.
•Info: 610-432-7275, http://www.allentownparks.org; click on Woofstock
DON'T MISS
•Dog agility course: For those who take dog agility seriously, there is an American Kennel Club Competitive Rally, where dogs and handlers are scored for their performance 1-2 p.m. Entry fee is $15. Everyone else can put dogs through the agility course for a small donation. 2-3 p.m.
•Bel Bijoux Dog Fashion Show: New this year, hosted by WFMZ reporter Rosa Duarte. There is — seriously — a formal wear segment for dogs who have weddings and other black tie events coming up. 1:30 p.m.
•The Grooviest Dog contest: Also new, at 2 p.m. hosted by Howard Stern look-alike Stewart Brodian of WDIY public radio. Watch what happens when canines dress for the Age of Aquarius. Entry fee: $2 per dog.
•Pet and Parent Look-a-like Contest: Another new feature, hosted by WFMZ reporter Bo Koltnow. If you and your dog bear a passing resemblance to each other, this is the contest for you. 2:30 p.m. Entry fee: $2 per dog.
•Working dog demonstrations: At 1 p.m. the members of the Allentown Fire Department will demonstrate how their arson dog, a Labrador retriever, sniffs out accelerants, such as paint thinner and diesel fuel. At 3 p.m. Valley Search and Rescue members will show how they use dogs in their work and at 3:30 p.m., the Allentown Police K-9 unit will do a demonstration.
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