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Community Corner

Stow Paw Fest 2011: A Party for Pooches!

Find out about event and vendor information here. Stow's Paw Fest is Sept. 18 at Bow Wow Beach.

A good day for a dog would be frolicking at Bow Wow Beach. A great day for a dog would be attending Stow Paw Fest 2011 with its favorite people – then frolicking at the adjacent dog park!

The Stow-Munroe Falls Lions Club, in cooperation with the , will stage its fifth annual Paw Fest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 18 in the field just outside the main gates leading into Bow Wow Beach.

Rescue groups and vendors of all-things-dog – from toys and clothes to treats and food – have until Sept. 6 to register for a 10- by 10-foot booth space at the canine festival. for both vendors and rescue groups accompany this story.

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Marty Dennis, Paw Fest chairman, said the event will include contests, raffles, demonstrations and plenty of unique dog-related items for purchase from the 22 vendors already registered.

Those interested in adopting a pooch can meet with representatives from a variety of area rescue groups, who aren’t charged a fee for participating. Dennis said some rescue groups bring adoptable dogs to the event, while others post pictures and information about their organizations.

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“The first year it was held was 2007 and it went very well. Every year since it has grown because people look forward to it and tell others about it,” Dennis said. “Dogs are a very lucrative business, which includes pet products from snacks and clothing to toys, along with groomers, dog trainers and dog-care facilities.”

Starting at around noon, there will be contests held about every half hour ranging from best costume and best trick to the owner/dog look-alike event. The latter will be judged by special guests Tom Erickson, an evening on-air personality at WNIR, and Stow Mayor Karen Fritschel.

“They’re both ‘dog people’ who volunteer their time to do this. Karen has done it every year,” Dennis said. “We typically get anywhere from five up to 10 participants in each contest. It’s fun for everyone.”

Prizes – like toys or treats for the dogs and gift certificates for the people – will be awarded to the top three winners in each contest. Dennis said those wishing to enter contests can sign up before noon at the main tent.

The main tent will be the site of a Chinese auction featuring five tables worth of gift certificates, gift baskets and other donated items. Tickets will be priced at $5 for six tickets, each of which can be placed in a bag corresponding to the items desired by the ticket-holder. Winning tickets will be pulled at about 2 p.m.

The Lions also will have a 50-50 tennis ball raffle. Participants can buy a numbered tennis ball ($1 each or six for $5) that will be placed into a child’s swimming pool filled with water. At about 3 p.m., a dog will enter the pool and select the winning ball.

Dennis said that while demonstrations are still in the planning phase, since this year’s event is dedicated to military and service dogs they will likely be along that theme.

For example, officer Steve Miller and his K-9 partner will be doing a demonstration, as will a representative from Pilot Dogs Inc. in Columbus. A representative from All Breed Training Club of Akron will be conducting Canine Good Citizen testing.

While Paw Fest is free to attend, Lions members will be requesting a donation of $1 or a used pair of eyeglasses for parking.

“It’s one of our three major fundraisers each year. We put the monies back into the community though eyesight projects, into the schools via three $1,500 scholarships per year and we donate Thanksgiving baskets (to those in need),” Dennis said.

For more information call Marty Dennis at 330-607-2242 or visit the Stow-Munroe Falls Lion Club’s website.

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