Mark Your Calendar: Dog Olympics Set for Sept. 11!
Bigger is better as the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine holds the 19th annual Dog Olympics with more demonstrations, rescue groups, canine health booths, fun competition, and expanded hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at Moore Square in downtown Raleigh.
Sponsored by the Student Chapter of the American Animal Hospital Association, the Dog Olympics is a charitable event that celebrates the human-animal bond and raises money for local animal rescue groups. Canines of all breeds, shapes, and sizes are invited to participate in athletic and non-athletic competition such as Rollover Rover, Musical Sit, Longest Tail, Limbo, Frisbee Toss, Howling Contest, Look-a-Like, Weiner Toss, Best Trick, Best Beggar, and High Jump.
The popular family event features a free microchipping clinic by the Raleigh Kennel Club (one pet per family) with trained personnel implanting a microchip that can be scanned with a handheld device ensuring a lost dog will be returned to its owner.
Event demonstrations include the Raleigh Police K9 Unit, a Pawsitive Pooches training lesson, and the American Kennel Club (AKC) agility teams. The AKC will also offer a free Canine Good Citizen testing opportunity. A Paralympics for dogs with spinal cord injuries focuses on the bond owners of paraplegic dogs have with their pets. The special activity will include Obstacle Course Navigation, Best Decorated Cart, and Cart Races.
The Olympic Village features canine health booths from the oncology, neurology, cardiology, nutrition, dermatology, and dental services at NC State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, vendor tents offering canine-related goods and services, and some 10 rescue groups including 2 Paws Up, Pawfect Match, CARE for Animals, Southern Siberian Rescue, Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue, English Springer Rescue America, Second Chance, Carolina Border Collie Rescue, Doberman Rescue, and Best Friends Pet Adoption.
Additional attractions are face painting and airbrush tattoos, games for young owners to win prizes for their pets, and a "Doggie Cooling" station for pets needing a quick dip in a wading pool to escape the heat of the day. Food will be provided by Smoke and Go BBQ with a quarter of all food revenues going to support the participating rescue groups.
Raffles will be held throughout the day for a free session with a professional pet photographer, a free professional painting of your pet, as well as baskets of goodies for dogs and their human companions. You do not need to be present at the time of the drawing to receive your prize.
Admission is $1 for spectators and owners and $7 for dogs; children five and younger are free. Non-competing dogs must be kept on leash. The cost of canine admission covers an entry fee for one event and a photo of your canine champion on the Olympic platform. Each additional event or photo is $1. All proceeds support the event and the rescue groups.
The rain date is Sept. 18. For additional details including directions, please see: http://www.cvmdogolympics.com/ or call 919.513.6662.
Updated Sept. 1, 2010