VERO BEACH — Once year, something happens in Vero Beach that excites dogs and their companions. Riverside Park, in the shadows of the Barber Bridge and the Museum of Art, is opened up to dogs on leashes, and their owners. Many canine parents look forward to the event for weeks, purchasing special outfits for their furry friends.
Saturday dawned crisp and clear, perfect weather for pulling out those canine Christmas sweaters and fleece dog vests, to keep tropical dogs warm, while gathering under the polar vortex that settled over Vero Beach for several days.
The second annual Bark in the Park was sponsored by the Yuppie Puppies, a group of young (either in age or to Vero Beach) Indian River County professionals who support the Humane Society through promotion and fund-raising, the event attracted a variety of breeds for a day of doggie fun that included an agility course, demonstrations by the Indian River County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit, a Frisbee demonstration by the Disc-connected K9s, a pet food bank, as well as dogs available for adoption.
Children had their faces painted and rode a train around the festivities, and carried balloon animals (mostly dogs), with them, while begging their parents for another dog.
Locals and visitors to the area were treated to a new attraction this year that proved to be very popular with the dogs. The dog lure was a popular amusement, with dogs and their owners lined up, politely awaiting their turn to run three times in a huge circle, chasing a plastic object. However, there were a few enthusiastic dogs who couldn’t wait their turns and repeatedly crashed the queue.
Volunteers passed out plastic bags so patrons could pick up their pets’ refuse. People remarked on how well-behaved the dogs were.
“It’s Vero, for goodness sake,” said one gentleman. “We have well-behaved people who train their dogs to be well-behaved.”
Representatives from the Vero Beach Dog Exercise Area passed out information and petitions to be signed. T-shirts and bumper stickers were on sale, with all proceeds going to the dog park enhancements in the works.
“For the amount of dogs that live in Indian River County,” said one woman, leading a yellow Labrador puppy, “I’m amazed at how dog-unfriendly this city is. One day a year we can bring our well-behaved dogs to this beautiful space?”
People and their dogs ambled along, enjoying hot dogs, barbeque, shaved ice, and hot cocoa from Kilwins.
Connie Cotherman, who is the Assistant Development Director for the Humane Society, was thrilled with the turnout.
“There’s more of everything this year,” said Cotherman. “Better weather, more people, more dogs, more vendors, more adoptions. So far today, we’ve had four adoptions, and that’s what it’s all about.” Nine dogs were adopted throughout the day.
“I think we probably had about 5,000 people,” said event co-chair Brad Pfennig. “It was so much fun to see the different owners with all the different dogs. The group I worked with to get this event up and running is wonderful. Today was my wife’s due date, and everyone has really stepped up to the plate. We exceeded $25,000 this year.”
All proceeds, including 15 percent of vendors’ proceeds, go to the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County.