Cleveland dog events – Page 2

5 Ways to Give Back to Local Animals on #GivingTuesday

Today is Giving Tuesday – a day to take a break from all of your holiday shopping to give back to the local community. Since animals are a cause near and dear to my heart, as I am sure they are for most of you, I think giving back to the local animal community is great way to celebrate Giving Tuesday.

Here are five ways to help pets this Giving Tuesday and the rest of the holiday season:

1. Donate to a rescue group’s wishlist

All rescue groups need donations in order to take care of the animals they take in. Most groups will list what they need on their website, but some make it even easier by setting up Amazon wish lists so you can order online exactly what they need and have it shipped right to them. Here are the APL, Cleveland Animal Control and Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter’s Amazon wish lists:

Cleveland APL: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/17JWHFI8ZR6ZV/ref=topnav_lists_1

Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter: http://www.amazon.com/wishlist/15JCVK42TMWEY/ref=sr_1_1_acs_wl_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388683921&sr=8-1-acs

Cleveland Animal Control: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/KLVA6K0ZP3OG/ref=cm_wl_rlist_go_v

These are just a couple of the wishlists out there from rescue groups. Most rescue groups have their own list, so please check with your favorite and help them out!

2. Organize a dog food/supplies drive

One local group that always needs donations is My Best Friend’s Bowl in Lakewood. My Best Friend’s Bowl provides pet food to families in need so they can keep their pets during hard economic times. Organize a pet food donation at your work to keep the cupboards stocked for Cleveland-area pets in need. Find out more here: http://mybestfriendsbowllakewood.com/bowl/how-can-i-help/

Also, this Saturday the Lorain Pet Pantry of Lorain County will be accepting donations for their pantry at the Pet Supplies Plus in Elyria. They are in need of dog & cat food (dry & wet) and cat litter for their monthly distributions. IHeart Radio will also be there doing Santa Pictures. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/714600658690138/

Donation drives are a great idea for any rescue group. Print out a wish list from your local shelter and post it at your work or school to gather donations.

3. Attend a Fundraiser

There will be no shortage of fundraising events this holiday season. In addition the many Santa Paws events going on this holiday season where you can get your dog’s photo taken with Santa, there are also a few fundraisers you can attend to raise funds for local groups. This is one of the easiest and most fun ways to show your support for homeless animals. Here are a few upcoming ones to check out:

Holiday Hops for the Heart

Organized by City Dogs Cleveland this fundraiser at Platform Brewery on Nov. 29 raises funds for the Plankton Fund to help treat the heartworm positive dogs they take in. The $25 admission at the door includes three craft beers (Speed Merchant or New Cleveland) plus food. There will be also 50/50 and basket raffles. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/307505489620057/ for more info.

Safe Harbor Animal Rescue MilkBone Mania

On Dec. 4, Safe Harbor Animal Rescue will hold their final fundraiser of the year. The $10 admission at the door gets you two paddles, each additional paddle is $1.00/ea for the auctin. There will also be a 50/50 raffle and auction baskets. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1158767180882550/ for more info.

Home for the Pawlidays

Join HealthSource of Avon on Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. as they help raise funds for the Cleveland Animal Protective League. Individuals looking to get their backs adjusted, get a massage, have X-Rays taken, learn new exercises or try out a new service can do so by cash donation. At the end of your visit, you can give as little or as much as you like for the services and all proceeds go to the APL. You can also bring in your dog for photos with Santa Paws. Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1385497558130620/ for more info.

4. Volunteer Your Time

Rescue groups always need dog walkers, as well as drivers to transport dogs to vet appointments, cage cleaners, people to perform host duties at shelters and volunteers for fundraisers. Here’s a listing of Lake Humane Society’s volunteer needs: http://lakehumane.org/volunteerpositions.html. Contact your local shelter to see what their volunteer needs are.

5. Share a Homeless Pet

It’s not always easy to come up with the money or time needed to help rescue groups, especially around the holidays. One easy, free way to help rescue groups is by sharing adoptable pets. Cleveland Animal Control Volunteers need all the help they can get spreading the word to find homes for Cleveland animals. Follow them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ClevelandCityKennelVolunteers) to see their available pets. You never know who among your friends might be looking for a dog or cat!

And if you’re looking for a cause to donate to, the rescue group I work with, Central Ohio Pomeranian Rescue, just took in a very sick Pomeranian named Faith that was surrendered to them from a puppy mill. Faith’s lungs have been compromised from untreated pneumonia when she was younger and the vet isn’t sure how much improvement to expect. Right now she only has about 50-60% of her lungs functioning and is on antibiotics and steroids. It’s day by day for her, but we are all pulling for her! She is receiving the best vet care possible now and the rescue group is raising funds for her care. If you can donate, you can send money via PayPal to centralohiopomrescue@gmail.com. Check out their FB page for more info on Faith as well as info on several different fundraisers they have going to help raise funds for Faith: https://www.facebook.com/OhioPoms/

And of course this is your reminder to never buy a puppy from a pet store or online.

Happy Holidays everyone!

September’s Craziest Dog Events

September is going to be a busy month for dog lovers! All of the sudden the calendar is filled with dog-friendly events, many of them first-time, and very unique, events. This month you will have an opportunity to enjoy a four-course meal with your dog, take him or her to prom and/or run a dog-friendly race in your underwear! It’s definitely going to be an interesting month on the CLE dog scene!

Here are some of the dog-friendly events to check out this September:

Sept. 3 History Hike: Dogs of All Wars Memorial

Held at the Rocky River Reservation, Historical Interpreter Karen Lakus will lead a dog-friendly hike to the memorial for Smoky, the Yorkshire Terrier that served in WWII. Learn more about his story and the stories of other canine war heroes who are considered the first therapy dogs. The hike starts at 9:30 am and is 1.25 miles in length. Find out more here: http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/EventsProgramsCalendar/History-Hike-Dogs-of-All-Wars-Memorial-9757.aspx

Sept. 6 Dinner with Your Dog – Yuzu (UPDATE – SOLD OUT)

Yuzu is getting quite a reputation for its dog friendly atmosphere and events! On Sept. 6 you can stop by to enjoy a four-course dinner with your dog. Courses include:

Domestic beer + dog beer
Edamame + Dog Biscuit aperitif
Yuzu Cusabi Fries + puppy sweet potato appetizer
Chicken Yakitori + Canine Yakitori
Thai Beef Bowl + Rice & Tenderloin
Brown Sugar Bourbon Ice Cream + Pupsicles

Reservations are required and space is limited. The cost is $20 per person, $10 per puppy. You can call 440-799-8343 to reserve your spot. Check out: http://www.yuzulakewood.com/events for more info on upcoming events.

Sept. 13 Downtown Days: Warehouse District Yappy Hour

As part of the week-long downtown days celebration, the Warehouse District will be hosting a dog-friendly happy hour. Current participating bars include: Velvet Dog, Johnny’s Downtown, Cleveland Chop, Barley House ( meet on their side patio dubbed Barkley House), Brasa Grill and Camino Taco & Tequila Bar.

The party will start on the “Wooftop” at the Velvet Dog where CLEpets will be onsite, and there will be voting for the Dog Days of Downtown Photo Contest (Find out more on that here: https://tackk.com/dog-days-of-downtown-photo-contest) All of these locations will be dog friendly and there will special pooch menu items to purchase.

Sept. 18 Woofstock Wet Nose 5K Run and Walk

Run, or walk, with your dog through the beautiful Holden Arboretum to raise funds for the Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village. This is the first year they’ve held a combined 5K and 1 mile dog walk fundraiser. You can register for the event here: https://www.classy.org/willoughby/events/woofstock-2016/e75406 There will also be dog games, agility, food, demonstrations, raffles, shopping and adoptable dogs.

Sept. 24 Cleveland Undie Walk

For this fundraiser for the Colon Cancer Alliance, you are encouraged to throw on your most outrageous undies and dress up your dog as well! There is a 5K run and 1 mile run/walk option. Use discount code FIDO and save $5 off registration! Find out more info or register here: http://support.ccalliance.org/site/TR?fr_id=2385&pg=entry

Oct 5th Dog Prom (rescheduled)

Yuzu is back with another event for dog lovers! Dress your dog up in his or her best formal gear and hit up their patio for a night you won’t likely forget. There will be prom photos taken, dog punch and they even promise some dog dancing! Find out more info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1149010215177581/

And don’t forget to check out all of the dog swim events going on the first week of September: http://dogsinthecle.com/mark-your-calendars-dog-swim-events/

Mark Your Calendars: Dog Swim Events

Please see the 2018 list here: http://dogsinthecle.com/2018-cleveland-dog-swim-events/

The end of summer is a sad time, but there’s one good thing that comes from it — dog swim events! Every year at the end of pool season, several area pools open up their pools to dogs for them to enjoy some swimming time.

So, get those bathing suits ready and mark your calendars for these upcoming dog swim events:

Aug. 20

The Brook Park Recreation Center will open up its pool to dogs on Saturday, Aug. 20 from 11-2. The event is free and there will also be an opportunity to take pictures with your dog from 11-1. Find out more info on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/brookparkrec

Aug. 27

Westlake will host its annual dog swim at Peterson Pool on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. A $2 donation to the Westlake Animal Shelter is encouraged.

Aug. 28

Dog Paddle and Pet-a-Palooza will be held next Sunday, Aug. 28 at Hinckley Ledge Pool at the Hinckley Reservation. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. you can bring your dog to swim at the pool and visit the mini dog fair with vendors and exhibitors. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1735747403372186/

Sept. 6

Lakewood Dog Park will host its annual Dog Swim at the Foster Pool at Lakewood Park. Bring your dog to swim from 5- 8 p.m. Admission is $8 for 1 dog, $7 for each additional dog. Proceeds will go to help support the Lakewood Dog Park. More details to be announced on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Lakewood-Dog-Park-Friends-of-Lakewood-Dog-Park

Sept. 10

Berea Animal Rescue Friends will host its K9 Splash on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Wallace Lake. Cost is a $5 donation per dog, or $10 for “packs” of two or more. The first 25 humans to register will receive a free event t-shirt. More details here: http://bereaanimalrescue.com/k-9-splash

Also on Sept. 10, Love-A-Stray will host its 11^th annual dog swim from noon to five at the Avon Lake Municipal Pool. The $8 admission fee will benefit Love-A-Stray. There will also be raffles, dog related games and vendors. Find out more here: http://www.loveastraydog.com/events/11th-annual-big-splash-dog-swim/11070

IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: If you are planning to go to one of these events, please bring poop bags. I was so confused last year how no one seemed to care when their dog did their business in the pool. Some of us have to be in the pool with our dogs, so please clean up after your pup!

The Dog Fashion Show Event of the Year

It’s the biggest dog fashion show event of the year! On Saturday from 11-3, the Cuyahoga Animal Shelter will host Pawject Runway at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At the event, dogs will strut their stuff on the runway for a chance to be featured in a calendar.

Dogs will be dressed in all the latest fashions, from evening wear to bikinis. Yes, you heard that correctly. There is also is a dog bikini runway show and it’s just as entertaining as it sounds.

You can still register your dog to be in the show at http://www.cuyahogadogs.com. The fee for entry is $25 includes one dog/one handler.

The dogs will have their photos professionally taken at the event and the photos will be posted on the Cuyahoga Animal Shelter’s website for people to vote on. The top thirteen dogs will be in their 2017 calendar and will get tickets to the calendar release party at Quaker Steak & Lube in November.

If the bikini show hasn’t convinced you to go, there will also be over thirty vendors ranging from local artisans, craftsman and area rescues, a DJ, River Dog Food Truck. The event is free to spectators and dog friendly!

Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1123147031090040/

5 Dog-Friendly Activities this Summer

Cleveland is a great place for dog lovers in the summer. Not only do we have a number of dog-friendly restaurants where we can grab a drink with our pup, but we have a lake to enjoy and numerous dog-friendly events!

Whether your dog likes water activities, or just chilling outside, there is something for every dog to enjoy this summer.

Dog Canoeing/Paddling

If your dog loves the water, you have to take him or her boating or paddleboarding this summer! A few local parks are offering specials this summer to take your dog boating. On July 23rd or 24th, you can get 25% off canoe rentals if you bring your dog canoeing or camping at Canal Fulton Canoe Livery. Check out http://www.cfcanoe.com/#!events/c1yzj for more information.

Also, Fairport Harbor is hosting a Doggie Paddle event on Aug. 9, where you can bring your dog along while you kayak or boat. Find out more here: http://reservations.lakemetroparks.com/programs/38706

Hunter paddleboarding at Hinckley Reservation last summer.

See a Movie

On July 17, the Aut-O-Rama drive in in North Ridgeville is hosting a take your pet to the movies night for a viewing of, appropriately, “The Secret Life of Pets.” A $5 pet admission fee will benefit Multiple Breed Rescue. https://www.facebook.com/events/518369668369041/

Run a 5K

If you have a dog that loves to run, you have to check out the annual Dog Wash and Dirty Dog 5K, which raises funds for the Waypoint Youth Ministries in Avon. Find out more info here: http://www.hermescleveland.com/roadracing/events/dirtydog.asp All race participants get a free dog wash at the end!

Go to Yappy Hour

During the summer, several Cleveland-area bars and restaurants open up their patios to dogs for Yappy Hour events that raise funds for local rescues. I posted about the wineries that host Yappy Hours, but other good ones to check out are at Jukebox and Tremont Taphouse. On designated Saturdays, Jukebox hosts “Puppies on the Patio,” converting their dog-friendly patio to a dog park for dogs to run around off-leash. A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to local rescue groups. The next one is this Saturday, July 9: https://www.facebook.com/events/1732831780332238/

Hunter sampling the brews at Jukebox (just smell sampling, of course).

Also every second Tuesday of the month, Tremont Taphouse opens up its patio to dogs to support a local rescue group. The next one will be held July 12.

Dog-Friendly Festivals

Paws 4 A Cause, Pawject Runway and Summer Scoop are three dog-friendly events you don’t want to miss this summer! Paws 4 A Cause will be held on July 30th at the Polo Fields in the South Chagrin Reservation. The event includes dog contests, games and demonstrations, as well as adoptable dogs.

Pawject Runway is the Cuyahoga Animal Shelter’s annual fundraiser and features a dog runway show. This year it will be held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Aug. 6.

Summer Scoop is the Sanctuary for Senior Dog’s annual event and will be held at the Oak Grove Pavilion at Brecksville Reservation on Aug. 14.

And, don’t forget to check out the cool Cleveland sign – there’s one at Edgewater Park and at Voinvich Park downtown – for a great photo opp with your dog!

Wine and Dogs

Is there anything better than wine and dogs? Not in my book. There’s pretty much nothing I like to do more than hang out with my dogs and drink wine. One of the things I look forward to the most in the summer are dog-friendly nights at local wineries. Several local places host nights where dogs can come to the winery with you to hang out while you enjoy a glass of wine.

Here are the local wineries to check out this summer:

Debonne Vineyards – Woof Wednesdays

Stop by the vineyards after 5 pm to enjoy some wine and music with your furry best friends. Each week $.50 cents from every wine and beer glass, $1 from every bottle of wine purchased in house and 10% of all food sales from the outdoor grill will be donated to a different shelter. More information can be found on the website: https://www.debonne.com/events/upcoming-events/137-woof-wednesdays-nights-of-caring

Here are the upcoming dates:

June 1 – Ashtabula APL
June 15 – Dachshund Rescue
June 29 – Lake Humane Society
July 13 – NE Ohio Greygound Rescue
July 27 – Lake Humane Society
August 10 – Dachshund Rescue
August 24 – Ashtabula APL
September 7 – NE Ohio Greygound Rescue
September 21 – Bernese Mountain Dog Rescue
October 5 – TBD

Winery at Wolf Creek – Yappy Hour

On the second Tuesday of each month from 5:00–8:00 p.m. bring your dog to hang out on the lawn at the Winery at Wolf Creek. Proceeds from the yappy hour will benefit Give Pets a Chance (www.GivePetsAChance.org). Tickets are $10 per person at the door and include a raffle entry, a glass of wine, and goodies for your dog ($5 per person for nondrinkers includes a soda or bottle of water). Find out more here: http://wineryatwolfcreek.com/calendar/may/

Grand River Cellars – Woof, Wag and Wine

This annual event will be held on June 18 and benefits the Lake Humane Society. Bring your dog to enjoy the vineyards, as well as enjoy a wine tasting, live music, the chance to win great prizes in various raffles and games. I highly recommend you bring chairs if you want to hang out for a bit and enjoy some wine. Although they say there is some seating, when I went last year there was nowhere to sit so it made it very hard to enjoy a glass of wine. Find out more details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/571167749701051/

Thorncreek Winery – Yappy Hour

Beginning the first week of June, you can bring your dog to this Aurora winery on the first Thursday of the month through October. Find out more details here: http://www.thorncreekwinery.com/events/

Other Dog-Friendly Winery Options

Sarah’s Vineyards in Cuyahoga Falls always allows dogs in its front picnic table area and Debonne allows dogs outside on other nights besides Woof Wednesdays. As always, it’s a good idea to call ahead and check before bringing your dog though!

Dog-Friendly Baseball Games in the CLE

So the Indians have ditched Puppypalooza, maybe for good. Last year it was taken off the schedule (I think after they added in the Corner Bar) and it’s not on the schedule again this year. It’s too bad too, since I think Cleveland dogs were some of their most loyal fans…

Lucky for us dog-and-baseball loving Clevelanders, we have some other options. Several area minor league teams will be hosting dog-friendly nights this summer. And, you can always take a trip a little further away to see a major league game.

Check out the schedule of dog-friendly games:

Bark in the Park

Lake Erie Captains – June 26, Aug. 8 and Aug. 28

Classic Park in Willowick will host three dog-friendly nights this summer! Seats for these dog friendly games are $8 for the bleachers and lawn area, plus the $5 Pooch Pass. Visit http://www.milb.com/promotions/index.jsp?sid=t437 for more details. Proceeds from the games will benefit the Lake Humane Society or the Geauga Animal Shelter.

Lake Erie Crushers – June 19 and July 10

Bring your dog to watch the Lake Erie Crushers take on the Traverse City Beach Bums on June 19th and the Joliet Slammers on July 10 at their park in Avon. Find out more here: http://www.lakeeriecrushers.com/information/promotions

Akron RubberDucks – June 8, July 6 and Aug. 10

Load up the furkids and head to Canal Park in downtown Akron! Visit http://www.milb.com/promotions/index.jsp?sid=t402 for more info.

From Puppypalooza 2014. #RIPPuppypalooza

Away games

For major league dog-friendly baseball games, you’ll have to travel a little ways. The Pittsburgh Pirates host dogs every Tuesday for home games. The Cincinnati Reds will welcome dogs on June 9, Aug. 24 and Sept. 13. Visit http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/ticketing/pup_night_form.jsp for more details on Pirates’ games and http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/schedule/promotions.jsp?c_id=cin for more info on the Reds.

If you want to plan a road trip with your dog for a baseball game, check out GoPetFriendly’s list of dog-friendly baseball games across the U.S. : http://www.gopetfriendlyblog.com/dog-friendly-baseball-games-2016-schedule/

Don’t forget to tag your photos #dogsinthecle when you hit the town with your pup! I love to see your photos. I may even feature the photo on my Instagram account (@dogsinthecle).

May Dog-Friendly Events in Cleveland

Now that the weather is getting warmer (at least a couple days each week) the dog-friendly event calendar is starting to fill up! This month you can find a couple dog-friendly walks and a yappy hour to get you in the mood for summer.

There are also a number of human-only dog fundraisers you won’t want to miss, including Art Fur Animals, the Cleveland Kennel’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Check out details below for some of May’s biggest dog events:

May 1 – Bark for Babies

Held at Wade Oval, the event raise funds and awareness for March of Dimes and their mission to support programs and research that help prevent birth defects. In addition to the walk, there will be local vendors, food, contests (including a best dressed dog contest) and prizes. Find out more info at: https://www.facebook.com/barkforbabies.

Skipper, the Ambassador for Bark for Babies. — Skipper, the Doggie Ambassador for Bark for Babies.

May 14 – Paw Parade

The idea for this dog-walk fundraiser came from students in Gilmour’s Management and Entrepreneurship Course and all of the proceeds will go to two charitable organizations. The event includes a dog-friendly 1.7 mile walk as well as a puppy kissing booth, adoptable dogs, a police canine demonstration and a Vet-administered Microchip Clinic and nail clipping. Find out more info here: http://www.gilmour.org/page.cfm?p=2929

May 15 – Cleveland Metroparks Dog Walk

This 3-mile hike will be held at Mill Stream Reservation from 2-3:30 p.m. Meet in the Pawpaw Picnic Area located off Valley Parkway in Mill Stream Run Reservation. Other dates for Metroparks’ dog walks are May 1 at the Ohio & Erie Canal Reservation, May 15 at Garfield Park Reservation and May 28 at North Chagrin Reservation. Check out the Cleveland Metroparks calendar for details and more dog walk dates: http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/EventsProgramsCalendar/Dog-Walk-8811.aspx

May 27 – Yappee Hour

This first annual dog-friendly yappy hour will be held at Pawsitively Savvy, a grooming and pet sitting business in Northfield. Dogs are welcome for drinks, snacks, music and fun. Find out more at http://www.pawsitivelysavvy.com/ (If it rains, the event will be held the following Friday).

Human only events:

May 19 – 12th Annual Hair of the Dog Happy Hour and Silent Auction

Held at Around the Corner in Lakewood, this happy hour raises funds for the Lakewood Animal Shelter. Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/866265126852329/

May 21 – Art Fur Animals

The biggest fundraiser of the year for the Cleveland Kennel, the event will be held at the Masonic Temple and features a silent art auction featuring gallery quality artwork as well as raffle prizes, a photo booth, appetizers and drinks, celebrity bartenders and more. Buy your tickets here: http://bit.ly/1T1oLt3

You can check out their Facebook page for sneak peeks of some of the cool art being auctioned: https://www.facebook.com/artfuranimalscleveland/?fref=nf Like this cool stained glass window:

May 22 – Uncorked for Canines

This wine tasting fundraiser for Love-A-Stray Animal Rescue will be held at Wood and Wine in Avon. Find out more info here: http://www.loveastraydog.com/events/2nd-annual-uncorked-for-canines/10994

For more May events, check out the calendar: http://dogsinthecle.com/dog-friendly-events

Mark Your Calendars: April Dog-Friendly Events

April is when things really get started for dog-friendly events. This month has quite a few activities for you and your dog, from 5Ks to hockey games to a bar crawl to support local animals, check out what to do this month with your dog:

April 3 – The Siberian Husky IDid-A-Run 5K/1 mile walk

This dog-friendly run/walk benefits the Siberian Husky Club of Greater Cleveland. The cost for the 5K /1 mile Walk is $20 if you register by April 1, day of the race the cost is $25. Dogs are welcome on the run and walk (no retractable leashes permitted). Find out more details here: http://www.siberiancleveland.org/

April 10 – 4th Annual Dog Fair

Hosted by Elite K911 and Grateful Dog Bakery, the dog fair will feature vendors, raffles, adoptable dogs and the Brunch Box Food Truck. Dogs are welcome at the event! The fair is held at Elite K911 Warehouse in North Ridgeville from 11 to 4 p.m. More details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/558536440986220/

April 10 – Pucks and Paws

Dogs are welcome at the game April 10 as the Lake Erie Monsters take on the Rochester Americans. Human tickets are $15, dogs are $5. In order for the APL to receive proceeds from a portion of the human tickets, mention the APL when you order your tickets over the phone, or use this link to buy your tickets. The first 1,000 fans to arrive with their dog will get a Players & Pups Calendar.

April 16 – NEO Corgi Meetup

The Corgi meetup will be held at the Wadsworth Community Dog Park (618 West St. Wadsworth, Oh). Hunter and I went to the last one (no, he’s not a corgi, don’t judge) and it was a lot of fun! If you have a friendly, social corgi you should definitely attend. There will be games and prizes starting at 1 p.m. and a group picture will be taken at 2. (FYI- Treats or food of any kind are not permitted in the dog park.) Find out more here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1562423464081552/

April 17 – Mercy’s Door Pet Rescue Spring Fling Walk

Walk with your dog to help raise funds for the adoptable dogs of Mercy’s Door Pet Rescue. This is a group walk to raise funds to help the dogs Mercy’s Pet Door takes in. The walk will be 2 miles at Silver Creek Metroparks – Pheasant Run Shelter (with an option for a 3rd mile). Starts at 10 a.m. More details here: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Mercy%27s%20Door%20Pet%20Rescue%20Spring%20Fling%20Walk

April 24 – 5th Annual Fur Fun 5K & Dog Walk

This 5K plus dog walk is organized by Love-A-Stray animal rescue in Avon. Held on Sunday, April 24 at Avon Lake High School, the 5K also includes a group dog walk beginning at 11 a.m. as well as raffles and a pet fair. Find out more and sign up here: http://www.loveastraydog.com/events/fur-fun-5k-dog-walk/10830

April 30 – Howl ‘n Hike

The Annual Howl N’ Hike to benefit The Siberian Husky Emergency Life Line Fund will be held at WJ Green Metro Parks in Berea. In addition to a hike, there will be canine games, a silent auction and Urban Mushing Dogs of Ohio will be offering demos. Note from organizers: All breed dogs are welcome but they must be over 30 lbs. please. Find out more info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/764356617032407/

Also, this month – although not dog friendly – the Cleveland Animals Bar Crawl, held on April 9 at 4 p.m. The bar crawl takes you to six different animal themed bars (Flying Monkey, Fat Cats, Thirsty Parrot and more) to raise money for the Cleveland APL. T-shirt sales are now closed, but you can still join in the fun and donate to the APL to support animals in the community! Find out more info here: http://www.clevelandanimalsbarcrawl.com/details.html

Check out more events here: http://dogsinthecle.com/dog-friendly-events/

Cleveland Dog-Friendly 5Ks

In my early days of dog ownership, I dreamed of having a dog that would run with me. I figured it would be great motivation to keep me running (my relationship with fitness is precarious at best) and would be great exercise for my dog.

Flash to four years later and I can barely get my dog to walk around the block with me most days. Not that he is lazy, quite the opposite, he is just hard to get to focus and doesn’t understand that he is on a leash most of time on our walks. I’ve given up on my dreams of having a dog as a running partner, but that’s ok. Although I didn’t end up with the dog I envisioned, what I have is so much better it really doesn’t matter.

If you are one of those people who does have a dog that likes to run, you may want to check out these upcoming dog-friendly races. April is the unofficial start of the running season, so mark your calendars for these dog-friendly 5Ks. And, even if your dog doesn’t like to run, these races also include the option to walk as well.

April 3 – Siberian Husky 5k/1 Mile “Idid-a-Run”

Sponsored by the Siberian Husky Club of Greater Cleveland, this 5K and 1 mile race will take place at Edgewater Park April 3. Registration and packet pickup starts at 8 a.m. and the race kicks off at 9. There will be awards for the top runners, vendors, sled programs and post-race fun! Find out more here: http://www.hermescleveland.com/roadracing/events/siberianhusky.asp

April 24 – Love-A-Stray Fur Fun 5k

May 21 – Freedom Run 5K and 1.75 Mutt Strut

This race benefitting Freedom Greyhound Rescue of Aurora goes through Sunny Lake Park in Aurora and includes a 5K and a dog walk. There will be awards for the runners as well as the top 3 dogs in the Mutt Strut! Find out more information here: http://www.freedomgreyhoundrescue.org/run.html

The fun continues on Sunday at the Freedom Dog Fest and Adoption Fair. This event is held at the Tails & Trails Dog Park in Aurora from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the admission is free. There will be raffles, vendors, games and a greyhound fun run and a pet fashion show! The fashion show starts at 12:30 and will feature swimwear, evening/formal wear, sports attire as well as contests for prettiest eyes, best trick, best tail wager.

July 16 – Muddy Paws 5 and 10 miler

This scenic trail run and walk held on July 16 goes through the Cuyahoga National Valley Park. The trail race is 5 or 10 miles, and there is a 2 mile course for you and your dog! A portion of the proceeds from the event benefit the Humane Society of Greater Akron. The 2 mile dog run starts at 7:30 a.m. and the other races start at 8 a.m. Find out more info here: https://www.westernreserveracing.com/events/muddy-paws-5-and-10-miler/

July 16 – Dirty Dog Run and Dog Wash, Avon

No details up yet, but it’s marked for July 16 on the Hermes Race calendar. Stay tuned!

I’ve only listed the upcoming 5Ks that are specifically dog-focused. Most of the 5K races organized by Hermes Cleveland are dog friendly though, so take a look at that calendar if you’re looking for more runs: http://www.hermescleveland.com/roadracing/default.asp