The festival season is in full swing and a very special event is coming to Ireland’s capital next month.
On Sunday, August 18, the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre, on Ashbourne Road in Finglas will host a dog festival, ‘Dogs Trustival’.
Dog owners are invited to bring their pooch along and enjoy a day of music, food and fun to celebrate 10 years of rescuing and rehoming dogs in Ireland.
Canine capers
The dog festival promises to keep tails wagging all afternoon with live music performed by popular Irish band Hudson Taylor and exciting new Dublin act, SAARLOOS.
A cleverly designed “Museum of Modern Bark” will hold exhibitions of pieces from a range of Irish artists.
Dog portraits by Audrey Hamilton, Morgan and the Jam Art Factory will be on display before being raffled at the end of the day.
Children will be in their element with an “Education Corner” offering face painting, balloon making, bubbles and a “Pup-Up” photo booth producing unique ‘paw-traits’.
“Tailwagger Walk” market will be a shoppers delight with lots of stalls crammed full of doggie merchandise and food vendors for snacks.
For the dogs
Sociable pups and helpful hounds will be welcome at the dog festival, with special areas allocated for them to play.
For any owners with concerns about their four-legged friend, Canine Agony Aunts will be there to dole out support and advice.
Any dogs attending, however, must be well socialized with other canines and be handled by their owners according to The Control of Dogs Acts 1986 and 1992.
Rules of the day are made clear on the Dogs Trust website and clearly state, “Dogs are welcome, once he/she is well socialized, comfortable with other dogs, children and familiar with large crowds of people.”
A time to celebrate
Dog Trustival is in aid of Ireland’s largest Dog Welfare Charity.
Their rehoming centre in Finglas has been rescuing and rehoming dogs in Ireland for a decade.
Over 2,000 dogs were rehomed via Ireland’s Dogs Trust last year alone with more than 7,000 furry friends micro-chipped for their safety.
Since launching their opening in November 2009, the rehoming centre has found forever homes for more than 8,000 dogs and puppies.
It has gone from strength to strength and now employs 64 staff members as well as receiving support from countless volunteers.
To celebrate some of the happy endings made possible by the team a “Dog Tales with Andrea Hayes” competition will be held at the dog festival.
It will ask owners to reach out to the audience and explain just what their rescue dog means to them.
A panel of judges including TV presenter Maia Dunphy, Irish model Holly Carpenter and Dogs Trust Head of Operations Karla Dunne will decide the winner.
All in all a super day of party pooches, yummy treats and live music is in store and all for a howling good cause.
Family tickets cost 35 euro while your furry friends go free! So why not lend a paw and grab your tickets HERE!
