Whether you’re looking for a chihuahua, labrador or a silly, charming mixed breed of puzzling origins — whether dog or cat —your future best furry friend is waiting to greet you at the Doggie Street Festival on Saturday, July 12.
The sixth annual free family-oriented fair, the region’s largest adoption event, returns to its original Liberty Station park location at NTC Park, located at 2455 Cushing Road. Event hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free parking is available in Lot I on Cushing Road and elsewhere.
“It’s a good location for everyone, accessible with good free parking,” said founder and organizer Jude Artenstein, a filmmaker and “Pet Lounge”creator.
This year’s festival is expected to be the largest ever, with more rescues, vendors and entertainment for the public’s enjoyment. Friendly, well-behaved leashed dogs are invited to accompany their humans.
About 40 local rescue organizations, including many breed-specific groups and public shelters, will bring an array of pooches, plus a few courageous cats, eager to find their “forever” homes. Each year, the festival pairs more than 150 animals with new families. Last year, more than 200 dogs found their perfect match through the event, which was also held in Los Angeles.
Festival attendees can browse about 100 vendor booths offering pet-related supplies, food, services, training and pet-care information, all geared to improving the health and well-being of companion animals.
Special this year at 10 a.m. is the World Pup Parade, featuring strutting doggies dressed in their favorite World Cup team jerseys.
Also new this year is the festival’s Pet Book Pavilion, where best-selling authors of pet-oriented books will sell and sign their work. Doug Hokstad, local author of “Dozer Surfs … A True Dog’s Tale,” is among the authors planning to attend.
Festive music, a silent auction and food vendors will complete the day’s yappy experience. Dog-rescue advocate and acclaimed Los Angeles-based singer Veronica Powers, 13, will appear at the festival to promote adoptions.
Disc Dogs Southern California will demonstrate its training prowess and athleticism in two special performances at 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., while champion Surf Dog Louie will appear at the festival from noon to 1 p.m. to promote adoption and provide paw prints.
Artenstein said the festival has another meaning besides promoting adoption over buying a pet.
“It’s more about empowering people to help put an end to euthanasia for unwanted homeless pets. None of us can do it all, but we can all do something to help out. We have to be brave about it, not timid. These valuable animals depend on us to do the right thing,” she said.
For more information, visit www.doggiestreetfestival.org.