Hot dog!
Desirae Roberts and her English bulldog Fat Amy enjoy cool grass on a hot summer day in Stoddard Park during the 2021 Dog Days of Summer-Fest. This year's event is Saturday and temperatures are expected to be cooler than last year.
DEVIN WEEKS/Press File
Chentel Morrison of Path of Hope Rescue shares some love with Savannah, an adoptable cattle dog mix, during the Dog Days of Summer-Fest event in Hayden on Saturday.
Birdie, a 10-week-old silver Lab, is about to make a run for it with a pop-up water bowl as she enjoys the shade under a vendor table in Stoddard Park on Saturday.
Parents Carter and Hollie Smith-Stepper, with daughter Monroe, 9, son William, 7, and 15-week-old puppy Imogen smile for the camera Saturday after winning a raffle basket filled with doggie goodies at the Dog Days of Summer-Fest in Hayden.
HAYDEN — The sign read, "Puppy breath this way."
For dog lovers, you don't have to tell them twice.
The second Dog Days of Summer-Fest, held in Stoddard Park in Hayden on a sizzling Saturday, was a celebration of all things canine as dog owners gathered to socialize and enjoy an outing with their best buddies.
"We saw it on Facebook," said Desirae Roberts, accompanied by her panting English bulldog, Fat Amy.
"We just live right over there," Roberts said. "Fat Amy likes to get out and enjoy people and check things out."
Daniel Hagen, who also lives nearby, was out for a walk with his 10-week-old silver Lab, Birdie, who made herself at home in the shade beneath a vendor table. The Hagen family has been enjoying puppyhood since they adopted Birdie three weeks ago.
"So far, so good," Hagen said. "This is her first outing, really. We're just on our second round. She seems to be doing good."
The festival's offerings included bouncy houses, doggie pools, ice cream, espresso and pet services and product booths for guests to explore.
And the puppy breath? The invite was from Path of Hope Rescue, which had a few furry friends on hand to possibly meet their future family members.
"This is Savannah," Path of Hope director of admissions Chentel Morrison said, gesturing to the sweet little cattle dog mix at the end of the leash in her hand.
Savannah came to Path of Hope in April the day before she gave birth to a litter of puppies.
"She whelped them at my house," Morrison said with a smile. "We are fostering her. (All the puppies) are all adopted. The last one just was finalized yesterday, so now it's just mama."
Morrison said she loved that the Dog Days event was held in a grassy park, especially since it was so hot.
"They have water everywhere, which is phenomenal for all the dogs," she said. "And it's good for owners to learn awareness and etiquette. It's really important."
Donations collected during the day will help fund additional amenities at Hayden's Pawfoot Dog Park on Lancaster Road.
The main sponsor for the event was Idaho Central Credit Union, represented by business development officer Roxanne Kusler, who had plenty of green swag to share with attendees.
"It's what we're all about, giving back to our community in whatever way our community needs," she said. "We love it."
