Dogs, cat have fun at annual keg pull

SANDPOINT — It was a record-setting day.

Not only did dozens of dogs and their people show up to charge down the dual Winter Carnival K9 Keg Pull race track, so did one brave cat.

At a time of just over 17 seconds, Arlo — an intrepid orange cat whose best friend, pup Dalia, attended the race — entered the record books as the first cat to challenge the block-long course.

After Arlo protested the family’s decision to leave without him, Miriam Hammond said they decided to try bringing the cat along. After all, she added, they had a front-facing pet pouch where Arlo could snuggle into and stay safe and the feline is familiar with, and gets along with, dogs.

“Dalia is his best friend and he’s always upset when we leave with him so we thought, ‘Why not bring him with us,'” she said.

Hammond’s parents, Steve and Wesley Hammond, agreed. While it was the first time Arlo had spent time in the pouch, he didn’t mind being in it, realizing it was his chance to finally go on an adventure with his best friend.

“We know he’s wanted to leave,” Wesley Hammond said. “Every time we go out with Dalia, Arlo gets upset because it’s like he wants to go on adventures, too.”

The orange tabby wants to be part of the action, Steve Hammond agreed.

“He’s always mewing at the door whenever she goes outside, very upset that he’s not part of whatever is happening,” he added.

Arlo took the event in stride, at one point falling asleep in his carrier. 

When it came time for him to compete, Arlo popped his head out of the carrier, catching the attention of the crowd lining the outside of the race course.

“It was pretty funny because when we were walking down the middle and everyone saw him, they were asking if he was running and I said ‘I think so,'” Hammond said. “It was fun getting all of the cheers.”

The family said they are long-time supporters of the animal alliance, having adopted Arlo from the Ponderay facility, and fostered numerous litters of kittens there as well.

Arlo instantly bonded with Dalia and vice versa, setting up the eventual decision to take the feline along to the keg pull — and the history-making decision.

They already are pondering a return visit at next year’s keg pull.

“100%,” Miriam Hammond said.

While Arlo may have been the only cat showing up to compete, dozens of dogs and their people turned out to compete — as did a youth or two. In addition, hundreds of people were packed several deep along the block-long course.

Like the other participants, Reese Termond, who brought her dog Sol to the event, said she couldn’t wait to take part in the annual event.

“It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” she said. “It’s so fun and that the whole community gets together to watch the dogs pull the kegs. It’s just like everybody’s supporting everybody and it’s for a good cause.”

Termond said it’s the second year that Sol has taken part in the keg pull. Now almost 4, Sol was at first hesitant to run the race but familiarity — and a hand on his leash — have helped the Samoyed have fun at the event.

“He’s very friendly and always smiling,” Nina Welp, who attended the race with Termond, said of the dog.

Like the other participants, Jordan Palmer said the keg pull sounded like a lot of fun and decided to bring his dog, Birdie. While she was a little distracted in her first run, Palmer said the pup had a lot of fun.

Palmer, who attended the race with his family, said Birdie loves his son and the plan for her second race was to have the youth head halfway down the course first.

“This next one’s going to be legit,” said Palmer, while waiting in a line that stretched down the middle of Cedar Street between Second and Third avenues. “She loves him a lot so I’m going to put (my son) halfway up in front of me and see how it goes.”

While the weather was less than ideal, Better Together Animal Alliance officials said the annual fundraiser for the Ponderay shelter was a complete success.

“The keg pull had an amazing turnout and we are so grateful to everyone who participated as well as Eichardt’s, Selkirk Press, and EzyDog for continuing to organize it,” said Andrea Nagel, director of storytelling and partnerships.

Thanks to the many participants and the event’s generous donors, the alliance raised $2,147 to help animals in BTAA’s care and community programs. 

“Our operations director said it was a fantastic team effort as well as a really fun day,” Nagel said.

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