The third annual Del Ray Dog Fest on Sunday was off the chain, in a good way.
Hundreds of pooches and their people attended the event, which featured a fashion show, playgrounds for pups, live music, and 65 vendors.
Jenna Gotch of Passionately Pets started the festival, and said that it’s important for young dogs who were brought into the home during the pandemic need more socialization. She said that a vast majority of her dog walking and pet sitting clients are dogs with socialization issues.
“We used to need to do meet-and-greets with 15% of our clients for those special needs dogs,” Gotch said. “Now it is up to 60%, and that’s coming down from 75% from two years ago. A lot of these dogs who have been just sitting at home and only with their owners for two years, they’re really not socialized the way that we’re used to.”
Gotch said that it has resulted in a generation of dogs with anxiety, aggression, and reactivity.
“But you know, they’re all just scared,” she said. “We’ve just got to be patient and figure out what they need and make sure we socialize them, bringing them out and give them positive experiences.”
Proceeds from the event went to Pawfectly Delicious Dog Treats, a local nonprofit that gives jobs to adults with disabilities.
ICYMI: It was a howlingly busy weekend for our four-footed friends. Don’t miss our coverage of Saturday’s 4th Annual ALX Dog Walk in Old Town.
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