Bark Fest, The Sequel...

 

Say hello to Emmitt. He stopped by the Carolina Real Food for Dogs booth at Bark Fest for a sample, even though he eats this food daily. I get a kick out of Emmitt- a small dog with big personality. He's often at the center of every activity. I think I referred to him as The Rabble Rouser in last year's post.

This year is the second Bark Fest event held in the Charlotte, NC, area and organized by our son Lee, who founded Carolina Real. This is Bender, another happy customer, posing in front of the pop-up sign featuring Winston, the "spokesdog" of Carolina Real. Winston was quite a sick boy as a puppy and wound up with digestive problems that were a problem for the whole family. Lee began to research and came up with a home-made food recipe that resolved the problems and helped Winston to thrive. When some friends asked if he'd make food for their dogs, the idea for his new company was born. More education and working with food scientists allowed him to formulate and refine his recipes further to meet government standards so he could sell the food. Last year's Bark Fest was the launch of the company and he gave out samples. This year his larger kitchen facility is up and running. We were offering samples and selling the food, which is fresh-made and then frozen so he can ship it to customers in the Carolinas. The feeding amounts and recommendations for transitioning to human-grade food are on the website.

It was a beautiful day and there were lots of meet-and-greets happening on the grounds. Vendors included a dog photography tent (proceeds going to Carolina Boxer Rescue organization), Muddy Dog mobile tread mill, a mobile groomer, a poop-scooper lawn service, a dog treat baker, a veterinary clinic, dog walking service, dog-themed gifts and t-shirts, a food truck, a brew truck, and more. Our daughter-in-law Carin had her own booth, too. As a nutritional consultant and coach, she offered a line of dog support supplements for sale. Just as last year, there were no incidents of doggy "turf wars" and the whole day was uplifting and fun. In the words of one attendee, "I wish Bark Fest could happen every weekend!" Good vibes.

The opportunity for me to travel and be part of Bark Fest is truly a highlight of the year. I just loved meeting all the dogs and seeing how much their families love and enjoy them and provide good care for them.

This is Riley, a German Shorthaired Pointer. He's getting ready for a sample of Carolina Real. Most dogs readily chow down on it, but some were too stimulated by the goings on to focus on food, while a few hesitate because they aren't just sure what to do with real food. They figure it out quickly though.

This beautiful standard Poodle was so well behaved and her coloring is quite unusual. Her ears were a dark chocolate brown contrasting with the rest of her lighter coat. 

This pair of Mastiffs were in attendance. They were not as large as the pair in last year's post (if you want more dog photos, click this link- the larger Mastiffs are pictured there along with a cute Pomeranian in a Caribbean hat!). But I think these two are young with some growing to do. Imagine the food bill for these two! Some people with  large dogs or multiple dogs add Carolina Real as a topper  or mix it in with the less expensive dry kibble they feed to add nutrition and appeal to the meals. You can see the mobile dog spa van in the background.

And this one!! We got to meet 12-week-old Ruby, a dappled Miniature Dachshund. Her owner carried her through the grounds because she has not completed her course of innoculations yet. She's a candidate for Carolina Real when she gets to about 6 months of age and she lives in the same apartment complex as Lee, so delivery will be an easy thing. I'm sorry granddaughter Brooke was traveling and unable to attend with her miniature Dachsund Gisele to meet Ruby. All in all, it was another wonderful festival of dogs and I loved every minute!

An in other animal news, on Mother's Day our daughter Joanna and I attended The Gala of the Royal Horses, a performance showcasing Friesian horses, Andalusians, Arabs, and Lippizaners. Majestic indeed.