Day goes to the dogs

The Pet Party in the Park celebrates owners and their pooches.

By KEVIN GRAHAM, Times Staff Writer
Published August 27, 2007

Humane Society of Tampa Bay volunteer Alea Burke holds "Blue, " a 1-year-old, Catahoula Leopard Boxer mix dog who did not like walking the runway during the doggy fashion show. The Humane Society had several dogs in the show that were up for adoption. View more photos
	[Ken Helle | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Ken Helle | Times] "Oscar", a 4-year-old Mini Red Daschund, swims for the side of the fountain in Hyde Park Village during the Pet Party in the Park celebrating National Dog Day. The fountain was a good place for the dogs to cool off. [Ken Helle | Times] Zach Brusko gets his face licked by "Sniffles, " a 6-year-old Maltese mix, at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay booth, while friend Lucas Long pets Sniffles.

And if that wasn't enough to cause people to pause and peek inside at the bright eyes looking back, Isabella, the 2-year-old chihuahua, had other glamorous accessories to boot.

"Did you see her pink boa?" asked Isabella's owner, Lisa Archibong, 37, of Tampa.

Sunday marked National Dog Day and hundreds of the four-legged creatures marked their territory at Old Hyde Park Village in celebration.

Organizers estimated more than 500 people brought their dogs to the first "Pet Party in the Park" held in the South Tampa shopping circle. Pooches got the royal treatment with doggie massages, treats and photographs with their owners. For the adventurous canine there was paw print painting and a fashion show.

"If you just stop and listen, people have a lot of stories to share about their dogs," said Susan Martin, general manager for Old Hyde Park Village.

Eddie Spaghetti, a 7-year-old rat terrier, wasn't much in a sharing mood. When strange dogs dared to try to sniff him, he hunched low to the ground and shifted his head away.

"He was kind of nervous when we first got here," said his owner, Nina Miller, 25, of Lakeland. "He's a had a few treats now and he seems to have opened up."

Lauren Brenner, 30, of Clearwater had a shy Shih Tzu in her hands who hadn't quite come out of his shell. She had trouble convincing him that it was okay to drink water from a bowl that wasn't his.

"He's sniffing around a lot," Brenner said of 7-month-old Kingston. "He's just kind of confused about why all these dogs are here."

There was nothing reserved about Lucca the 2-year-old boxer. His confident strut and Buccaneers jersey made him popular and easy to spot.

"He's pretty playful," said Lucca's owner, Jose Gonzalez, 40, of Tampa. "He wants to greet everybody."

Organizers said the first-time event proved so popular that they will consider making it an annual party.

Kevin Graham can be reached at 813 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com.

[Last modified August 27, 2007, 07:16:51]