Paws Parade

Barkley Square Fun Dog Show, more than just a masked affair

By Jenni Terry

The old cliché about every dog having his—or her in accordance with today’s politically corrected version—day will ring true again this year during the annual Barkley Square Fun Dog Show in Alexandria.

The event will be held 10 a.m – noon on March 5 at Alexandria City Hall as part of the Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade festivities.

Kristina Robertson, owner of Barkley Square, said last year’s Fun Dog Show fetched over 200 dogs during registration. (On-site registration opens at 10 a.m. and is free, but donations are welcomed as 100 percent of the proceeds go to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.)

“It’s amazing to see literally hundreds of dogs with their owners come together and meet, get along and have fun,” Robertson says.

While palling around with other dogs and owners is a major draw of the show, the real hook is, of course, the show, which includes a number of silly contests.

Registered pups can take their pick of competing in contest categories including dog and human look-alike, biggest feet, best tail wag, best dressed (St. Patrick’s Day-themed getups are strongly encouraged), smallest dog, biggest ears, longest tongue, the most disproportionate dog and others.

Roberston said the dog and human look-alike contest is one of the most popular—and not without a little controversy, it seems.

Last year’s winner took the prize along with her gorgeous Golden Retriever, and felt compelled to affirm to the crowd that, yes, both she and her dog were natural blondes.

Winners of each category are awarded a grand prize ribbon and have their pictures taken for the local paper, but in true grade-school fashion, no dog goes home empty pawed. Each participant is awarded an honorable mention ribbon. Of course, if they were feeling especially low following a loss, they could ease their pain with a couple dozen Krispy Kreme donuts—sold as part of the fund-raising efforts.

However, there is more to gain than laughs, ribbons and sugar highs; raffles also take place during the event. Robertson says prizes are donated from local businesses and include items like grooming sessions and pet portraits.

And if one is really lucky, he or she could even take home a new friend.

A key part of the Barkley Square Fun Dog Show is the parade of shelter dogs who are in need of adoption followed by a shout-out for all the rescue dogs in the crowd. Robertson says this part of the event is a time to share the stories of the dogs that need homes as well as the ones that have been adopted, uniting in support for pet adoption.

“The money we raise shows how in a downed economy, the City of Alexandria, and beyond, still care about the wellbeing of homeless animals,” Robertson says.

On top of all the fun, dogs and their owners are given the esteemed honor of leading the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

(February 2011)