MAXVILLE, Ontario – Dogs sprinted, swam, sniffed and soared during the fourth annual K9 Sport Fest, held from Saturday, July 14 to Sunday, July 15.
The weekend event featured 10 clubs and over 40 vendors. Participants could register to compete in any of the 10 clubs, which included dock jumping, sport scent detection, herding and more. Vendors sold niche products like organic, deliverable dog food, competition gear and pet toys.
Adult entry into the fairgrounds was $7 and children could spectate for free. Competitor registration fees varied depending on the activity, but the festival welcomed newcomers and professionals alike to test their abilities.
“Our goal is to grow it every year to become the Lollapalooza of dog sports,” said Daniel Santoro, co-founder of K9 Sport Fest.
Santoro, who started the festival with his wife, said it wouldn’t be possible without his workers, volunteers and generous sponsors. Next year, Santoro is planning to incorporate a dog midway, which will include games like balloon pop and bobbing for balls, with prizes available.
Funds raised from the event are donated to shelters, rescues, and awareness organizations, based on location and dog breed.
“We always support the SDG and Cornwall OSPCA,” said Santoro. “We’re more than happy to raise money for them. They do an important job. Particularly in our district, they have a lot of territory to cover and they are very underfunded.”
According to Santoro, hundreds of dogs attend the festival each year. This year, Saturday morning participation was affected by the rain, but Sunday’s bright weather compensated for the lack of attendance.
Santoro believes that a working dog is a happy dog, and his three dogs are the ambassadors of the event. He also values affordable admission and entertainment, so he puts effort into keeping costs low.
“We’re local to this area, we do this to raise money for the SPCA, we do this to stimulate local economy, we do this to raise awareness to the way animal rights are important,” said Santoro.
For more information about the festival and the clubs your dog could join, visit www.k9sportfest.com.
