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Are you hosting an adoption event, dog's birthday party, or something else where you'd like to allow man's best friend to attend? Pet-friendly events tend to bring in more guests, more attention, and when relevant, more donations. Of course, you want your pet-friendly event to be a success, which means there are some tips that you'll need to keep in mind.
1. Choose a Pet-Friendly Venue
The venue is perhaps the most important part of hosting a pet-friendly event. If you'll be hosting your event outdoors, you'll need to be sure that there is plenty of shade for your guests to enjoy. It's also important to place plenty of water dishes around to keep your furry guests comfortable. Even if your event is inside, be sure that there is an easily accessible place for people to take their pets to relieve themselves. It's also helpful to provide free waste bags for those who may have forgotten theirs at home. This way, your venue stays clean and comfortable for all of your guests.
2. Give the Pets Something To Do
When you have a lot of animals in one spot, it's important to keep them occupied. Bored dogs especially are known to cause trouble by picking fights with other dogs or chewing on things that they shouldn't be chewing on. If you'll have a lot of dogs in one spot, be sure to provide plenty of toys. Chew toys will keep pups occupied for plenty of time, especially if you fill them with dog-safe peanut butter (be sure to ask permission from the pet parents first!). You can also provide balls for playing fetch, tug-of-war toys, and even create obstacle courses for those dogs that like a challenge.
3. Know What To Avoid
If you want your dog-friendly event to be a success, it's important to know what you should avoid as well. Consider what you're celebrating and how you can do so in a dog-friendly environment. Most importantly, this means avoiding loud and unexpected noises such as fireworks. Loud noises may spook even the calmest of dogs and could lead to aggression, hiding, or even trying to run away. It's also a good idea not to serve anything that could make a dog sick, such as chocolate, grapes, or onions. It only takes a moment of someone looking away for a dog to steal a "treat" and potentially put himself in danger.
4. Provide a List of Rules Beforehand
When you have a room full of people and pets, it's more important than ever to make sure that everybody knows the rules. By providing them in advance, you make sure that everybody familiarizes themselves with what is expected of both people and pets and that everyone has a good time. The rules of your event will depend on the type of event it is and where you're hosting it. Some examples of rules may include that all dogs need to be leashed at all times, having a designated area where pups can play leash-free, having a designated area for using the bathroom, and enforcing any type of breed or size restrictions.
5. Understand Whether You Can Serve Food
Don't offer to provide food only to find out that you can't legally do so. Some states have requirements that prevent you from serving food anywhere that you have pets. Other states say you can serve food but only if the event is held outside. It's important to find out and verify the laws for your area to ensure that you don't promise something that you can't deliver. If you can't serve food restaurant-style, you may be allowed to hire food trucks to provide treats at your event. Look into all of your options. You might even find a truck that offers dog treats as well!
6. Know Whether To Invite Kids
If you are going to have dogs at your event, will kids be allowed to be there as well? Keep in mind that not all dogs do well with kids and not all kids do well with dogs. If you do intend to allow both at your event, be sure to let people know in advance so that they can make the best decisions for their pets and children. If both kids and pets will be at your event, be sure to create a space where each one can exist without the other. A kid-friendly playground that keeps dogs at bay, plus an adults-only dog run will help to create spaces where each one can decompress from the other before re-joining each other at the main event.
7. Keep the Pups Safe
Any time that you have many dogs in one area, it's a good idea to have a veterinarian team on site. There are a number of reasons for this. For one thing, if it's hot outside, some dogs may play too hard and end up needing fluids or otherwise showing signs of heatstroke. Sometimes, two dogs simply don't get along and end up in a scuffle. Other times, two dogs get along too well, play too hard, and one of them ends up with a play-related injury. Regardless of the situation, keeping medication, first aid kits, and a qualified professional on hand during your event helps to ensure that everyone remains safe and goes home happy.
Remember, pulling off a pet-friendly event is hard work and not a task that should be rushed. Plan ahead, keep things well-organized, and seek out help when you can to ensure that your event is something everyone loves.
