Dog Day Afternoon- A Day of Fun for Dogs in Laramie

By Susan Weidel, Best Friends News Writer

Volunteers -- Laramie Animal Shelter Fdn. Board Member Gail Hankin and Alpine Animal Hospital Vets Nicki Nicholas and Jacklyn Murray -- microchip dogs and cats

Dog Day Afternoon brought out Laramie’s dogs. The 3rd annual Dog Day event was held in Laramie, Wyoming on a beautiful Sunday in August and featured a host of activities for over 400 dogs and their people. The event helped raise money for the Laramie Animal Shelter and the City of Laramie Dog Park.

This was the Summer Olympics for dogs who were swimming, running, and practicing canine gymnastics on the agility course. The artistic pets got photographed, sketched and judged in a pet beauty contest. Homemade treats -- canine and human – were the hit of the day for hungry pets and people. Therapy dogs, agility dogs, obedience dogs and just plain dogs attended the afternoon event and had a ball. They got washed, groomed, and some even got pedicures.

The Laramie Animal Shelter Foundation held a microchip clinic with the volunteer assistance of Alpine Animal Hospital’s Jacklyn Murray, DVM and Nicki Nicholas, DVM. The two vets micro-chipped 59 dogs and cats. With a little peanut butter and cheese whiz, the pets sailed through the simple chip insertion procedure. A microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) was placed by the vets between the shoulder blades of each animal. It took a matter of seconds and will help a lost pet return home safely. The Laramie Animal Shelter Officers (with a hand held scanner) check all “strays” for a microchip and will contact owners immediately so animals won't be housed at the Shelter for extended periods of time.

Chairman of the event, Barbara Barnes, an active Shelter volunteer, declared the event a success and is already planning for the 4th Annual Dog Day Afternoon.

All Photos by Nancy Weidel