Dog-lovers are off to the races in the downtown core this weekend, with the Pet-a-palooza event on Aug. 27 bringing puppos of all shapes and sizes to a makeshift track in Yaletown. The fourth annual edition of the free, pet-friendly day fair is about more than the planned 30-foot dachshund dash, though, with organizers using the Sunday afternoon to spread awareness on nutrition, health, and more.
Sponsored by Natural Balance dog food, the trade event will block off traffic on Mainland Street from Davie to Helmcken and 60 local exhibitors will be on hand, from Fergie's Doggie Delight Bakery hocking dog treats and K9 Gentle Dental promoting oral hygiene, to Danes and Divas presenting a line of boutique collars and bandanas. Various vets and the SPCA will also be around with tips for owners.
"The idea behind the festival was to bring the community together, to support local non-profit and charity organizations and help them raise some funds, and have a fun day out for people and their pets," Pet-a-palooza event coordinator Jordan Illington tells Westender over the line from her home in Shawinigan Lake, moments after wrapping a morning walk with her five Great Danes.
Perhaps the biggest attraction will be the series of playful dog races taking place by Bill Curtis Square. While last year's Pet-a-palooza only held a "running of the bulls" race for English and French bulldogs, the 2017 event adds the aforementioned wiener dog race and a mixed-breed "puppy stampede" for furballs six months and under.
But just as Pet-a-palooza is growing, so to is the issue of finding a pet-friendly home in Vancouver. Widely imposed “no pets” clauses in the B.C. Residential Tenancy Act and other related acts – which allow landlords and strata corporations to restrict owners and tenants from keeping pets in their homes – have stung many looking for housing with their animal. A petition prepped by the Pets OK coalition earlier in the year cited that, according to the BC SPCA, 1,774 animals were surrendered to their shelters because of “no pets” restrictions in 2016. Pets OK hopes to amend the acts to prevent pet bans, but some opposition exists and the motion has yet to be made.
"There's a lot of people with dogs, but it's a very enforced [‘no pets’] city," says Yaletown resident Jennie Orton, who owns an 11-year old Pomeranian/pug mix named Lenny. She adds that the already-low vacancy rates in Vancouver have made finding an apartment tough, but options on rental apps tend to all but vanish once you factor in your pet.
"Trying to find an apartment in this market with a dog, my boyfriend and I ... we live in a 400-square-foot bachelor apartment in Yaletown and can't find anything bigger that will allow us to have a dog. There's fierce competition for it."
In addition to changes to the tenancy act, Orton is hoping for more off-leash areas to be opened around Vancouver, and for bylaws prohibiting pets on local restaurant patios to also be more relaxed in the future
Back at Pet-a-palooza, Illington notes that restaurants along the strip of Mainland Street do allow dogs to be tied up outside of the patio, but that dogs not participating in the races will need to be leashed at all times.
There aren't any exhibitors at the event dealing with rental issues this year, but Illington explains that the event is "always looking to expand, and we'd love to be able to have the awareness aspect."
She adds, "We will hopefully be able to have a larger component of awareness in the future, because I think those are really important things to explain to people. And to give them the resources they need."
• Pet-a-palooza runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 27. More info at here.
