Alyssa Dombroski and her husband took their dogs, Rico and Mickey, to Evans Towne Center Park Thursday evening to participate in a fun event designed specifically for pets and their parents.
Columbia County Parks, Recreation and Events hosted Barks in the Park, a free event that included a variety of activities for dogs, such as tunnels and a splash pad, as well as food trucks and vendors, including PetSmart.
“I love it,” said Dombroski, who learned about Barks in the Park on the county’s Facebook page. “It’s very dog-friendly, and I feel like we need more events like this.”
Marketing Manager Viktoria Wannamaker agreed.
“Augusta is a very dog-friendly place,” Wannamaker said. “Everybody in Augusta is always looking for things to do with their animals.”
She said people are welcome to bring their dogs to many county events, including Food Truck Fridays, but there are some exceptions. For example, they don’t recommend taking them to Boom! In the Park, a Fourth of July event that includes fireworks.
Matthew Rodgers brought his dog, Mouse, a Keeshond, to enjoy the activities.
“We’re getting out and getting some sunshine, and I’m letting my dog meet some other dogs,” Rodgers said.
That was the same reason Jennifer Newman brought her dog, Buddy, a boxer, pointer, hound mix.
“I came to get him out to see more friends and be around more people,” Newman said.
Ryan Wuelfing, owner of Top Priority K9 Training, was one of the event’s vendors. Wuelfing offers a variety of services, including obedience training, private lessons, and boarding.
“I do personal protection training,” he said. “I’ve been training for 17 years, and I’m just trying to get my name out in the community.”
Morgan Blais, program and events coordinator, said Barks in the Park will probably be an annual event, and they may even host it twice a year. Blais was pleased with the number of people who brought their pets to the event.
“I didn’t know what to expect, so this turnout is pretty good,” she said. “This is awesome.”
