Page 56 • The HERALD • 15th February 2024 v THE HERALD - Proud to be part of your communityv ANIMAL MAGIC LIMBER UP FOR THE YEAR’S MOST ACTION-PACKED DOGGY WEEKEND YET... AWARD-WINNING DOG FESTIVAL DOGSTIVAL IS BACK! Recently crowned ‘Best Pet Day Out in the UK’ at the Animal Star Awards, Dogstival, which takes place on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd June, is a must-do for any fun-loving fido’s doggy diary, taking place this year in the beautiful surroundings of Burley Park. But prospective pawtrons better start limbering up. It’s estimated that a dog will clock up approximately 40,000 steps during their day at Dogstival, taking in all the brilliance that will be staged purely for their enjoyment. And for 2024, Dogstival leads the pack as having the most ‘have a go’ activities than any other doggy festival in the UK. Not only that, Dogstival 2024 will be crammed with quirky fun, features and food that has more than 10,000 dogs zooming back year after year. Naturo natural pet food returns as headline sponsor and are lending Dogstival a paw to ensure four-legged guests are spoilt for choice with fantastic activities and advice at every turn. Newbies and seasoned Dogstival veterans can enjoy dog sports including flyball, agility, a Scurry Village, as well as Barkour - a giant canine approved adventure playground. Wet noses can be put through their paces with scent work and for dogs who love getting wet, make a beeline for the diving and splash pools. Giving a nod to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, Dogstival’s sporting activity will be served with a twist with leader boards and a daily ‘Paw-lympic’ ceremony for each category’s highest achievers. Hounds and their humans can also expect to be dazzled by various displays taking place in the Naturo Main Arena, such as the Paws For Thought Display Team, who bust out the best canine tricks and games, and the all-action Little Nippers & Terriers Racing where dogs are welcomed into the arena for canine chaos chasing the lure. Bringing a further Olympic twist to the entertainment will see working dogs from the military, police, search and rescue battle it out in the ultimate challenge of scent work and agility. Additionally, the Top Dawg Show Ring is all about crowd participation inviting dogs of all shapes, sizes, ages, and breeds to strut their woof to win a host of fun titles. At £5 to enter, their good-sport nature will benefit Dogstival’s charities. Dogstival also has plenty of spaces to chill, soak up the atmosphere, be entertained, enjoy a cheeky doggy nap and more – with the Dogfuriendly Muddy Paws Tavern being a brilliant spot for a well-deserved rest. Stocked with dog beer and treats, the Tavern invites patrons to relax and soak up expert talks, enjoy dog bingo and flex brain power in the Big Pup Quiz, with prizes up for grabs. Throughout each day, Muddy Paws will also host breed meet ups and Dan the Hat Circus Skills & Comedy Show. Beyond the Tavern, the this is highly dangerous to dogs. Cookie was a cockapoo and only 6 years old. She was a healthy, beautiful, vibrant dog. She was part of our family and we all miss her so very much. I would not want another family to go through the pain that we are.” Stefanie Hunt from Marchwood has recently contacted The Herald and asked us to help make local dog owners aware of the dangers of rat poison. Stefanie lost her beloved cockerpoo, Cookie, in November following a walk in the New Forest. The vet explained that Cookie had eaten rat poison. Stefanie has since discovered that other local dog owners have had similar experiences and wants to make other dog owners aware to prevent heartache for other families. Stefanie comments: “Upon spreading the word via social media I have learnt that more people have suffered the same and that the poison is put on meat which would of course attract dogs. I am not pointing fingers at any member of my community or the surrounding towns and villages. However, if anyone is putting poison out for the purpose of killing rats then it should be known that Warning to Local Dog Owners Cookie showground to be buzzing too, with the double decker Boogie Bus Bar spinning the tune and the Hound Dog Music Stage playing soul, blues, Motown, folk, country, and pop classics. Guests can also put their paws up while polishing up their knowledge and learning something new at the Canine MOT Centre stage, which will be dispensing all the latest canine health and wellbeing know-how, as well as advice on how to keep your pooch in tip-top condition. No festival is complete without food and for both hound and human, Dogstival has heaps to tempt the tastebuds. For dogs, expect treats and puppuccinos from Pop & Bark, and marvellous meaty flavours at the Lickie Mat Café from the Raw Pet Food Pantry to name but a few, and for humans, food will also be ‘local’ from Hampshire vendors such as the Crispy Duck Rotisserie and Oink BBQ. Plus, there will more than 120 stands bursting with goodies to treat a pooch! Of course, visiting dogs are the VIPs of the weekend, but Dogstival ensures that all the fun is paid-forward too, by helping showcase the work and raise funds for charities such as Pets As Therapy and Dogs Trust, who will have their Rehoming Village at the event. Dogstival will also be managing their carbon pawprint, improving on last year’s efforts to recycle 67.5% of the event waste and on-boarding sustainable practices that apply to both them as event organisers and their various exhibitors and vendors. Dogstival 2024 takes place on 1st and 2nd June 2024 at Burley Park, Burley, Hampshire, BH24 4BS. Tickets are priced from £18 for adults, and from £10 for ages 6-16yrs, under 5’s go free. Weekend tickets also available. For more information and tickets, visit Dogstival. co.uk. Follow @dogstival on social for all the latest event updates. Fun in the Sun at Dogstival Superdog Diving at Dogstival Local Pet Retailer Launches Parking Charge Reimbursement Scheme for Customers A local pet food and accessory retailer has launched a parking charge reimbursement scheme in a bid to support its customers. Healthy Pet Store in Salisbury Road, Totton, has introduced the scheme which allows customers to claim back one hour of their parking fee with a minimum spend in store - the cost of which is covered entirely by Healthy Pet Store. The store is serviced by Westfield Road car park and customers regularly leave the store with heavy loads of raw pet food supplies. The Managing Director of Healthy Pet Store Deborah Burrows said customers rely on being able to conveniently park close to the store due to heavy loads. She added that high streets up and down the country are in dire straits, so it is vital that shopping with independent retailers is convenient and cost-effective. Healthy Pet Store is an independent pet food and accessory retailer, selling a wide range of raw pet food, toys and training supplies, with its store and support offices based in Totton. To find out more about Healthy Pet Store, visit healthypetstore.co.uk. Managing Director of Healthy Pet Store Deborah Burrows
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