Find your new best friend at Woofstock ’08

Photo Courtesy of www.vzvalley.com

VZ VALLEY BOYS. A longtime favorite in the Pacific Northwest, the four-piece VZ Valley Boys play a big variety of music, from traditional bluegrass to pop, swing and even rock played in whole new way.

Hundreds of animals in search of a loving home will be waiting to meet you at Woofstock ’08, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 3 at Todd Field on the campus of University of Puget Sound. Featuring nearly two-dozen rescue groups from throughout the Northwest, the day will be dedicated entirely to our furry friends and how people can help make their lives much happier and, more importantly, keep healthy, adoptable animals from being destroyed.

Woofstock ’08 is a day not just for those seeking to adopt a pet, but for anyone wanting to enjoy a summer day in the park. Woofstock ’08 includes a full day of fun activities including merchant vendors you won’t find at other outdoor festivals in the area selling (and giving away) all kinds of things for your pet; food vendors for the humans in the crowd; and informational/educational groups with tables set up offering literature and more. There will also be demonstrations, like the Fort Fido Flyers flyball, dog wading pools, and lots of great music featuring several area bands.  

Elliot Weiner, project manager for Woofstock ’08 and founder of the rescue group Protect Adoptable Labs (PALS), which is presenting the event in partnership with the Dugan Foundation, said the whole point of Woofstock ’08 is to save animals from being put down simply because no one came forward to offer them a home.

“The whole reason we started this is because so many animals sit in shelters,” he said. “Many of them run the risk of being killed because there’s just no room in the world for them.”

There will be all kinds of healthy, spayed/neutered furry friends to meet at Woofstock ’08: dogs, cats, bunnies, piglets, ferrets and other small animals and even horses all up for adoption. Some will be available to take home that day, depending on the policies of each rescue group that’s offering the pets. For example, the Humane Society will bring only pets that can be adopted that day. Other groups, like those that work to protect more at-risk pets like greyhounds and malamutes, want to first see the living conditions the animal will have in its new home as these types of breeds, and others, require extra-special attention and knowledgeable owners dedicated to taking good care of such pets.

All adoptions will require the payment of some monetary fees, $100-$250 for dogs and $60-$100 for cats. All available pets will be up to date with their shots and many are also microchipped. Weiner recommends that those who rent their house or apartment bring proof that the landlord allows pets. It may also be helpful to bring contact information for your veterinarian, personal references, and photos of your fenced yard.  

Wiener said that at Woofstock ’08, potential adoptive families and individuals can spend all day getting to know the pet of their choice. There will be mesh visitation tents for cats and bunnies, and also a “meet and greet” area for dog owners who bring their current dog to the event to introduce to available dogs. Staff and volunteers may also be able to give their opinion on whether it is a good match.

“We want to make this as much a matchmaking event as possible,” Weiner said. “It’s not just ‘come and adopt a dog.’ It’s ‘let’s find that perfect match for you.’”

MUSIC ON THE LAWN

Whether you’re relaxing on the grass or meandering through the adoption or merchant villages, Woofstock ’08 has lined up several local bands that will play music throughout the day. Mackie Systems Entertainment will provide the DJ and the big festival stage, with karaoke between musical acts.

StarStuck is an all-teenage girl garage band that puts on one heck of a show. They play gigs throughout the Puget Sound, including Louiefest last year and most recently at the Pike Place Market Festival and opening day of the 6th Avenue Farmers Market in Tacoma. They are: Brittany Anna on guitar, Linda on bass, Lizzy on keyboards and Maddy on drums. StarStruck is definitely a band to watch out for. Their MySpace page tells it all: http://www.myspace.com/starstruckgirlband.

VZ Valley Boys (http://www.vzvalley.com) have been playing in the greater Puget Sound region for many years at festivals, street fairs, restaurants, coffee houses and churches. They are: Al Price on banjo, Phil Hansen on guitar, Terry Niehaus on bass and Chris Luquette on mandolin. The boys play a variety of material, from contemporary to traditional bluegrass, vocals and instrumentals, pop and swing, some ragtime, blues, shuffles and even rock melodies played on traditional instruments in new and inventive ways.

Olympia-based WiseCracker is a four-piece rockin’ blues band with a strong rhythm section. Playing blues and classic tunes, their original style is a blend of blues, southern rock and even swing. WiseCracker is: Kris Edem on lead vocals and guitar; Rusty Plastic on lead guitar, slide guitar, vocals, and keyboard; Gene Rank on bass guitar and vocals; and  Smilin’ Mike Dillard on the drums and vocals. Learn more about them at http://www.myspace.com/wisecracker1234.

Admission to Woofstock ’08 is free, and donations are accepted. Todd Field is located on the campus of University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner St. For more information, visit http://www.duganfoundtion.org or http://www.protectadoptablelabs.com.

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