Lakes Pet Fest to feature four-legged activities smorgasbord Oct. 5-7 in Detroit Lakes

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Lakes Pet Fest hits Detroit Lakes this week, Oct. 5-7, and furry friend owners can expect a myriad of activities to participate in with their four-legged companions.

Dawn Duncan, president of Propel DL, the organizers of the pet festival, said they’ve expanded the activities into three days instead just the one-day offering last year.

“Last year was only one day, we’ve expanded to three,” said Duncan. “So what you can expect is a really wide array of things you can do with your pet.”

The events get started on Thursday evening with the Humane Society of the Lakes’ Yappy Hour at Buck Mill Brewery beginning at 5 p.m.

“You don’t have to bring your dog, but it sure would be fun,” she said. “The Humane Society is going to benefit from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., one dollar from every pint sold will go to them as part of a charitable pint night that the brewery has started.”

The pet fun continues on Friday with Dog Treat Bar at Best Pets in Detroit Lakes from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Pupward Dog Yoga will be offered in City Park at 6 p.m., however, organizers remind pet owners of Detroit Lakes’ leash laws, which state animals must be leashed while in a city-owned park.

Saturday events start early with the Leashes and Leaves 5k that steps off from The Pavilion at 8:30 a.m. and encourages pets and their owners to run, jog, or walk with their dog along the route.

Duncan also said the Becker County Museum has a lot of activities planned for lakes area pets on Oct. 7.

“10 a.m. to 2 p.m. you can go to the Becker County Museum and they are going to have a whole bunch of things for kids to do,” said Duncan. “Stuff a plush toy. You can also hand color a t-shirt for your little plush animal. And then the great thing they are doing is Paw-Casso, which is really creative, where your pet and their paws will make a nice painting for you. So really a lot of fun.”

Another painting event, Painted Paws, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Becker Pet and Garden.

Duncan also pointed out the Pet Fest is a great way to get more involved with our local animal nonprofits like the Marshmallow Animal Shelter and The Humane Society of the Lakes.

“They are affiliated with the city so they do get that overflow going a lot,” she said. “So they do get that overflow going a lot. They definitely have that need for supplies and for adoption, volunteers to walk the animals and that’s an ongoing need year-round.”

For a full schedule of events, visit the Lakes Pet Fest website at: www. Lakespetfest.com.