Mutts strut in Ford Field
Photo by Sherri Kolade
Birmingham resident Rick Murray packed his Chihuahuas Bonita (left), Molina, and Mick in his backpack to attend the annual Mutt Strut & Pet Expo at Ford Field last weekend. Murray said Molina is still in foster care and he adopted the other two dogs about six years ago.
By SHERRI KOLADE
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — Dogs strutted their stuff with their owners during the annual Mutt Strut & Pet Expo.
The pledge-driven 1.9-mile dog walk and community-based animal celebration took place on May 12 and 13 in Ford Field. Dozens of booths and vendors tailored to treating, training and pampering dogs were available to not only help the dogs, but assist the humans who love them.
In Ford Field hundreds upon hundreds of big and little dogs dressed in pink tutus, aviator glasses and dresses were treated like miniature queens and kings and participated in various activities with their owners trailing not too far behind.
Sandy Bolton, public relations director for Friends for the Dearborn Animal Shelter, said the Mutt Strutt is an important event to the shelter.
“It has such a general public appeal,” Bolton said. “It is open to so many people … it was a wonderful wonderful day. People had a wonderful time celebrating animals and we were happy to see so many people come out and share in education and andimal celebrationm for the whole day.”
The Mutt Strut was $300 short of its $60,000 goal in helping homeless animals. Bolton said the pledge will be open until the end of May.
Attending the Mutt Strut is nothing new for mother and daughter Patty Golem and Amy Golem, of Dearborn.
Amy Golem, 24, said they both raised money for the event and they attended to see what it has to offer.
“All the fun little booths and game sessions are really exciting,” Amy Golem said.
Amy Golem’s dog is a rescue dog and maltese mix named Cullen. Cullen is referred to as the “granddog” of Patty Golem, who has her own rescue dog named Roxy.
“We’ve always had animals in our family,” Patty Golem said. “Amy grew up with animals, I think they are just as good to us as we are to them.”
Mayor John O’Reilly Jr. said the weekend belongs to everyone involved in the Mutt Strut.
“The Dearborn Animal Shelter is providing essential serivces,” O’Reilly said in a speech before the Strut. “We cannot exist as a city if we don’t have a way to pick up strays and deal with animals that have been abandoned.”
(Sherri Kolade can be reached at [email protected].)