by Becca Lemire

Who let the dogs out? Who, who, who. Sorry, I had to. Imagine an estimated 300 000 dogs (and their owners) trotting around Toronto’s historic St. Lawrence Market district, for an entire weekend.

I scoped out Woofstock for my first time ever this year, and even if you don’t have your own dog, and even if you’re not a dog enthusiast, it’s quite the spectacle, and completely free to walk around and pet the wildest array of pooches. For 2 days, the streets feel less like concrete, and more like jungle. It’s kind of like Pride for dogs. Dogs of all shapes, sizes, colours and breeds, in funny outfits, sunglasses, hats, running free in fountains, meeting new friends, or taking a break at a fenced in doggy daycare centre, your ‘cute face’ will be tired by the end of the day at Woofstock.

Being a part time dog walker, it was the perfect opportunity to bring one of my client’s dogs for a weekend outing, and I can only imagine it was the time of his life (cue Dirty Dancing’s Time of my Life song now). Woofstock has been around since 2003, and is now the largest outdoor fest for dogs in North America. Not even a united state got anything on us! One year CNN broadcasted it around the world for the entire weekend.

The event features over 200 vendors with all of your canine’s needs, wants and desires lined the packed streets, offering food and treats, leashes and accessories, games and puzzles built for the K-9 mind, retreats, holistic health, and a square of $200 Astroturf that apparently Obama’s dog uses (Potty Patch). Enter your pet in the Ms. and Mr. Canine Canada Competition, Stupid Dog Trick Contest, or Woofstock Fashion Show, and you’ll be more entertained than your dog.

Go next summer for all the cute your little heart can handle, or go November 27th and 28th to Winter Woofstock (indoors) at the Direct Energy Centre. www.woofstock.ca