Dog Friendly Events

Grossmans Garden & Home “Dog Days of Summer”

Charlie Meeting Tobey the Great Dane at Grossmans Garden and Home Dog Days of Summer
Written by Rachael Sando

If you are up to date with our weekend happenings, you probably saw that we recently got to do some pretty fun stuff. This included a trip to one of our favorite outdoor spots, Corbett’s Glen, as well as a trip to Grossmans “Dog Days of Summer” event.

Grossmans Garden & Home Center

Grossmans Garden & Home is a wonderful, locally owned and operated home and garden center in the town of Penfield, NY. They have a huge selection of plants, shrubs, and trees as well as garden/home décor. Like many other garden and home centers, Grossmans offers plenty of classes and workshops, but what sets it apart is the way that they have chosen to give back to the community by hosting events that cater to their clientele. This weekend, we did not visit as weekend warriors, but rather as pet parents for their annual “Dog Days of Summer” event.

Pulling into Grossmans Garden Center for their Dog Days of Summer Event

Grossman’s Dog Days of Summer

The Dog Days of Summer is an annual event, hosted for the purpose of bringing together the pet loving community while raising awareness about local pet adoptions and therapy groups/services, and fun products for you and your pets!

Dog Days of Summer Logo (Grossmans)

Here is just a sample of the types of vendors/groups that were part of this event this year:

Dog Days Event Sponsor Collage

  • 30 vendors to shop local services and products
  • Visiting shelters to help you pick the perfect pet ON THE SPOT!
  • Veterinary Care: $25 Vet Exam & Shot Clinic, $30 Microchipping
  • Monroe County Sherriff’s K9 Deputy, Sabi
  • Pet Friendly Gardening Classes
  • Kids Story time and Crafts.

 

Grossmans Garden & Home near Rochester, NY

Needless to say, we were pretty excited to bring the boys. We were a little nervous about bringing Charlie, wondering if his training would go right out the door and it would be another leg of the Iditarod, but we were pleasantly surprised with his behavior, GOOD BOY CHARLIE!

Dog Day’s Vendors

Walking down the aisles of vendor booths at Grossmans Dog Days event.

We stopped by and spoke with many of the vendors like the folks from Lexi’s K9 Krunchies where we were able to sample some of their yummy (or so Charlie says), Chocolate Dipped Bones. We also got to meet Toby, their beautiful taste tester! I had to stop and pet him and then take a few photos of this beautiful boy.

Harley and Charlie were happy to sample some of Lexi's K9 Krunchies! Charlie meeting a Great Dane! We were lucky to meet this gorgeous Great Dane Tobey!

Our favorite local pet store, PetSaver Healthy Pet Superstore, was there too showing off some of our favorite products and giving away some awesome freebies!! We love this place!

Visiting the PetSaver Superstore Booth

Petpalooza was there too. They produce the Petpalooza Magazine, a free resource for Western New York pet owners. This magazine features tons of pet friendly events and services as well as informative articles about raising healthy and happy pets! We received a copy of their 365 Days of Pets-2014 Calendar, which stars owner submitted photos of our most loved pets! Charlie & Harley haven’t been able to take their eyes off of it!

Petpalooza Magazine Logo 365 Days of Pets Calendar

We also stopped by the Flour City Barkery where we purchased some yummy Apple Bacon Snaps and Pumpkin Apple Bones.

Harley and Charlie tried to steal some treats from Flour City Barkery! They smelled so good Charlie couldn’t resist, and we found him “shop lifting” under the table!! Naughty puppy! We brought them home and sampled, let just say that they were such a big hit even Max the cat is trying to eat them!Charlie caught in the act of stealing dog treats!

We talked to several rescue groups including Pitty Love and Joyful Rescues-two organizations that friends of ours have adopted from in the past. If you are considering a new pet, please consider opening your hearts and homes to a rescue dog. We met this adorable little friend below, who is available for adoption and is oh so sweet! I love his little face it almost looks like it has a little heart on it!!

Meeting a beautiful pup from Pitty Love Rescue in Rochester, NY.

Learning more about Joyful Rescues of Western New York

We also learned a little more about Rochester Hope for Pets, an organization that helps assist pet owners who face financial difficulty, afford veterinary care. Additionally, they partner up with other pet organizations to help feral or homeless pets.

Rochester Hope for Pets booth

We had so much fun and want to thank Grossmans Garden & Home for hosting this event. Having pets is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. Organizations such as those who came to the Dog Days of Summer, help to make it a possibility for all people. As our readers sometimes share, dog-friendly events such as this are not common in all areas and it reminds me to be extra thankful for our pet-lovin’ community!

Clearly the boys love attending any dog friendly event! Look at those smiles!

Have you attended any pet-friendly events in your city/town? 

About the author

Rachael Sando

Rachael is a School Psychologist with degrees from the University of Rochester and RIT. Though a lifelong dog lover, this passion has taken on a new direction through the utilization of therapy animals in her day job. Charlie, our Golden Retriever, works with Rachael as a school therapy dog in a local primary school where he brings comfort and support to students and staff on a daily basis.

15 Comments

  • Wow… this looks amazing! My family has owned a nursery garden center for… gosh 30+ years I guess. I actually live on the same property as the nursery and have access to all the flowers and plants there. They have never done anything like this before, but they seem a little old school I guess lol.

    • Thanks for checking out the post Ann! You should suggest that your family host an event like this! There are a lot of choices in our area for home and garden centers, but these kinds of events help us to feel more connected to this one!

    • Thanks for checking it out! Check out our WW post today too! More silly antics from Charlie!

  • Wow, that looks like such a fun event, especially since the dogs get to go too. Glad Charlie behaved himself. What good looking Goldens. They are one of my favorite breeds. I used to have Australian shepherds. Anyway, thanks so much for visiting our blog.

    • Thank you for visiting too! Did you get a chance to check out our WW post too? Charlie is so silly! Thanks for stopping by!

    • Thanks! It was lots of fun!! Did you check out our WW post as well? Charlie is a silly puppy!

  • Looks like a great event!! We try to attend lots around Ontario and have even gone as far as Albany, Connecticut and NYC a few times. Have a great week X Susie at Talent Hounds

    • Thank you!! That is awesome that you travel to attend all sorts of events! Have a great week and stop back soon!

  • That looks like a fun-filled event! i hope someday Rita will be mellow enough on leash around other dogs that we can go to something like that! Right now, shes’ still too unpredictable. (sigh.)

  • Hi Y’all!

    Wishing y’all a safe and healthy 2015!

    Happy New Year!
    Hawk aka BrownDog

  • Sounds like a great event, thanks for sharing w/ us! We love pet friendly events, we went to a Pet Expo in Scottsdale a few weeks ago. We plan to attend as many pet friendly events as possible this Summer while we are in New York.
    Love & Biscuits,
    Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them