South Philly’s dogs have a date with the Navy Yard — and they’re encouraged to dress for the occasion.
The Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society will celebrate the 20th annual Mutt Strut on Oct. 3, bringing dogs and their humans to the Marine Parade Grounds at 4747 S. Broad St. for a 1.5-mile walk and fall festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Registration opens at 11 a.m., and the walk gets rolling at noon with an assist from the Mummers. After that, it’s pretty much a dog’s day out.
The festival will feature a Halloween costume contest for dogs, agility and lure courses, field games, paw-print painting, pet portraits and opportunities to meet adoptable dogs. There also will be “Ask the Vet” and “Ask the Trainer” booths for owners who have questions that their dogs, naturally, refuse to answer.
Live music, food trucks and a beer garden from Dock Street Brewery also will be part of the festivities.
Steve Morrison of WMMR, Kristen Herrmann of BenFM and Lili Zheng of NBC10 will serve as masters of ceremonies.
The 20th anniversary event also marks two decades of PAWS working to save Philadelphia’s homeless and at-risk pets. The annual Mutt Strut raises more than $120,000 for the organization’s lifesaving efforts.
“Now in its 20th year, the Mutt Strut is the perfect opportunity to come together with fellow dog enthusiasts for a fun, family-friendly fall celebration – all while making PAWS’ lifesaving work possible,” said Melissa Levy, PAWS executive director. “Whether you and your pup are showing off their great costume, enjoying treats, playing games, trying an agility activity or just taking in the festivity of it all, this beloved tradition brings our community closer and makes a tremendous difference for the people and pets who rely on us year-round.”
The event is free to attend, with free parking available at the Navy Yard.
For tickets and additional information, visit www.pawsmuttstrut.org. ••
