SMAWL Animal Fair May 18 2019

I decided to volunteer for SMAWL, the St. Mary's Animal Welfare League, to help take photos of the rescue animals.  I might as well make myself useful.  I think it would make me feel good to help get a pet adopted.

 Our dog, Sarita, a toy poodle rescue, enjoying the pet parade.  She is a senior, about 13 years old.  We adopted her about 3 years ago.

I loved the curly tail.

Making friends.

SMAWL volunteers

Adorable kittens at the fair.  

I assume they are up for adoption along with the older ones.

Among all of the dog and cat vendors, I met Debbie Koehler, who sells horse saddles and accessories.  Many of the saddles are older and never used.

Help for Pets supplies help to people with low and no incomes for their pets.  I would think a pet for a lonely homeless person would provide lots of love.

I met SOMD Pinups for Paws before in Leonardtown another time too.  They are a nonprofit that create vintage looking calendars and give the proceeds to animal rescue groups.  Cute outfits ladies!

They even had a kissing booth for donations.

Exotic pets were included too.  (One time I met a pet piglet at the fair).

Calvert K-9 rescue helps find missing people.  

They demonstrated how Max located Lindsey (right) using her scent.

BFF, Bone-A-Fied Friends Forever Pet Services, does dog training.  Beasley is a popular dog in pet commercials on TV.  You may have seen him in a recent chewie.com commercial.

He and his trainer are very talented.

We enjoyed the Woof it Down contest.  

This dog was willing to help his person finish off his food too.  LOL!

Pet Parade starring SMAWLIE and the banner holding volunteers.

Cherry Blossom Festival ArtsPark Photos

I really enjoyed myself at the Cherry Blossom Festival.  I made some new friends and caught up with some friends I already know.

Here are some photos of the Cherry Blossoms from March 25th 2017.  It is so hard to predict when they will bloom.

Sarita was in the dog costume parade.  She tied for first place for best costume.  I brought 3 costumes with me, since I wasn't sure what the temperature would be and asked my friend, Nell to pick which one she liked best.  Sarita was a cute bride, even if she tried to take off her veil a few times.  She posed in her bridal costume with SMAWLIE, the mascot for the St. Mary's Animal Welfare League.

A Visit to the SMAWL Animal Fair

I attended the SMAWL (St. Mary’s Animal Welfare League) Animal Fair at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds on Saturday May 11th and had fun photographing lots of adorable dogs.  I keep practicing my pet photography whenever I get a chance.  Here is a sampling of some of my favorite photos.  Please feel free to name your dog or the dog breed if you see it.

 

 

 

 

 

I know the dog watching the bee is Daisy and the dog posing in front of a green bush is Snookie, a lovely Sheltie.  Both dogs were exceptionally well trained and good at tricks.

 

 

 

I apologize to the lady in the “woofing it down” contest with her dog (if she doesn’t like the photo).  I thought it was so much fun that they were helping each other eat.  I hope she has a good sense of humor!

The SMAWL Animal Fair in St. Mary's County

I attended the 8th annual  SMAWL Animal Fair on May 12^th with my husband to see all the cute critters.  There were many visitors with every breed of dog imaginable. I saw a cocker spaniel that looked just like my 2nd dog (awww) a beautiful white samoyed, a beagle and russian wolfhounds just to mention a few.  Dog service groups abounded including Greyt Expectations Greyhounds, All Shepherd Rescue, Doberman Assistance, Northern Chesapeake Sheltie Rescue, SMAWL Cats, Golden Retriever Rescue, Snowflake Society (horses), the Tri County Animal Shelter, and even the Hedgehog Welfare Society.  Fair visitors could buy doggie clothes from Custom Dog Jackets, adopt a pet or buy candles.  Also in attendance were many of the local veterinarians like VCA St. Mary’s Animal Hospital, All Kinds Veterinary Hospital, and the Well Pet Clinic. Kennels galore were in evidence too like Chesapeake Pet Resort & Day Spa, Farmstead Kennels an Indian Bridge Kennels & Suites.

 We had a lovely conversation with a woman from Pets on Wheels.  They bring therapy pets to nursing homes, assisted living facilities and Veteran’s homes to help improve their health and cheer the local residents.  We watched Dakota’s Legacy Horse demo with several horses walking backwards and a young cart horse driver.  We chatted with the pet photographer, Gary Garcia from ImageZ Galore Photography, Inc., watched a dog fitted with doggles (dog goggles) and met a piglet.  Fun activities included a musical dog sit, an animal pet parade and woof it down pie contest and a silent auction. It was altogether a fun time for pets and their people.