Rain and flooding kept Hewitt Public Library’s Dog Days canine event from happening last year. But now the event is back for the seventh time and is better than ever.
“We’re excited the event is happening because we had a lot of people asking if we were planning another Dog Days event for this year,” said Waynette Ditto, Hewitt Library’s director.
The event began as a fundraiser for the library’s many programs but has grown to become one of the most well-attended events of the year.
“I started the event to raise funds and spread awareness of the library,” Ditto said. “But I found this wonderful world of dog lovers.”
Rescue organizations from McLennan County and as far as Dallas and Austin bring their adoptable animals every year in hopes of finding their furry friends forever homes. And the dog loving doesn’t end there. The event also includes a dog registration for Hewitt residents, microchipping, and even a red carpet for dogs to strut their stuff.
“We also have an awards ceremony for our service dogs,” Ditto said. “All [dog owners] have to do is show up, announce their pet, and we present them with a medal. Everybody gets a little love.”
Event attendees are also encouraged to bring a bag of dog food to donate to the local animal shelter and to the police department who often find lost and abandoned canines. Ditto said they started asking for food donations because people wanted to feel like they were helping.
But even though the focus of the event is giving back, it’s also about fun.
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Jessa is the Editor-in-Chief of Hooray for Family and the mom of three energetic children. She has a BA in Mass Communication/Journalism from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and is a long-time resident of Central Texas. When she isn't writing and editing, she enjoys playing board games with her kids, teaching Sunday school and channeling her creativity into craft projects.
