Northwest Indiana Pet Events during October 2018

This is a fun weekend, beginning with an OPEN HOUSE at Gast Animal Hospital (that’s in Valparaiso) … It starts at noon and goes until 3.

They’re celebrating their 8^th year!  It sounds like it’s going to be lots of fun, including a pet photo contest at 1pm!  There will be prizes, food, pet photos and portraits and hospital tours!  Wow – bet that’s gonna be great!

They’re located at

258 N 475 W, Valparaiso, IN 46385

(219) 759-7387

If you’re going to be in the Munster area, check out Pumpkins, Witches and Hayrides, OH MY!!  (They will have a petting zoo for the kids!)  This one starts at 10 am and will be held at Centennial Park in Munster Indiana.

If you’re in Merrillville at Southlake Mall, you might want to stop by and support Humane Society of Northwest Indiana … they’re having an event that includes local pet trainers, pet treats, toys and accessories!  There will be music, giveaways and fun, fun, and fun.  They’ll be in the center court from 11 am to 3 pm… see ya there??

Oooo – here’s a good one!  BARKTOBERFEST 2018 (That’s in Lowell, Indiana)  – It’s from 10 am to 3 pm at 17105 Cline Avenue in Lowell.  It’s fun for the whole family (including your dog!) and includes a Halloween costume contest for dogs, demonstrations, vendors and yes, even a sheep herding demonstration!!

There are TWO pet blessings going on,  the first one is at 10 am at Griffith Lutheran Church, Griffith Indiana .. and if you’re running a bit late, you can get to the second one (starting at 10:30) at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Lake Station, Indiana.

If you feel like you need to get some relaxing reading time in, why not head on over to Winfield Library read to the dogs (it’s at 10771 Randolph St, Winfield, IN 46307).  Curl up with a dog and your favorite book at 11 am … I’m thinking they probably don’t want you bringing coffee or tea though…

Here is a fun TWO DAY event (Oct 6 and 7)  hosted by the Porter County Animal Shelter and is being held at Sunset Hill Farms in Valparaiso, Indiana.  One day the focus will be on wildlife and one day will be the pet rescue/adoption day.   They will be crowning their “Hero Pet” on one of these days … rumor has it there is a VERY special presentation to follow! You must register for this event… so hurry!  Truth be told, I’ve read about this event and have conflicting information regarding which day is which… so when you call to register be sure to ask!

(219) 465-3550

Love to dance?  Love rescue dogs?  Perfect!  Why not come out to Mari Z Fitness in Dyer, Indiana (6 pm) for an AMAZING dance fitness experience with the SPICIEST CHOREOGRAPHER in NWI! The ridiculously talented ZIN™ member NICKI CHANDLER will bring on the FIYAH! This unique opportunity to take a class from her will also allow you to support “2X2 RESCUE,” a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the often overlooked animals at high kill shelters. They are devoted to bettering the lives of neglected or special needs shelter animals. Dance and make a difference! 100% of the proceeds will go directly to “2X2 RESCUE” Please visit 2×2 RESCUE’s website: http://www.2x2rescue.org The following items will also be gladly accepted and appreciated for donation: Collars Leashes Dog & Cat Food..

Going to be near Wicker Memorial Park in Highland, Indiana??  Do you think Pit Bulls are the best?  How ‘bout pierogis??  Did I grab you there? – Check out Pit Bulls & Pierogis, Part III –  This is the 3^rd year that people have been having fun at this event hosted by ABRA!  It includes Polish food, raffles, a bake sale, and music!!   *This is a pet-loving-human only event, so just be sure to bring your dog home a little something!

It starts at 12 pm and tickets are on sale NOW. You can email them at: ABRAangels@gmail.com

Got a bird house or feeder that needs cleaning??

Steam-A-Feeder

Sat 9 AM · Chesterton Feed & Garden Center · Chesterton, Indiana

Bring in your bird feeders & houses to be steam cleaned October 13th from 9am-12pm. You may drop them off anytime during the week also! “Dan Willet of Dan’s Carpet cleaning donates his time and energy each year to this cause and we couldn’t do it without him” says Chuck. A $5.00 donation is accepted for each feeder cleaned. All proceeds from the “Steam A Feeder” program are donated to Westchester Migration Bird Sanctuary. While you are there at Chesterton Feed & Garden Center be sure to check out their wide variety of healthy and nutritious seed and suet for birds of all kinds as well as a large selection of feeders and houses. Tweet, tweet!!

Woof Life is having an Anniversary Party (and I think we’re all invited!!)

Sat 9 AM · Woof Life · Crown Point, Indiana

Sales Dog Clothing Trunk Show, Vendors, Rescues, Gifts with purchase And More Surprises..sounds like fun to me!!

What’s Woof Life, you may ask?? Woof Life is a pet boutique specializing in nutritious food and healthy products for dogs and cats.

Address:1190 E Summit St, Crown Point, IN 46307

If you’re in Hobart, join the Family Fun K9 Fast Dog Fall Festival at the Brickie Bowl on Saturday, October 13 11:00 am – 3:00 pm! Please help them in welcoming to the competition K9 Units from all over NWI and IL! Which K9 will have the fastest paws? Make sure to bring your dog in a great costume for the Halloween Pet Parade! They do require for dogs participating in the parade to be socialized and (please) NO retractable leashes.  Fun activities and food trucks will be sure to make this a great family outing…Phone: (219) 663-6985

Gardians of the Green Mile (GOTGM)   Burns Harbor 2nd annual trunk or treat .

Sat 5 PM · Burns Harbor Park Department · Burns Harbor, Indiana

Woo hoo!  There will be food trucks, live music, dog costume (my favorite!) contest hosted by GOTGM.  There’s even an adult and child contest hosted by Vintagious Gals – this one is a keeper!!

If you happen to be by PetSmart (in Schererville, IN) on Saturday around noon – stop by and support Treasured Friends/Griffith Animal Control.  They’re having an adoption event.  They’ll be at 711 US Hwy 41 in Schererville.  Maybe you’ll find someone with four legs that you just can’t leave behind..

Starbucks’ Fall Festival

Lakeshore Paws and Starbucks’ have joined together for the benefit of homeless pets!  On Saturday at 10 AM · Stop by Starbucks · Valparaiso, Indiana – get some delicious coffee and maybe the perfect pet!!

Love owls?  You’re not alone.  October 13^th at 11 am begins ‘Festival of the Owls” hosted by Humane Indiana Wildlife in Valparaiso, Indiana.  There will be live owl programs all day!  You can make and take an owl nest box.  Discover owl pellet dissection (sounds a little gross, but interesting).  You can go on a self-guided nature hike and there will be FOOD (yay) from Tomato Bar in Valpo!  See you there!

I’ve heard that the people at Castle Subaru are real animal lovers! I guess it’s true, because on Sat from 11am to 3 pm they are holding a Castle Subaru Loves Pets Adoption Event!!  (It’s in Portage, if you wanna go!)

And guess what??  There will be FREE nail trimming, police K-9 demonstrations, raffles, giveaways, and more!  All proceeds go to the local rescues that are in attendance.

Just FYI … Subaru has donated close to $14 million to the ASPCA and helped support nearly 1,000 adoption events.  How awesome is THAT??

If you missed the pet blessings last week, there’s another one hosted by Calumet Episcopal Ministry Partnership – this one is called Pumpkin Patch & Pet Blessing – sounds like a lot of fun!  It’s at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1101 Park Drive, Munster, Indiana 46321 from 11 am until 5 pm.

All are welcome to this fun day of shopping, crafts, eating, getting pets blessed (or maybe adopting one!) and more. The event is sponsored by Calumet Episcopal Ministry Partnership (CEMP), which includes these Episcopal churches in Lake County, Indiana: St. Augustine’s (Gary), St. Barnabas (Gary), St. Christopher’s (Crown Point), St. Paul’s (Munster), and St. Timothy’s (Griffith)

Did you adopt your baby from Sunshine PAWS??  Well if you did, the Sunshine PAWS annual family reunion is coming up on Sunday Oct. 14th, from  noon-3 at the Lake County Fair Grounds, Shelter #2

This is a free event, open to Sunshine PAWS volunteers and families that have adopted their furry family members from Sunshine PAWS. Hope to see you there!

Hungry??  Come on over to Griffith, Indiana and attend the Second Annual Wildrose Chili Cook Off!  You can samply 9 chilis and cast your vote for the one you want to win (first place winner receives $100!)

Chili tastings start at 3:30 and will end at 5:30 (or when the chili runs out!)

There is a $10 entry fee (cash only – purchased at the door) – your ticket get you in to tasting, voting ballot, and 1 FREE Wildrose brew (woo hoo!)  All proceeds for this fun event go to 2X2 Rescue animals.  There will be music, a Wine Pull, Vendor shopping and a free Pet Kissing Booth – so bring your dog (leashed please!) and your appetite!!

The first 50 guests to purchase $20 in raffle tickets will get a doggie goodie bag sponsored by Southlake Animal Hospital! (Thank you, SLAH!)

Wildrose Brewing Company is located at 1104 E Main St, Griffith, IN 46319

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!! Attention all you wonderful readers out there!! Humane Indiana’s Paws Resale Shoppe’s (in Highland, Indiana) annual fundraising book sale is back and bigger than ever! You’ll find all sorts of hard cover and paperback books, plus CDs and DVDs, all at bargain prices! Get the pick of the litter by attending the pre-sale with your $10 donation on October 17th from 10–12, or bargain shop the famous bag sale on October 20th and 21st. Load up on winter reading and support the animals of Humane Indiana!

 

Oct 19 – Oct 20 · Top Fuel CrossFit in Valparaiso, Indiana is hosting a Wodathon!  They will be raising money for Lake Shore Paws and The Porter County Animal Shelter.   Teams will be reserving a one hour spot to workout tag-team style.  Friends and family are welcome!  There will be food, fun, and entertainment in the parking lot all day and night!  Come over and join the fun!

Do you like parades??  Me too!  Well, get ready for the annual Pooch Parade and Costume Contest in conjunction with Valparaiso Events’ Fall Harvest Festival. Registration for the costume contest will start at 10:30am. There will be a $10 entry fee per dog that will benefit Lakeshore PAWS. The Pooch Parade & Costume Contest should be a blast!!  The parade will start at 11:00am and will start at the corner of Lincolnway and Lafayette in Downtown Valparaiso. There is no entry fee to participate in the parade. The costume contest will directly follow the Parade. We hope to see you and your adorably dressed pooches!

There is more than one Halloween Dog Walk going on this weekend!  This one is hosted by HC3 and is taking place at Dowling Park (Hammond, IN)  It starts at noon – Howl-O-Ween Dog walk/run. Cost is $10.00 per dog limit 2 dogs per owner. Dress your pooch in a costume judging will take place after the walk/run. Prizes awarded for each catagory. Please be sure to visit their website for complete important details. hc3hessville.org Onsite registration or online https://www.raceentry.com/races/hc3-halloween-dog-walkrun/2018/register.

More reading to dogs available … this time at the Dyer / Schererville branch of the Lake County Public Library.  On Saturday, 10/20/18 at 11 am you can have your little ones practice their reading skills AND spend time with one of the greatest animals on earth…

If you’ve been thinking about adopting, now may be the time.  On Sunday, 10/21/18 All animal adoption fees will be half-price at the Crown Point Animal Control Center.  It’s called the Welcome Home Fall Family Fun Half-priced Adoption Event and it starts at noon.

Female dogs/puppies- $40 Male dogs/puppies- $35 Female cats/kittens- $35 Male cats/kittens-$25

They will have fall basket raffles, cookies, snacks, and refreshments – as well as fun activities for the children including: Balloon animals, face painting, and a pumpkin ring toss!  This event is sponsored by Briggs Agency, Inc., Springer Realty, and Lake Mortgage Company

Also on this day at PetSmart in Schererville is a Pet Adoption Day

Starting at 12 PM · Treasured Friends and Griffith Indiana Animal Control will be there to show you some of their adoptable animals and talk to you about the ones that aren’t there!

Here is a mid-week happening!  (Doesn’t happen all that often!) It’s called “Afterschool in the Woods: Going Batty” and you guessed it!  It’s about BATS!!  This event is hosted by Gibson Woods Nature Preserve and Lake County Parks

This one sounds cool!  Dunes Project Owlnet: Behind the Scenes.  At 5 pm Indiana Dunes State Park (Chesterton, Indiana) – It’s a special night behind the scenes at the Indiana Dunes owl banding station! Join them for a special behind the scenes look at the owl banding at the Indiana Audubon’s Dunes Project Owlnet Station. Here is some information I found that will be helpful if you’re interested:

Registered participants will get to meet before the nets are put up to learn about the program and assist with net set up. Participants will perform hourly net checks with staff and volunteers and get a chance to see owls up close before they are banded. Head lamps and other supplies provided. Participants may wish to bring their own dinner and snacks, as nearby restaurants are several miles away. Due to the nature of the program, owls can never be guaranteed on any particular night. This special behind the scenes night is separate from the general banding demonstrations and includes a special donation that helps with owl banding operations. In 2018 participants can choose from one of the following dates to participate: October 25-

October 26- FULL

October 27- FILLING FAST

October 31-

November 1-

November 2- FULL

November 3- FULL

November 4-

November 9-

The program begins at the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center at 6pm EDT (5pm local time) on all dates except November 4 and 9 (meet at 5pm, 4pm local time). Participants may stay through the entire evening banding or leave anytime. A $49 program fee is invoiced to registered participants before the event. Refunds will be made if weather is too inclement for banding ,with options to attend another scheduled night. We ask that youth participants be 8 years of age and older to participate. Behind the Scenes nights are limited to 6 participants nightly. To register or for questions, email station coordinator, Brad Bumgardner at bbumgardner@indianaaudubon.org. Note this is a different program from the free banding demonstrations viewable each Thursday-Sunday during the owl banding season.

If you couldn’t make it the the Indiana Dunes Owl fun … maybe you can go the Whooo’s There? On Fri at 6:30 PM · at the Gibson Woods Nature Preserve · Hammond, Indiana

Nicole Harmon, an educator for Humane Indiana Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, will be there for a visit with some of our favorite nocturnal animals. LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE. So please pre-register by calling 219-844-3188. No organized groups, please. Co-sponsored by Wild Ones-Gibson Woods Chapter and Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society

More fun in Griffith starting at Sat 10 AM ·

Join New Oberpfalz Brewing and Treasured Friends Animal Rescue & Adoption for a hilarious day of dogs in costumes, canine trick or treating, and a leisurely walk around downtown Griffith while visiting participating businesses. Let all get together for the 2018 Griffith Barktoberfest Mutt Strut!!  Online registration is $25 per dog (+ applicable fees) and includes a commemorative t-shirt, a trick or treat bag, and a prize ribbon for all participating dogs. Day-of-event registration is $40 and includes the same, though there is no guarantee of your shirt size being available so REGISTER IN ADVANCE. 100% of registration proceeds benefit Treasured Friends Animal Rescue and Adoption of Griffith. ALL DOGS WIN AN AWARD so they can be proud of themselves, because we all know they are very good girls and very good boys. Interested in adopting or fostering a pet? This is a great venue to meet with Treasured Friends to explore the process. Educational booths, pet supplies, and other interesting things will be on offer throughout the day in the lawn at New OberpfalZ and at participating Griffith businesses where you will be trick-or-treating. Home base is New Oberpfalz Brewing for registration and award distribution. Walk around downtown Griffith to participating businesses and fill your bag with tricks and treats while socializing with other pet owners and enjoying dog Halloween costume hilarity. There is no set route, walk at your own whim, at your own pace. A map with listed stops will be provided. Vendors & Registration/Merchandise Pickup begin at 10am, the Strut begins at 11am, and participating businesses will be expecting visitors until 1pm

Event details: 10 am – 1 pm

121 East Main Street / Griffith, IN 46319

Ready to have a portrait done of your fur-ever friend??  Woof Studios (Pet Portraits) will be at Hungry Hound Boutique & Grooming (St. John Indiana) at 9 am.  Call Hungry Hound to set up an appointment 219-365-5543 (might I suggest you get them groomed there before the portraits are done?)

I really do love the idea of kids reading to dogs!  Here is another one:

St John Library read to the dogs

Sat 11 AM · St. John Branch of the Lake County Public Library · Saint John, Indiana

Come read to the Power Paws for Kids therapy dogs.

 

Hungry Hound’s Boo!bilee

Now who wouldn’t want to go to Hungry Hound’s Boo!bilee??  It’s on Oct 27 – Oct 28 at the Hungry Hound Boutique & Grooming in Saint John, Indiana

Hungry Hound’s Boo!bilee will feature a dog costume contest, refreshments, and pet adoption from local rescues! Costume contest registration begins at 12PM. Followed by the contest and parade beginning at 12:30PM. Paw-print medals in gold, silver, and bronze will be awarded to the most original costumes! October 27th (Hobart Location) 12:00 – 3:00PM October 28th (St. John Location) 12:00 – 3:00PM

PetSmart in Schererville is having another Pet Adoption Day

Starting at 12 PM · Treasured Friends and Griffith Indiana Animal Control will be there to show you some of their adoptable animals and talk to you about the ones that aren’t there!

Wow – October is a busy month!  I sure hope you get to attend some of these awesome events and help support our pets!!

See you next month!