The marketplace will offer goods and services aimed at canines and their doting humans. The 40 vendors who have stalls include Dancing Dog Massage, Hollywood Grooming, Bone Sweet Bone, and Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies. More human-centric vendors include Coco Taps, PureLyft, and Getaround.
Kids can enjoy carnival games, balloon art, and face painting. Food trucks will provide a variety of snacks, drinks, and goodies. There will also be a Canine Costume Contest at 12 p.m. Participants can win prizes in any of the themed categories: Doggie Doppleganger, A Day at the Beach, and A Night on the Town.
West Hollywood Park has two dog parks on the premises. They are on either side of the basketball courts and boast such features as water stations and turf terraces. The dog parks, one large and one small, have open areas with shade trees.
PAWSPALOOZA is co-sponsored by the City of West Hollywood and PAWS/LA. The latter was established in 1989, and its primary mission is helping disabled people, veterans with PTSD, and low-income seniors take care of their pets. PAWS/LA was originally formed to help people with HIV/AIDS, and it gradually expanded to help other people who love their animals but may not have the means to take care of them. It offers services like the following:
• Subsidized veterinary care
• Grooming assistance
• Animal transport
• Pet food & supply distribution
The City of West Hollywood has a history of supporting animal rights and is considered a leader in passing laws that protect the welfare of animals. For example, in 2003, it became the first municipality in the US to outlaw declawing cats. In 2010, the city outlawed selling dogs and cats in pet stores, since many such animals come from “puppy mills” and “kitten mills” which are known for their inhumane treatment of their animals. In 2013, West Hollywood’s Fur Ordinance took effect; it prohibits stores and merchants from selling, buying, importing, exporting, or distributing anything made from fur.
For more information about PAWSPALOOZA, contact John Meeks at jmeeks@pawsla.org or (213)741-1950 ext. 116