Dogs of all shapes and sizes and breeds were there to see and be seen, and to compete in the festival’s races. Gail Michailides and her four year-old Bichon Frise came all the way from New Hampshire just to be there and Millie even won one of the races!

A rescue society representing nearly every dog breed was present and there was even a Hedgehog Rescue present. The Siberian Husky Rescue of Florida was there to do away with any false ideas about Siberian Huskies, such as the myth owners should shave their dogs during the summer months. The coat of the Siberian Husky, thick as it is, actually insulates the dogs from both the hot and the cold.

At the Pet Festival, naturally, were pets available for adoption.  The Suncoast Animal League also offered free micro-chipping for small pets. Microchips are an identification system for pets that can serve as a backup if a pet collar is somehow removed. The Pinellas County Animobile, a “mobile surgical unit staffed with skilled and experienced veterinarians and veterinary technicians” was parked on the street. The Animobile offers spay and neutering services, as well as rabies vaccines.

The event was sponsored by the Clearwater Downtown Development Board to “showcase downtown businesses in the Cleveland Street District” and was a wrap-up for National Pet Week.