Dog Days Are On at Annual Canine Festival

For the 10th year in a row, the National Association for the Protection of Animals (ANPA) will hold its Canine Festival, this year on March 4, at RooseveltPlaza, behind the Outlet Mall in the eastern San José suburb of San Pedro.

Starting at 9 a.m. and going until 4 p.m., dogs, their owners and friends can enjoy shows and activities while helping ANPA’s spay-neuter and educational programs for the well-being of dogs and cats, whether elegant purebreds or cutie-pie mixed breeds.

There will be exhibitions of dogs doing their stunts and showing off their talent, contests for best-dressed dogs and for dog-owner look-alikes, exhibits of acrobatic cheerleading by the porrismo team of the University of Costa Rica, drawings and paintings of dogs by Francisco Munguida, who will even do a sketch of your dog, and a veterinary booth in case doggy needs a shot. The association will have a booth to sell its T-shirts, hats and copies of its magazine, Guaus y Meows.

Also planned are a “flea” market with lots of used items, face painting, puppets and games for the kids, food and more.

This year, instead of a dog adoption booth, ANPA will have a catalog of dogs and cats available for new homes, to prevent people from adopting a dog on impulse and to avoid the stress on the dogs, according to Gisela Vicco, director of ANPA.