Here are eight reasons why you won’t want to miss this year’s event:

New Location: Innovative Field
Due to exciting renovations as part of our Kindness for All Kind expansion project, this year’s Barktober Fest is moving to Innovative Field in downtown Rochester! This new venue offers more space, easier access, and built-in seating for watching our main stage entertainment. From the third base seating area, enjoy canine contests, live music, and so much more. The vendor village and food options will be located on the stadium concourse, making it easy to grab a snack or browse handmade crafts and pet products.

Please note: Innovative Field has a bag policy, which you can review on our website. Also, high heels and cleats are not allowed on the field.

The Walk for the Animals
At the heart of Barktober Fest is our beloved Walk for the Animals, starting at 10 a.m. on the warning track inside the stadium. Register, fundraise, and walk to support pets at Lollypop Farm. Every dollar you raise helps provide food, shelter, veterinary care, behavior training, and a second chance for animals in need. You can sign up as an individual, join an existing team, or rally your friends and family to create your own!

Canine Contests
The main events are back again; three amazing contests that will be sure to entertain everyone. Look for them all at the main stage located right on the field, and use Innovative Field’s seats to catch all the action. Want to have your pet join in the fun? Register on our website today!

• The Canine Costume Contest presented by Wendy’s Get ready for Halloween early and show off your creativity with a clever canine costume. Dress up your dog, or come as a matching pair. Either way, join in this fun, friendly competition!

• The Pup + Human Whipped Cream Eating Contest presented by Orville’s Home Appliances Does your dog live for pup cups and devour them in record time? Indulge right alongside your four-legged friend as the two of you slurp plates of whipped topping. Yes, you read that right, you eat alongside your dog, and no hands or utensils are allowed!

• The Hot Diggity Dog Contest presented by K9 Resorts Penfield Will your furry friend bring home the title of the fastest hot dog-eating pup in the land? Join your dog onstage and cheer them on as they bob for hot dog bites in trays of water!

Live Music with Hey Mabel
Hey Mabel is back again to crank the tunes! Enjoy their crowd-pleasing songs while you relax in the stands or dance with your dog by your side.

Amazing Local Vendors
Explore our vendor market in the concourse area. You’ll find everything from pet treats and toys to artisan crafts, gifts, and home goods. Visit our website to view an updated list of all of our amazing vendors.

Note: Stadium food vendors like Home Plate and Mama Mitsy’s Pizza are cashless. Some independent vendors may accept cash — an ATM will be available on-site.

Family Fun
Bring the kids and enjoy a day full of activities in our Family Fun Zone, including:

• • Innovative Field’s bounce house and fast pitch station

  • Animal-themed crafts

  • Bubbles

  • Story time and more!

Your Dog is Invited
Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome throughout Barktober Fest. Whether your pup joins in the contests or just soaks in the sights and smells, they’ll have a tail-wagging good time.

Don’t forget to bring waste bags, and please ensure your dog is comfortable in crowds and vaccinated for proper protection against potential diseases.

You’re Making a Difference
When you attend, walk, fundraise, or donate, you’re supporting Lollypop Farm’s mission to create a more compassionate world for pets and the people who love them. Your support helps animals find loving homes and provides essential services to our community.

Register today!

The post Eight Reasons to Join us at Barktober Fest! appeared first on Lollypop Farm.

Aside from hosting the event in a private location as opposed to our usual spot in Eastview Mall, our staff, volunteers, 13 WHAM employees and talent wore masks and maintained social distancing. But, despite all of these differences, our community came together and made this year’s Tails of Hope Telethon our most successful yet, raising an incredible $535,902 to help homeless and abused pets.

Funds raised during this incredible day of generosity are vital in providing veterinary treatment, food, shelter, and care for thousands of pets at Lollypop Farm.

Throughout the Telethon we showcased vignette videos highlighting stories of hope from this past year, happy adoptions, veterinary successes, and more. Adoptable pets from the shelter also made live appearances—from cats to chickens, all sorts of pets waiting for homes got their moment in the limelight to showcase their adorable personalities! The Sunday after Telethon was a big day for adoptions at Lollypop Farm, and many of the pets who appeared on screen during the live program found homes.

Of course, there are still a few Telethon stars, and lots of other furry friends, still waiting to find their perfect families! Click here to meet them.

A favorite tradition at the Tails of Hope Telethon is the Puppy Pen! This year our puppy pen featured several adorable litters of puppies who were transported to Lollypop Farm from overcrowded animal shelters in Mississippi. When we have the space and resources, we help shelters in the South which see tremendous amounts of dogs admitted and fewer adopters than shelters in our area. All of the puppies went up for adoption after Telethon, and all have since found happy homes!

We’d like to extend a huge thank-you to our supporters, staff, volunteers, partners at 13 WHAM, and everyone involved in making this year’s Tails of Hope Telethon a resounding success. Special thanks to our sponsors Pet Supplies Plus, Smola Consulting, Delta Sonic, Monroe Veterinary Associates, Renewal by Andersen, T-Mobile, and Lori’s Natural Foods Center. We couldn’t do it without you!

Looking to support the cause and make a gift today? Visit www.lollypop.org/donations

Meet Telethon stars still waiting for homes: www.lollypop.org/adopt

The post We’re Celebrating a Record-Breaking Tails of Hope Telethon! appeared first on Lollypop Farm.

11. A fun day for the whole family! (Furry friends included) With so many activities for pets and humans alike, the Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest is fun for all family members! You’ll have fun mingling with pet lovers from all over the community and meeting all their furry best-friends. You can expect to meet dogs of all different sizes and breeds. And who knows? Maybe your pup will make a new friend too!

10. Funds raised before and during the event help thousands of animals every year. Last year 7,089 pets were brought to Lollypop Farm received a second chance at a new home. Lollypop Farm cares for animals of all kinds, from dogs and cats to horses, goats, pigs, birds and more. You make these second chances possible.

9. Prove your pooch is a hot dog eating champion. Is your dog an eating machine? Make their dreams come true when you compete in the Hotdog Bobbing Contest. Not only will you go home with a happy dog, but you may win some fun prizes!

8.  Enjoy your favorite local brewery and food trucks! This year the Beer Garden is sponsored by our friends at Rohrbach Brewing Company! Not only will you have the chance to enjoy your favorite craft brews, but we’ll be selling one of a kind beer steins for $10. And food trucks like Chef’s Catering, Tom Wahl’s, The Red Fern, Ludwig’s Catering, and Nancy’s Fried Dough will ensure there is something for everyone.

7. Help seek justice for abused pets. Lollypop Farm maintains an SPCA designation and is charged with investigating and enforcing the animal cruelty laws of New York State. Lollypop Farm Humane Law Enforcement Officers investigate animal crimes in Monroe, Orleans, Genesee, and Livingston Counties. Last year, Lollypop Farm investigated 896 cases of suspected animal cruelty. Visit the Humane Law Enforcement booth at the Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest and learn more about how your support helps local abused pets get a second chance.

6. You don’t have to wait until Halloween to have some dress up fun. Do you dress up your dog for Halloween every year? Well here’s another chance to show off their favorite costume. Enter the Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest Costume Contest and you could go home with awesome pet-related prizes provided by Pet$aver Healthy Pet Superstore.

5. Giveaways from Rochester’s favorite pet-related businesses.  Friends of the animals like Pet$aver Healthy Pet Superstore, BONES Dog Bakery, and Bubba BowWow will be joining attending to help support homeless and abused pets. Learn more about what Rochester’s local pet-friendly businesses have to offer while your pups sample their tasty wares.

4. Soar to new heights! New to the Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest is the Adventures in Climbing Eurobounce. This massive trampoline is fun for people of all ages. We know it will have you jumping for joy!

3. It’s not just for the dogs. Last year 1,602 pets received individual support through the Lollypop Farm foster care program. The vast majority of these pets were cats and kittens. Often kittens arrive too young to be spayed or neutered. Many are so young they aren’t even weaned yet. But thanks to events like the Walk for the Animals, these cats and kittens are able to get individualized care with foster care families until they are ready to find new homes.

2. All the slobbery kisses. Monroe Veterinary Associates is sponsoring a dog kissing booth in partnership with Lollypop Farm’s pet assisted therapy program. For just $1, you can get a big wet kiss, learn about pet assisted therapy, and help homeless and abused pets.

1. You’ll be a hero.  The Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest may very well be the most fun you can have while making a huge difference for Rochester’s pets in need. Your registration and the money you raise will help provide homeless pets with the shelter, veterinary services, and the compassionate care they need. It also helps support the Humane Law Enforcement Department which investigates and enforces animal cruelty for our area. You’ll be making a big difference for Rochester’s homeless and abused pets.

Interested in signing up?  Learn more at: www.lollypop.org/bfest.

The post 11 Reasons to Join the Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest appeared first on Lollypop Farm.

During the spring and summer months, kittens arrive at animal shelters in droves, often motherless and requiring round-the-clock care. “Kitten Season” poses a need for both foster volunteers to care for these babies, and supplies to ensure their survival.

Kitten Season

Spring has only just begun, and already this year we’ve seen a number of motherless kittens admitted to Lollypop Farm, all in need of expensive round-the-clock care. At the height of Kitten Season, we can see dozens of kittens admitted to the shelter in a single day. Kitten Season may sound adorable, but is, in fact, a difficult time for shelters trying to care for the large numbers of kittens arriving each and every day. We are incredibly fortunate to have a network of over a hundred foster care volunteers to help care for these kittens, but we need help from the general public, too.

With the increasing number of kittens being surrendered to Lollypop Farm this season, we’re asking the public to join us for a Kitten Shower on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at Lollypop Farm! Attendees will get to meet our newest arrivals, and enjoy a slice of kitten shower cake if they bring a gift for litters on the way!

Kitten Wish List

If you attend the Kitten Shower, you’ll get a slice of cake when you donate any of the following:

• KMR formula for kittens
• Kitten food (wet and dry)
• Kitten/cat toys
• Snuggle Safe pet bed microwave warming disks
• Postal scales for weighing kittens
• PetAG complete nursing kits

If you can’t attend the Kitten Shower, don’t worry – you can still be a huge help to kittens in need by shopping our Amazon Kitten Wish List, or shopping PetSaver Healthy Pet Superstore’s Online Shop! When you order supplies for homeless kitties, they will be shipped directly to Lollypop Farm. Donations can also be dropped off at our main shelter in Fairport.

Thank you, in advance, from all of the kittens here at Lollypop Farm and currently in our foster care program. We hope to see you at the Kitten Shower!

Learn more about the Kitten Shower here.

Shop our Amazon Wish List: https://bit.ly/2rIP91p

Shop PetSaver’s Online Store: healthypetsuperstore.com/collections/all 

Meet cats and kittens waiting for homes: www.lollypop.org/cats

The post Kitten Shower Helps Homeless Litters appeared first on Lollypop Farm.

11. You could win big! There’s always a ton of great prizes being raffled at Barktober Fest, and this year is no exception.  You could win two overnight stays at Home2Suites by Hilton and other great prizes.  Now that’s what we call double the fun to help pets in need!

10. Giveaways from Rochester’s favorite pet-related businesses.  Friends of the animals like Pet$aver Healthy Pet Superstore, Eastside Dog Services, Bark∙a∙licious, and Mighty Paw will be joining us to support homeless and abused pets. And be sure to check-in on Yelp and stop by their table at registration for even more cool giveaways. Learn more about what Rochester’s local pet-friendly businesses have to offer while your pups sample their tasty wares.

9.  A chance to prove your pooch is a hot dog eating champion. Is your dog an eating machine? Make their dreams come true when you compete in the hot dog bobbing contest. Not only will you go home with a happy puppy, but you may win some fun prizes from Pet$aver Healthy Pet Superstore too!

8. You don’t have to wait till Halloween to have some dress up fun. Do you dress up your dog for Halloween every year? Well here’s another chance to show off their favorite costume. Enter the Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest costume contest and you could go home with some awesome pet-related prizes.

7.  All the delicious tastings in the inflatable brew pub. We couldn’t be more excited about this new addition to the Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest. This party pub has been taking Rochester by storm, and will be filled with delicious tasting and pints from Three Heads Brewing, Honeoye Falls Distillery, and many others!

6. Make your dog jump for joy…through hoops!  Try your dog’s paw out in the sport of agility with the Lollypop Farm behavior and training team.  Your dog will have a blast jumping over hoops and climbing over walls.

5. Food trucks to please every palate! You’ll have a hard time choosing between all the scrumptious food trucks gathering to help Rochester’s pets in need.  Dive into a meatball sub at The Meatball Truck or grab a slider at the Chef’s Catering truck. And Rochester festival is complete without some funnel cake from Nancy’s Fried Dough. We’re drooling just thinking about it!

4.  V.I.P. access to the Iron Smoke Distillery tent.  When you raise or donate over $250 to help pets in need you’ll gain V.I.P. access to the Iron Smoke Distillery tent. These hand-crafted spirits are well-balanced and distilled in small batches in Fairport, NY for a delicious tasting experience you won’t want to miss. It’ll really get you in the “spirit” of Barktober Fest!

3. All the slobbery kisses. Monroe Veterinary Associates is sponsoring a dog kissing booth in partnership with Lollypop Farm’s pet assisted therapy program. For just $1, you can get a big wet kiss, learn about pet assisted therapy, and help homeless and abused pets.

2. A fun day for the whole family! (Furry friends included) With so many activities for pets and humans alike, the Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest is the biggest pet-friendly festival and walk to help Rochester’s pets in need! You’ll have fun mingling with pet lovers from all over the community and meeting all their furry best-friends. And who knows? Maybe your pup will make a new friend too!

And the #1 reason to join for the Lollypop Farm Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest is…

1. You’ll be a hero.  The Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest may very well be the most fun you can have while making a huge difference for Rochester’s pets in need. Your registration and the money you raise fundraising will help provide homeless pets with the shelter, veterinary services, and compassionate care they need. It also helps support the Humane Law Enforcement Department who investigates and enforces animal cruelty for our area. You’ll be making a big difference for Rochester’s homeless and abused pets.

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up the largest pet-friendly walk and festival to benefit Rochester’s pets in need! Sign up today for the Walk for the Animals at Barktober Fest.

**Photograhs provided by: Stephen S. Reardon Photography

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