Something about summer changes the mood of a city, a town, or a suburb. The warmth of the sun touching your skin, the aroma of fresh cut grass, the taste of hot-off-the-grill hamburgers, and the faint sound of home runs being hit at the local ball park.
Thereʼs something about summer that has become synonymous with happiness. And while adults and children alike can enjoy summerʼs simple delights, now too, can your dog. Americaʼs favorite past time now includes manʼs best friend – well, at least for a day. In an effort to get the entire family involved, baseball teams in the Bay Area are welcoming the furriest member of the family to join in on the fun and give new meaning to a “hot dog.”
This month, the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athleticʼs will each host their own respective day to celebrate our four legged friends and give us another excuse to listen to “Who Let The Dogs Out” without irony. “The Aʼs first Bark in the Park (or Dog Day) was six years ago,” says Troy Smith, Senior Marketing Director of the Oakland Athleticʼs. For a semi-new event, the Oakland Aʼs have their Bark in the Park event down to a science. Before the game, owners and dogs are invited to participate in the Pup Parade and the Pup Rally, a costume contest where the competition is no walk in bark.
The Pup Parade allows dogs and their owners to circle the baseball field on the track prior to the game with the Pup Rally consisting of contests like Best Dressed, Most Creative Dog & Owner, and the creative Dog & Owner Look-A-Like.
Along with an evening of baseball and fun, some proceeds from Bark in the Park ticket sales go to two organizations – Dogs4Diabetics & the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF).
“We are affiliated with Dogs4Diabetics through the sponsor of the event Central Garden and Pet,” says Smith. “Also, the Aʼs have had a long-standing relationship with ARF because it was founded by former Aʼs manager Tony LaRussa while he was with the Aʼs.”
Along with the Oakland Athleticʼs, the San Francisco Giants host their own dog centric event called The Dog Days of Summer. Hosted at AT&T Park, the Giants invite you to bring your best friend along to watch the game and participate in the pre-game parade costume contest. Bonus points to those who don the Giantʼs signature black and orange colors.
Similar to the Oakland Athletics, the San Francisco Giants donate a portion of the ticket proceeds to the San Francisco SPCA. When talking about the actual event, Smith says one of his favorite parts is all the dogs in one place with owners and dogs alike enjoying the game. “Personally, my favorite part of all of the events is when fans can hear dogs barking off and on throughout the game,” he says. “It just makes me smile.”
If you want more information on one of these adorably fun events, you can visit the Oakland Athleticʼs and The San Francisco Giants websites.
Aimee Rancer is a San Francisco transplant who appreciates good fashion, a cup of Morning Blend, and a French Bulldog. You can find her personal style blog The Ohio Transplant here: www.theohiotransplant.com
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Main article photo by: © Travis LoDolce of the Oakland A’s
