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player ready...Firemen’s Park is being prepared for the fourth installment of Pooch-a-Palooza in Monee.
The free Aug. 13 event features rescues with adoptable dogs, dog-related vendors, raffles, contests, dog walkers, dog trainers, groomers and free goody bags.
“We have events all the time for kids, for seniors, for families. By doing an animal event we reached a different demographic of people. It was wonderful to see it come alive and see different people come to the park that we had never seen before,” said Dianna Kroll, director of Monee Parks & Recreation.
“It’s amazing how animals and doing something for animals is loved here in Monee.”
She proposed the idea for Pooch-a-Palooza and collaborates with Monee Parks & Recreation assistant Alison Chin on the event, which began in 2018.
“Animals are a big thing for us. Alison and I are both huge animal lovers. We reached out to our local vet that we have here in town so Animal Wellness Center of Monee helped us get in contact with a lot of different rescues,” Kroll said.
“We’ve seen many families get newfound furry friends, which is great.”
She estimated that approximately 20 dogs have been adopted through Pooch-a-Palooza, which has taken place annually except in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and draws 150 families to 250 families each year.
“The biggest factor as to why it’s so important for people to rescue dogs is they are available for a number of reasons,” said Kroll, who noted that owners not spaying or neutering their pets leads to an abundance of animals looking for forever homes.
“A lot of rescues go to kill shelters and pick up dogs from all over the country and bring them up here. You don’t want an animal that’s from a puppy mill and that was bred specifically for money. When you’re getting a new family member, you’re saving a life.”
Kroll’s family has an 8-year-old Jack Russell terrier named Marv, a German shepherd Husky named Mojo and a 1-year-old purebred German shepherd named Loki while Chin has a German shepherd named Rocket, which is Mojo’s nephew.
Disc jockey Tyree Wiliams of Park Forest, who first performed at Pooch-a-Palooza in 2021, returns to play music for this year’s event.
“We have contests,” said Kroll of categories including best howl, longest ears, best trick, the dog that can sit the best and the dog that can eat a spoonful of peanut butter the fastest.
Pooch-a-Palooza also features approximately 20 vendors including people from Beecher, Kankakee, Tinley Park and St. John, Indiana.
“We try to get different vendors in all the time,” Kroll said.
“We have people who make homemade dog food and dog treats. We have different organizations that would come out to help raise funds for people who couldn’t afford dog food so dog-related businesses or animal businesses are involved.”
Humans are welcome to bring their leashed dogs with them to Pooch-a-Palooza.
“We have people who bring out their dogs and we see tons of breeds from teeny tiny ones to gigantic ones, and we have trainers come out and do demonstrations for everyone,” Kroll said.
Raffles at Pooch-a-Palooza will benefit South Suburban Humane Society, which moved in June into a new facility in Matteson.
“We have been able to get in touch with some local businesses who have donated a lot of different items or provided them at reduced cost, which has been great,” Kroll said.
“We have local pet stores come out. The Animal Wellness Center of Monee has a kissing booth. They put dogs in it and they take pictures. We all take pictures. It’s fun.”
Kroll said she is thankful to Pooch-a-Palooza supporters such as Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow, to a German shepherd named Cap in 2021 as a K-9 officer for the Monee Police Department.
“James Glasgow and his office are huge animal advocates. James has done a lot to prosecute people who abuse animals,” she said.
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“His staff also have dogs on hand if a child is stressed and doesn’t want to talk about whatever criminal activity happened to them. By sitting there and petting the dog they get more comfortable.
“The Will County State’s Attorney Office has been coming out to all of our events. It’s great to have that kind of support.”
Pooch-a-Palooza
When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 13
Where: Firemen’s Park, 5218 W. Court St., Monee
Tickets: free
Information: 708-534-8302; villageofmonee.org
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.