Love Unleashed! A Dog Adoption Event at Tompkins Park

I have a hard time going to the animal shelter. Don't get me wrong, our animal shelter is incredible. It's filled with dedicated workers and volunteers who overcome challenges and provide the residents with the best possible life.

But as I walk around, I see sweet faces, sad facades, reactive energies, and scared mugs. I always have the same thought: why are YOU still here, precious poochie?

Many great dogs get overlooked because shelter life can be challenging for some, and let's face it, it's no way to showcase your best side if you're a resident. It's difficult to relax when you don't have a warm couch and a soft hand to scritch your ears. Or when your neighbor keeps you up all night barking because she's scared, too. You don't really see the "real dog" behind the shelter's walls.

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Rethinking Dog Adoptions in Sierra Vista

Arleen and her crew at the Nancy J Brua Animal Care Center are thinking differently. They know dogs do better when they're allowed to, well, be dogs!  The NJBACC has created "doggie play groups", where dogs of similar temperament get the opportunity to get out of their kennels and socialize in groups.

They have rambunctious, high-energy groups; slower, more gentle pups, dogs who love splashing through water, and everything in between. Arleen told me in a recent interview, "When the dogs play together, you really get to see their personalities come out, and they really shine!"

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Letting Dogs Be Dogs

That was the inspiration for the upcoming event, Love Unleashed: A Bark Bash at the Park. The NJBACC's dogs will be taking over Sierra Vista's dog park for a morning, and the public is invited to see the shelter dogs off-leash and having fun.

If you're ready to unleash some joy, leave your dog at home and drop by the dog park on Saturday, September 13th, from 8 to 11 a.m.

It's all going down in the Tompkins Park (2060 S 7th St) dog park on the corner of Buffalo Soldier Trail and Seventh Street in Sierra Vista.

They're going to set up splash pools for the water-loving dogs, unleash some zoomies, playful chases, and a whole lot of happy barks, and it's all starring the shelter’s adoptable pups so they can show off their true personalities in off-leash playgroups.

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You'll Get First-Dibs on Dog Adoptions

See the REAL stars at the shelter, in their natural, dog-form. Experienced volunteers will be on hand to answer all your questions about each dog’s behavior, quirks, and compatibility.

And here’s a bonus: attendees will get special adoption discounts if they head to the shelter afterward. Doors open at noon at the Nancy J. Brua Animal Care Center, where you can meet your new bestie face-to-snout.

One small note: the dog parks at Tompkins Park will be closed to the public during the event, so the pups can have their moment to shine.

But trust me; you’ll want to be part of this heartwarming morning. It’s not just an adoption event. This is going to be a celebration of canine joy, community, and connection.

Learn more about this event on the Nancy J Brua Facebook page.