WARNING! Fun Family Events Ahead Windsor Essex!
The weather is warming up and it’s time to enjoy the great outdoors with the kids (and for one festival, the family pet too!). For our May issue, we’re spotlighting two annual events in the region which bring the Windsor Essex community and families together for springtime fun and good causes. We begin with the Woofa~Roo Pet Fest and two exhibitors and conclude with details about the Italian Canadian and HandiCapable Association (ICHA) Fishing Derby.
Unleash The Love For Your Fur Babies At Woofa~Roo
The “fantastic festival for pets and their people” — the Woofa~Roo Pet Fest — returns to the local event scene! “We just love Woofa~Roo — we bring the family every year and make a day of it,” comments Donna Cooke from Windsor.
In 2024 between 5,000 and 7,000 individuals braved the excessive heat to attend the weekend event. Previously held in July and then in late June, the 2025 installment is a month earlier, at hopefully a cooler time of the year, so all activities can happen.
The 13th annual pet fest still takes place at the Libro Credit Union Centre, 3295 Meloche Road in Amherstburg, but the new dates are May 31 and June 1. Event hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day.
“People adjust their vacations and work schedules to attend Woofa~Roo,” mentions Woofa~Roo Director/Founder Lorene Clayton. “They come together because of their common love of animals . . . even those who do not own a dog attend Woofa~Roo!”
As always, the attractions (some are only one day) feature dock diving, dog agility, lure coursing, a Windsor Police Service K9 demo, specialty vendors, Wacky Weiner Dog races, charity contests, silent auctions, performances by the Border City Barkers Agility Club, trick dog shows, dog training advice, an agility course, and pet friendly food courts. (PLEASE NOTE THE CLYDESDALE HORSE DEMO HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES)
New events for 2025 include three demonstrations for field dog retrieving skills by the Essex Hunting Retriever Club; elite shed dogs trained to go out and locate antlers shed in the fields and forests; plus sheep herding dogs showing off their expertise with a small flock of wild sheep.
“The feeling here is great,” says Sam Strand, a Woofa~Roo past attendee and Leamington resident. “Everyone is happy, the dogs are well-behaved, and we get a ton of dog treats along the way!”
Woofa~Roo’s impact on the community has been significant. According to the Ontario Tourism metrics, their local economic impact was close to $2 million in their best year prior to the pandemic. They’ve helped their charities and rescues to raise more than $100K* since 2013 (when Woofa~Roo was first held) and assisted them with recruiting foster homes, volunteers, much needed supplies, and adoptions. (*Note: due to the pandemic no events took place in 2020 and 2021).
These charities and rescues include the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society (highlighted in the Have A Cup of Joe column later in this edition), Spay Neuter Assist Program for Cats (SNAP), Southshore Pony Club, The Runaways Farm, Tiny Paws Rabbit Rescue, St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program and CAT Assistance Team.
This year there are between 40 and 60 vendors on site at Woofa~Roo including: Bark & Fitz, Moonshine Designs (custom acrylic canvas paintings), At The Cottage Pet Photography, Reg’s Barkery, South Windsor Animal Hospital, The Hungry Pooch, Windsor Police, For Your Fur Kids, Yay for Strays Cat Café (see the Biz of the Month article in this issue), Southshore Pony Club, Seguin’s Parrotlets and Pets, Kounty Kennels & Kritters Inc., Yeeter Snax (and a lot more in the animal biz!
There are also professionals attending from companies/organizations such as COSTCO, Color Street (nail polish), Leaf Filter Gutter Protection, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, Amherstburg Fire Department and local real estate agents.
Let’s now introduce you to two vendors attending the Woofa~Roo Pet Fest on May 31 and June 1.
TO READ ABOUT MOVEMENT HEALTH AND INFINITE PAWS-ABILITIES PLUS GET INFORMATION ON THE 23RD ANNUAL ITALIAN CANADIAN HANDICAPABLE ASSOCIATION (ICHA) FISHING DERBY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES ON JUNE 7, CLICK HERE TO ACCESS PAGE 27 OF THE MAY 2025 ISSUE!
