Golden Retriever organization to hold "Bark in the Park" in Tempe

 

Dog-friendly day promised for humans and goldens

PHOENIX, AZ (January 19, 2012) – Rescue A Golden of Arizona (RAGofAZ), an organization committed to rescuing and finding new “forever” homes for unwanted Golden Retrievers, will hold its annual membership appreciation and celebratory event, Bark in the Park, on Sunday, January 29^th at Kiwanis Park located at Mill Avenue and All-America Way in Tempe from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM.

The event brings together RAGofAZ families who have adopted Golden Retrievers through the Rescue in a dog-friendly environment for a day of fun, food and fellowship – for humans and goldens.  “This is such a special day,” said Judy Smith, Vice President of RAGofAZ and chairperson for Bark in the Park.  “It’s an opportunity to show our adoptive families how much we support and value them.”

Attendees will enjoy a picnic lunch of hamburgers and hotdogs with all the fixings, have the chance to win raffle prizes, and reconnect with some of the RAGofAZ volunteers they met during the adoption process. 

“There is nothing more gratifying than watching the faces of our adopters light up when they see that special volunteer who helped to bring one of our Goldens to their family,” said Smith.  “We hold a touching Rescue Ceremony where adoptive ‘parents’ can share stories about their dogs and the love they feel for them.  And owners who have lost a Golden can speak about that experience, and pay tribute to their pet during the Rainbow Bridge Ceremony.  We laugh, we cry, we hug . . . but best of all, we are surrounded by dozens of the most adorable and lovable dogs you will ever meet!”

RAGofAZ is committed to educating pet owners about the proper care of Golden Retrievers and will offer several programs at Bark in the Park that will both inform and entertain.  Sam Kabbel, a Nationally Certified Pet Trainer from Pet Behavior Solutions, will provide tips on training dogs while a Goober Pet Direct specialist will offer expert advice on nutrition and dog food ingredients.  For the more energetic Goldens, Carol Lynn Fox of Blue Ribbon K9 Academy will conduct a mini-rally agility course that is sure to test the skills of some dogs.

For a donation, Sharon Witherspoon will take photographs of Goldens and their families.

RAGofAZ members can purchase tickets online to Bark in the Park for only $8.00 per person prior to the event at the organization’s website www.golden-retreiver.org. Tickets at the gate on event day will be $15.00.

About Rescue A Golden of Arizona

Rescue A Golden of Arizona is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit organization that rescues non-aggressive Golden Retrievers who have lost their homes and places them, through adoption, in “forever” homes. RAGofAZ has rescued about 3,000 Golden Retrievers since it was founded in 1998. It is the only Golden Retriever rescue organization whose efforts cover the entire state of Arizona. For more information, visit their website at www.golden-retriever.org or find them on Facebook.

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 Contacts:Rescue A Golden of Arizona

Judy Smith-Vice President and

Chairperson-Bark in the Park

480-661-1608

azgold101@cox.net