Barktoberfest: The Dogs are Coming to Town

Do you long to hear the patter of little feet around your home? How about four of them?

The Humane Society Silicon Valley may have just what you’re looking for at its “Barktoberfest” dog adoption event set for Saturday, Oct. 1 in Milpitas. A wide variety of dog breeds and sizes will be there, including beagles, poodles, golden retrievers, terriers, Rottweiler and even Chihuahuas.

Visitors will have a chance to meet up close with the dogs in order to find just the right companion that will match their personality and lifestyle. HSSV representatives will also offer pre-and-post-adoption seminars and answer questions about pet adoption procedures and fees.

“We want people to know they can come and get educated about a wide variety of breeds and interact with the dogs,” said Kelly Grant, marketing manager at HSSV. She added that there’s no requirement for anyone to adopt an animal, and people can just stop by to learn about them.  

Grant estimates visitors will have a chance to meet at least 75 animals at the event.

What traits do most people look for when they’re considering adopting a dog?

“They want a dog that’s friendly and well-behaved,” said Grant. “A good fit with their lifestyle, a dog that’s going to meet their needs for companionship. That can be anything from a couch potato dog that likes to hang out at home or a dog with a lot of energy that likes to run around outside.”

Grant said another important thing to look for when adopting a family dog is to make sure it “interacts appropriately with children.” To increase the chances of a good fit with the family, HSSV officials encourage parents considering adopting a dog to bring their children with them when meeting dogs for the first time.

Will there be any interesting or unusual breeds at the event?

“We will have Rottie (Rottweiler) Rescues and Northern California beagle rescues," Grant said. “You don’t see those every day.”  Numerous pit bulls also will be on hand, Grant said.

For people curious about adopting a pit bull, a Pit Bulls 101 seminar is planned. Topics covered will include:

• Breed myths
• Is a pit bull right for me?
• Responsible ownership
• Training tips and multi-pet management

The classes will be led by representatives from Our Pack, Inc. Pit Bull Rescue.

Will the event be limited to just dogs? Grant said no, adding that there will be “a wonderful assortment of cats and kittens; and we also have rabbits for adoption.”

The “Barktoberfest” event will take place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct.1 at the Humane Society Silicon Valley’s Animal Community Center, 901 Ames Ave. Admission is FREE and no reservations are required. For details, call 408-262-2133 or send an email.