Stow-Munroe Falls Lions Club marked its 15th Paw Fest this week

When Stow residents Marty Dennis and her husband, Rich, came up with the idea of putting on a dog festival 15 years ago, little did they know the event would turn into the largest, longest-running canine commotion this side of the motion picture “101 Dalmatians.”

Paw Fest celebrated its 15th anniversary Sept. 18 at Bow Wow Beach Dog Park at Silver Springs Park in Stow. The festival, which is always staged on the third Sunday in September, is sponsored by the Stow-Munroe Falls Lions Club, of which the Dennises have been members for 34 years. Admission to the annual dog party is free.

“Paw Fest has been very popular every year,” said Marty, the event’s chair and, not surprisingly, a dog lover. “People bring their dogs and have a lot of fun. It’s a very active day, people are coming and going. We had hundreds and hundreds of people, and it was continually busy all day. We average between 500 to 1,200 visitors every year.”

“I think Sunday was the most tremendous Paw Fest we’ve ever had due to the attendance, the weather and the way it was well organized,” Rich said. “Being around so many dogs was great because we’re strictly dog people.”

Just how did the Dennises come up with the idea of a dog festival?

“We’re driving home from Florida after two weeks’ vacation. While we were in Florida, we visited a dog festival in Sarasota,” Marty said. “Our Lions Club at that time was looking for another fundraiser. I talked to the people who were running that dog festival in Sarasota. They gave me some ideas. We got home, discussed it with our club, and they said, ‘Go for it.’”

This year’s Paw Fest had 40 vendors. Nonprofit vendors, including six rescue groups from Summit County and outlying areas, were not charged the $50 fee for a space.

“The rescue groups bring dogs to get the interest from the public to adopt them. The Humane Society is there with its huge bus full of dogs and even cats for adoption,” said Marty. “We also invite dog-related businesses such as groomers, veterinarians and individuals who make dog-related items like collars, leashes and homemade dog treats. The vendors bring their own tables and tents and display their products. We also invite food vendors that sell items like hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream.”

A gift raffle this year raised more than $2,000. Donated gifts included a basket with dog-related items, wine, a basket from a beauty shop, restaurant gift cards — and even a cat-related basket.

There were five contests for dogs that guests brought: best trick, best costume in a parade, best dog swimsuit, longest tail and shortest tail.

“All of these contests were judged by community people who have been with us for years and enjoy what they do,” said Marty. “We had Fox 8 News — the Galleks (husband and wife investigative team Ed and Peggy] — there to judge a contest and cover the festival. The longest and shortest tails are measured by the mayors of Stow [John Pribonic] and Munroe Falls [Allen Mavrides]. We give them plastic gloves and a measuring tape. It’s quite interesting and a lot of fun.”

Just like the name “Bow Wow Beach Dog Park” suggests, there is a beach for dogs and a lake in which they can cool off.

“The dogs actually go in the water. No humans go in the water,” Marty said. “There’s also an area where the dogs can get hosed off.”

Planning such an involved event like Paw Fest takes a lot out of Marty.

“It was a long day for her,” said Rich. “It took her about six months to organize this thing.”

The City of Stow helps out with the event any way it can.

“The [police] K-9 dogs, one from Stow and one from Munroe Falls, are brought out to Paw Fest by their handlers,” she said, “and they put on a demonstration of what the K-9s do, how they’re trained, and how they’re there to protect our citizens.”

Sponsors of this year’s Paw Fest included Pet Supplies Plus, Giant Eagle, Meijer and Audio Technica.

“We ask for $250 to be a sponsor,” Dennis said. “Our sponsors are the ones that come through for us and help us.”

Marty is very proud of the fact that the local Lions Club sponsors Pilot Dogs, a foundation in Columbus that provides support dogs to anyone who has visual problems.

“We give some of our proceeds from Paw Fest to Pilot Dogs,” she said.

And if there is inclement weather the day of Paw Fest?

“It’s never rained in 15 years,” said Marty. “Rain is a bad word in my household.”