Why catch the Puppy Bowl on TV when you can experience the Dunedin version in person? Yup, the popular town has its own Puppy Bowl — starring adoptable dogs from Dunedin Doggie Rescue — going down this weekend.
The Puppy Bowl is scheduled to take place during the grand reopening of Paw Park, aka Achieva Credit Union's recently expanded dog park at 1659 Virginia St. The free celebration runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, and 11 a.m. is when the Puppy Bowl kicks off.
Puppy Bowl competitors, aka what we're sure are adorable chihuahuas available for adoption, will chase a stuffed football across a mini-football field — complete with yard lines and goal posts. Other charming pooches like Daisy (pictured above) are expected to cheer them on from the sidelines.
In addition to the Puppy Bowl, a variety of vendors are planned on-site, as is a ribbon cutting with Mayor Julie Ward Bujalski and members of the Dunedin Parks & Recreation Department.
Achieva partnered with the city on Paw Park's expansion to unite dog owners in a community setting, but also to fill the need for a bigger dog park. Happy Tails Dog Park on Garrison Road will permanently close next month.
Originally opened in 2016 next to the corporate Achieva headquarters, the 1.25-acre Paw Park now features a taller fence for the large dog area and new trees that provide more shade, plus additional seating options. Agility poles, dog tunnels, water fountains and waste stations are among the other amenities.
"We're proud to work with the City to offer a great dog park experience for the Dunedin community," said Gary Regoli, president and CEO of Achieva, in a statement. "We love to look out our windows and see our neighbors interact with each other while their dogs romp around the Paw Park."
This article appears in Jan 31 – Feb 7, 2019.