By Sara Barker
The Westfield City Market will focus on four-legged friends Aug. 13.
Pet Day, coined by organizer Teresa Skelton, will be taking place amid the usual stands of fresh produce, food trucks and live music.
Happy Mutt Pet Bakery, owned and operated by Barbara Grider and her daughter Melissa Grider, will be an integral part of Pet Day.
The bakery sells made-from-scratch dog and cat treats and accessories and has a booth at the Westfield City Market this summer.
At noon, there will be a pet parade in between performances by Chris Oaks on the live music stage. The parade will give owners a chance to show off their prized pooches, and all participants will receive a free treat, courtesy of Happy Mutts.
Greyhound Rescue of Indianapolis will have an information booth during Pet Day. The organization is committed to finding loving homes for retired racing greyhounds.
The idea for Pet Day was conceived out of a love for animals.
“I just thought it would be really cool to have people come and show off their animals. They’re their babies,” Skelton said. “I also am a big advocate for all these rescue groups, and anytime I can do something for them, I try to do that.”
Pet Day is part of an effort to expand the Westfield City Market through unique events. Kids Day also took place this summer, and Skelton said she hopes to organize a Wellness Day in the future.
“I would like to work toward next year making pet day bigger, kids day bigger, and also, I’d like to incorporate a wellness (day). We do have some wellness booths (already),” Skelton said. “I’d like to have a wellness theme, where it’s all about fitness, and we already have the produce of eating healthy.”
