Hot dog! Annual Doxie Day in Barnstable celebrates hundreds of dachshunds (in costume)
Dachshund lovers from far and wide will converge in Barnstable Village on Saturday, Sept. 24 in celebration of their favorite canines — those long dogs with short legs.
The 14th annual Cape Cod Doxie Day unrolls an afternoon of fun and pup love, to be held from noon to 3 p.m. at the rear of the Barnstable County Courthouse complex. Admission is free.
According to Eva Carbonaro, president of the yearly celebration, “doxie” is an affectionate nickname for the popular breed, which she calls “just the best dog there is.”
There seems little doubt that other dachshund owners feel the same way about their picturesque canines. Dachshund people, she says, come to the event with their pets from such far-flung states as California, Michigan, Texas and New York, as well as from around the Cape and the rest of New England — sometimes staying around to enjoy Cape Cod in the off-season.
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The event, says Carbonaro, also extends an invitation to all “well-behaved pets” on leashes — regardless of size, shape and breed.
A Doxie Day parade of costumed canines will kick off the festivities, featuring rescue dogs from the Massachusetts non-profit Paw-Affection Dachshund Rescue, an all-volunteer agency that seeks “loving foster homes” for rescue dachshunds and other small breed pups.
The parade shows off participants’ creative streaks, with past costumes including everything from a pup afloat in an inflatable pirate ship, a dog riding in a decorated carriage, and canine marchers wrapped in fake hot dog buns. Emmy Award-nominated designer/illustrator Stefanie Shank, a senior art director for Nickelodeon Animation Studio, will be on hand as parade judge to bestow prizes in several categories.
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Ever seen a golden retriever dressed up to look like a dachshund? Such “Wiener Wannabes,” dressed in their “doxie best,” make up a good-humored prize category of their own, in addition to the time-honored Best Dressed and Best Float.
The parade and its contest winners will be followed by raffles, a performance by the Cape Cod Ukulele Club, a round of dachshund trivia and the annual Doxie Dash race for 25 pre-registered dachshunds. Entry spots, Carbonaro says, have long been filled.
One feature of the day may top the popularity list for the little dogs themselves. The Dachshund Café has tables set at hound height, to deliver food and refreshments to its four-legged customers. Dachshunds are “very food driven,” so the café is popular, Carbonaro says.
Hundreds of dogs together
She reflects on how much the Doxie Day “do” has grown since its first gathering in 2008 at Chapin Beach in Dennis. “We spread the word” and people came, she says, beginning a tradition that has become more popular each year. Based on the level of inquiries, she says, this year’s event will likely attract as many as 400 visitors, not counting dachshunds themselves, the stars of the show.
The Cape Cod Doxie Day booklet, distributed each year, has grown from four pages to 28, containing ads for a dizzying variety of pet products, from treats and trendy dachshund outfits to pet portraits, day care and dog washes. The hottest ticket at the event, she says, is an auction for the honor of being on the cover of next year’s issue.
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The yearly event also reaches out to the community. Proceeds gained from raffles, contests and donations support the Orleans-based Companion Animal Program, a non-profit pet visiting program that has served nursing and day care programs as well as special needs schools on Cape Cod since 1986.
Packaged pet food and other pet supplies donated at the event are sent to Red’s Pet Pantry, a Cape Cod Disaster Animal Response Team that works to rescue, treat and shelter animals after a declared emergency.
Event organizers, Carbonaro says, have also remained active in efforts to place rescue animals with loving owners: “We’ve played matchmaker several times.”
People who come with their pets to the annual event can likely describe the many perks of the day, likely first and foremost the bragging rights for their own unique animals, as well as pleasure from the affection they get – and give to – their pets. But what’s in it for the dachshunds?
“They get love, outdoor smells (and) there are plenty of treats,” Carbanaro says. They may also get a trip to the beach after the festivities are over, she suggests.
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Why would someone choose a dachshund over another breed? Carbonaro, the proud owner of Layla, a 13-year-old mini-dachshund, and Bella, a rescue pup of about 8 years, is unequivocal: “They’re very sensitive — adorable — funny – they know how to get people to do whatever they want you to do.”
And, she says, “Just look at them.”
To take your dog to Doxie Day
When: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24
Where: Barnstable County Courthouse complex, 3195 Main St., Barnstable Village
Admission: Free
Information and schedule: https://www.ccdoxieday.com
This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod dachshunds celebrated at Barnstable Doxie Day costume parade
