"I needed something to cheer me up, and she did just that," Heller said of Odette, a rambunctious rescue dog who eats just about everything she can find. "I think it's a wonderful event. I love the dog adoptions, and the highlight on mixed-breed and rescue dogs."
Thousands of dog lovers and their four-legged friends packed Roger Sherman Baldwin Park for the annual event, hosted by the Armonk, N.Y.-based Adopt-A-Dog animal rescue sanctuary and adoption center.
The day featured opportunities for dog adoption, dog competitions, shopping, information booths, and tours of the American Human Association's Red Star Rescue Unit, which helps animals during disasters. Owners could also get their portrait with their dogs, or check out Jilli Dog, the world's only poker-playing dog.
"I went to the first two of these. I can't get over how much it's grown," said Mary Webber of Greenwich. She said her dogs, Danny and Riley, were having a great time. "They've done a great job with all the volunteers. It's fabulous."
Contests were held all day where dogs were judged by two-time Olympic gold medal-winning skater Dick Button and Fios1 News anchor CJ Papa. Dogs were judged in categories such as breed, costumes, size, and how much they looked like their owners.
Albert and Oneida Cintron brought their dogs, Beebee and Casper, from Queens, N.Y., to the event for the first time.
"We love it," Albert Cintron said. "They dogs are making friends, we can enter them in contests. It was worth the trip."
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