Photo courtesy of Harley’s Dream
Harley’s Dream founder, Rudi Taylor, welcomes Pastor Matt Webber to Puppy Mill Awareness Day in 2022. Pastor Webber will be providing a “Blessing of the Animals” at the 2023 event on Saturday, Sept. 9. A certificate will be given to pets that attend the ceremony.

By Terry Georgia
The Surveyor

The Puppy Mill Awareness Day Dog and Family-Friendly Festival returns to Fickel Park on Saturday, Sept. 9, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event, featuring live music, food trucks, a Blessing of the Animals, family activities and educational displays, will also provide the opportunity for families to adopt a dog.

The annual event is hosted by Harley’s Dream, a Berthoud-based organization dedicated to closing puppy mills and finding homes for thousands of severely abused dogs.

Puppy mills are dog breeding facilities that force dogs into a constant cycle of breeding, often under horrific conditions. The animals are usually kept in small wire cages for their entire lives and given minimal care. Their litters of puppies are usually sold to pet stores.

Harley’s Dream, founded in 2016, is named for Harley, a tiny, one-eyed chihuahua who was rescued from just such a puppy mill by Rudi Taylor, founder of the organization and champion of animal rights.

Taylor has made it the mission of Harley’s Dream to bring public awareness to the plight of these animals. Puppy Mill Awareness Day is one small part of her campaign to shut down the puppy mill industry and rescue as many of the abused animals as possible.

The event, held in Fickel Park, is free to the public. Families are welcome, as are well-behaved dogs on leashes.

In addition to live music by Tim Ostdiek & Jenny Balagna, Mountain Duo, and The Wendy Woo Band, there will be face painting, a free photo booth and caricature artists. There will also be a Doggie costume contest and a Doggie Flea Market, where new and near-new pet supplies will be available for sale.

Proceeds from the event will go to support the work of Harley’s Dream.

To learn more about the event and about Harley’s Dream, visit: https://harleysdream.org.