Dog Day Afternoon

About 12 years ago my boyfriend (now husband) told me he had found the perfect birthday gift for me, and asked me to go see the gift. I was completely shocked when we walked into a local pet store, but just moments later I found myself falling completely in love with the big brown eyes and soft fur of a puppy available for adoption. We filled out the adoption paperwork on the spot, and two weeks later we picked her up at the local Humane Society. We named her Ani, and she has been everything a good dog should be: loving, playful, loyal, infuriating, and a complete joy.

Since we started having children, poor Ani has moved down a notch or two on the priority ladder, and she doesn’t get trips out of the house too often. So yesterday’s Dog Day Afternoon held in Carmel’s Arts & Design District was a welcome outing for our entire family. Sponsored by the city of Carmel, Dog Day Afternoon was an afternoon of dog-friendly events including shopping, fashion, and food for canines and their two-legged friends. My kids loved the fashion show with local retailers and their dogs, especially when one determined pooch jumped off the end of the runway to grab a drink of water. And typical of the good dog she is, Ani’s favorite part was spending a beautiful early fall afternoon out with her family.