Oh, HOW we missed everyone’s favourite fun dog show and community showcase, Paws in the Park…

The last two years were tough – a great big day full of doggy fun and frolics might’ve helped a lot! But Paws and Play, created and organised by Wendy Green, founder of I Love Communities, came back to lovely Lumb Lane Park in Bramhall again this year.

May Day Dog Fest

May Day Bank Holiday Monday dawned clear and bright (always a good start). The inaugural event, back in 2016, could’ve been ruined by freezing cold and driving rain. Even those conditions didn’t keep people away – and Paws in the Park has grown every year since. Everyone knew this year’s event would be big, and boy, was it ever! There were dogs everywhere – plentiful perky poodle crosses, lovely labs and bonkers spaniels, a couple of clever collies, and tiny Chihuahuas to the greatest of Great Danes – even a Portuguese Water Dog!

With I Love Cheadle Hulme’s Kate, and I Love Communities’ Jo and Paddy manning the registration queues, Wendy and her super-efficient PA Laura took charge in the ring. Between them, they managed to meet ALL the dogs. Perfect day or what?

Dogs’ Best Friends

Next to the trademark red I Love Communities command point, were Mike Messenger, Ed Mascarenas and Alejandra Solis, owners of Bramhall Dog Groomers, the Top Dog Paws in the Park Sponsors. They spent a very busy day as every person and their dogs popped in for expert grooming advice, tooth cleaning demos and to buy their dogs a treat. Further down the row, the Pet Blood Bank displayed the impressive haul of generous raffle prize donations which Wendy and the I Love team secured for the charity. The show ring was surrounded by an incredible array of local businesses, bars and catering establishments, so the hundreds upon hundreds of visitors certainly had plenty to choose from.

Dogs Days Forever

The biggest thank-you of the day went to the undoubted stars of the show – literally! Thank you to ALL the dogs, puppies, big dogs, diddy dogs, working dogs and toy dogs. Scruffy mutts and polished pedigrees. The entire I Love Communities team LOVES dogs and there really is no better way to spend a day than surrounded by dogs of all shapes, types, sizes, colours, breeds, and crossbreeds. If ONLY they ALL could’ve won a rosette. The judges REALLY had their work cut out and never more so than when it came to crowning Best in Show. Everyone, though, that smiley Staffie pup, Nyla, was a worthy winner.

Thank Dog for Dogs!

Wendy and all at I Love Communities would like to thank the visitors, stallholders, sponsors, and the dogs of Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme, and beyond (quite far beyond, in some cases).

All that is led is to thank their wonderful volunteers, without whom this much-loved community event may not happen – so thank you.

And thank you to everyone who brought their four-legged families. Our dogs are ALL winners, and we’re all the REAL winners for having them in our lives.

See you next year! Be sure to follow I Love Communities and find your local village to find out when – and all about other similar events. – Wendy Green, Founder – I Love 

Communities