Let Food Vendors, Not Distracted Owners, Bring Hot Dogs to Pride

Whether you’re new to Denver or plan on visiting us for PrideFest this year, it’s imperative that you know one thing: We love our dogs. And if PrideFest isn’t a good place to take our dogs, no such place or event exists.

So if you’re a native, transplant, or coming from outside the city or state to feel and celebrate Pride with us this June, you can count on seeing plenty of dogs in all varieties.

As a fellow attendee of Pride and a dog owner (although do any of us really own our dogs?), I’m happy someone taught me once how to keep my dog cool and healthy in the summer months. Being that Pride happens this year in the summer, it’s important to make sure we watch out for our four-legged friends. Keeping them cool is paramount.

First, protect their paws. Dogs do not like roasted paws! While paws may seem like solely cute little doggie feet, they in fact play a very important part in regulating dog body temperatures. Ergo, hot paws = too hot a body.

Tip: Make sure you keep your furry friend off the concrete. Concrete may seem harmless to our protected feet in flip flops, but recollect for a moment the feeling of walking barefoot on the sand at the beach on a hot day. Walking on concrete for a dog is much worse.

A great product I like to use is called Mushers which protects their paws from the heat (and cold in the winter) as well as small splinters and glass.

Next, keep ’em hydrated! Nothing’s more of a downer to witness during Pride than a dehydrated and sick dog. Not only will it be hot on June 18–19 this year, but don’t forget we’re in the Mile High City, and it’s simply harder to stay hydrated than average.

We’re in luck because Civic Center has a large fountain, for your pups to cool off in.

Tip: Give yourself and your dog a break to sit down and cool off in the shade at a nice restaurant terrace somewhere in the Downtown Denver area — established eateries often have little bowls of water for dogs to enjoy for this exact reason!

Also, pack some water and a portable drinking bowl. I can’t tell you the difference it has made for me hiking in the mountains with my dog to have a nice big jug and an apt portable drinking vessel.

So in short, protect their paws and keep them hydrated! Being careful about these two will let you and your pup have a great time at PrideFest this year.