Humans and Canines
Invited to Enjoy the
“Dog Days of Summer”
Aug. 8 “Second Friday” in
Downtown Mesa
to Feature Pooch-Related
Activities

Main Street will go to the dogs when downtown Mesa merchants present the
“Dog Days of Summer” on Aug. 8. The evening filled with special
canine-related activities will be part of “Second Friday” (a.k.a. “A Night
Out in Downtown Mesa”) held the second Friday of every month until 10 p.m.
on and around West Downtown Main Street.
Dogs Welcome on Main
Street
The merchants encourage dogs everywhere to bring their owners downtown to
enjoy great shopping, dining and entertainment. Water and pooper-scooper
baggies will be available along West Main Street sidewalks.
Contests and Talent Shows
Dog contests will be held for the biggest, smallest, cutest, ugliest and
other categories. The best trick category should be particularly
entertaining with doggies showing off their special talents. The audience
will act as judges, and prizes will be donated by The Pet Club, 55 S.
Country Club Dr.
The contests/talent shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. in front of OneOhOne
Gallery at 101 W. Main St.
Service Dog
Demonstrations
Power Paws Assistance Dogs will impress visitors at the Arizona Museum of
Natural History, 53 N. Macdonald St., from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The canines will
demonstrate some of their 90 learned commands that allow physically
challenged people to live more independent lives. See these service dogs
open and close doors, turn lights on and off, push elevator buttons,
retrieve dropped items, and more.
For more information on activities at the museum, contact Kathy Eastman
at the Arizona Museum of Natural History at (480) 644-5662 or
kathy.eastman@cityofmesa.org.
For more information on the Mesa Power Paws Assistance Program, call (480)
945-0754 or visit
www.azpowerpaws.org.
Other Canine
Organizations
Several other canine organizations will appear on Main Street for Second
Friday.
Friends for Life Animal Shelter will set up at OneOhOne Gallery. They
will bring dogs for adoption, and their pet counselors will provide
information including how to keep dogs safe in the summer heat.
Eagle Tail Mountain Wolf Sanctuary will be in front of Mystic Paper, 123
W. Main St., to provide information on their program. To learn more about
this organization, visit
www.eagletailmountain.com.
Arizona Retriever Rescue will also appear on Main Street to provide
information (exact location TBD). The group is online at
www.azrr.org.
Labor of Love, a group that makes pet pillows and donates them to various
organizations, will be at Jersey Girl Café, 218 W. Main St.
Doggie Art
"Doggone Art,” a dog-themed art exhibition featuring work by students
from Dobson Montessori School in Mesa, will be held inside OneOhOne Gallery.
Both dogs and humans are invited inside the gallery to see the show.
An art auction will be held at 8 p.m., with some of the profits
benefiting Friends for Life Animal Shelter.
Free hors d'oeuvres will be served in the gallery, and the Mahogony Birds
will play music on the patio.
Canine Products
Several merchants will sell dog-related items.
These include Jersey Girl Café, 218 W. Main St., which will sell
fresh-baked gourmet dog biscuits.
Lissa’s, 140 W. Main St., offers leashes, dog strollers and other pet
accessories.
Other Special Activities
Main Street may be going to the dogs, but not all special activities the
evening of Aug. 8 will be canine-related.
Faith Harvest Church, 105 W. Main St., will show the film Facing the
Giants about an underdog ball team that comes out on top. The whole
family will enjoy this free movie beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Members of AZ Olde Tyme Cruisers and other car clubs plan to bring some
classic cars for parking and showing.
Opportunities to Donate
School Supplies
School supplies can be donated at the Arizona Museum of Natural History.
The museum will accept new packaged school supplies, which will go to the
City of Mesa’s “Adopt-A-School” program for the less fortunate.
Vintage Charm, the shop at 128 W. Main St., will accept donations of
backpacks, which will be given to Mesa elementary and Junior High schools.
Coupons Available
A number of downtown Mesa merchants are offering coupons good during 2nd
Friday. To go to the coupon page, click
HERE.
These are just highlights of activities planned for or coinciding with
the next Second Friday in downtown Mesa. A diverse range of businesses,
organizations and individuals are continually joining the fun.
Second Friday is coordinated by downtown merchants and held the second
Friday of every month. For more information, contact Anita Stapleton, owner,
Jersey Girl Café, 218 W. Main St., (480) 924-7887,
jerseygirlcafe@gmail.com.
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