In early August, a former training client reached out to me to ask whether I’d be interested in joining an informal committee to discuss Tucumcari’s problem with stray dogs and overflowing shelters.
This small but energetic group began brainstorming: What if we put together an educational event for dog owners in Tucumcari? Would people bother to show up? What if we included some contests to make it fun? And what if we could get our new friend Matty Mo, who moved to Tucumcari a few years ago, to sweeten the deal by hosting our event at his amazing ART CITY complex, which a lot of locals have wondered about but haven’t had a chance to visit?
Matty, a.k.a. The Most Famous Artist, generously agreed to let us use the space, so from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, ART CITY will become ARF CITY as it hosts its first-ever celebration of responsible dog ownership.
The morning will be devoted to canine comedy, with a wiener dog race, costume contest, and stupid pet trick contest. In the afternoon, we’ll swap our silly shenanigans for more serious topics, including how to address common behavior issues; how to keep your dog’s coat and nails healthy; how to reduce your odds of being bitten if an aggressive dog approaches you; and how to plan for the hidden costs of dog ownership.
All-day activities will include a Paws and Claws adoption event; microchipping; vaccinations; nail trims; city registration; and a scavenger hunt. A couple of food vendors will also be on hand, selling snacks and drinks.
For more information about the festival, including a schedule of events, click here. I hope to see you there!
Tucumcari Dog Training 
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