Bless the Pups! Your Dog-Friendly Weekend Around the Valley
Monday, we talked about why enrichment matters for our pups, and how enrichment doesn’t always come in the form of a new toy.
Sometimes it’s a new smell. A different walking path. A crowd of people to watch. A Saturday morning spent exploring somewhere new with their favorite human.
Well, consider this your weekend assignment.
This weekend happens to be a particularly good one for pups and their people. We’ve got shopping, walking, Halloween costumes, animal blessings and plenty of opportunities to get out of the house together.
Grab the leash. And don’t forget the treats.
🐾 Bentley’s Big Pick: Bully BOO! Walk
Sunday morning belongs to the bullies!
Fresno Bully Rescue’s Bully BOO! Walk returns to Woodward Park on Sunday, October 4, from 8 AM–12 PM, and despite the name, all breeds are invited.
This year’s theme is 80’s Sci-Fi Flashback, so we’re expecting some seriously creative costumes.
The morning includes an easy one-mile walk through Woodward Park, followed by more than 40 vendors, raffles, photo booths, food, a costume contest and trick-or-treating around the vendor booths for the pups. Registration opens at 8 AM and the walk begins at 9 AM. Registration is $25 per human, with park admission charged separately.
This is exactly what we meant in Monday’s blog when we talked about enrichment.
A walk through a different environment, new things to sniff, people to watch and an experience shared with you can make your pup’s world a little bigger.
And if you go, we want the pictures!
Tag Bentley’s Barkery or send us your favorite shots from your weekend adventures. We’re building something special for our pupstomers, and we want to see where the pack has been.
🛍️ Saturday Morning: Canine Pop-Up at Valley Animal Center
Want to get the weekend started early?
Valley Animal Center is hosting its Canine Pop-Up on Saturday, October 3, from 9 AM–2 PM at the Dr. James W. Thornton Dog Park, 3934 N. Hayston Avenue in Fresno.
There will be food, drinks, sweets, crafts, jewelry, pet boutiques and other vendors to browse with your pup. Dogs who are vaccinated and pass the required temperament test can also access the dog park; pups who don’t meet the park requirements can still accompany their humans through the vendor-shopping area.
That sounds like a pretty good Saturday morning to us.
🙏 Bless the Pups
Sunday, October 4 is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, who is traditionally associated with care for animals and nature. That’s why you’ll see churches around the country welcoming everything from dogs and cats to considerably less cooperative creatures for annual animal blessings around this time of year.
And yes, your pup can get blessed this weekend, too.
In Fresno, St. John’s Cathedral is holding a Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 4. If your Sunday is already booked during the day, St. Paul Catholic Newman Center is offering another Blessing of the Animals at 6 PM. Both are listed on the Diocese of Fresno’s current calendar.
We also went looking for confirmed blessings and dog-friendly activities throughout Madera, Kings County, Visalia and Oakhurst. We couldn’t verify a current pet blessing in every community in time for this week’s guide, and we’re not going to send you somewhere with your pup unless we can confirm they’re welcome.
We’ll keep looking.
Because when Bentley’s says dog-friendly, we want you to be able to grab the leash with confidence.
🍪 Bentley’s Weekend Treat: Cookies for the Road
Now let’s discuss the truly impawtant question:
Did you pack snacks?
If you’re heading out for a walk, an afternoon of shopping or another weekend adventure, tuck a Bentley’s cookie into your bag for your pup.
It doesn’t need to be complicated. A little treat after the walk, a reward during an outing or something special when you get home can become part of the ritual you share.
And consider this your warning that spooky season is about to officially begin at the Barkery.
🎃 Howl-O-Ween cookie orders open Monday, October 5!
We’re getting ready for Halloween, and this is only the beginning.
🍺 Bentley’s Always Pet-Friendly Spot of the Week: Out of the Barrel
Not every weekend adventure needs an itinerary.
Sometimes you just want somewhere to sit down, have a drink and keep your pup right there with you.
That’s why we’re giving Out of the Barrel in Fig Garden Village our Always Pet-Friendly Spot of the Week.
Their Fresno taproom welcomes well-behaved dogs, has indoor and outdoor seating, allows outside food and also offers non-alcoholic beverages. You’ll find them at 722 W. Shaw Avenue, Suite 48B in Fresno.
Walk the pup. Grab something to eat nearby. Find yourself a seat. That’s a perfectly acceptable adventure, too.
🎃 And Bentley’s Has More Howl-O-Ween Fun Coming
We’re not just telling you where everybody else’s events are.
Bentley’s has something brewing, too.
Our next experience will be a Make Your Own Howl-O-Ween Costume event, where pups and their humans can create something fun to wear to Halloween parades and costume competitions happening around town.
We’ll be sharing registration details soon.
And beginning Monday, October 5, you’ll also be able to order Bentley’s Howl-O-Ween cookies.
Subscribe to the Bentley’s Barkery blog so you don’t miss the costume event, our Howl-O-Ween guide, local parades and competitions, cookie releases and everything else we’ve got planned for October.
Now Go Have an Adventure
If Monday’s blog gave you the why, this is the how.
Enrichment doesn’t have to be elaborate. Sometimes it’s simply getting out of the house, letting your pup sniff somewhere new and spending a few hours experiencing the world together.
So pick something. Pack a cookie. Grab the leash.
And please take pictures.
If Bentley’s helped you find your weekend adventure, tag us or send us a photo. We want to see what the pack gets into.
We’ll meet you back here Monday.
