Cats, pooches have fun too at Algonquin festival
Twelve-year-old Alyssa Kirkpatrick again is the reigning queen of pooch costumes at Founders’ Days Festival in Algonquin.
The Algonquin girl and her dog Riley, a 10-year-old German shorthaired pointer, took first in the best costume category on Friday at the festival’s Dog & Cat show. The pair also won last year.
This year’s festival theme is “Under the Sea,” so Riley was dressed like a scuba diver with a black wet suit, air tanks made of 2-liter bottles, and cardboard flippers, Alyssa said.
“I do arts and crafts, but I’m not really into sewing. Grandma helped my make the wet suit,” she said. As for Riley, “she was so cooperative and calm, it was amazing. She’s very tolerant.”
Judge Kim Wood, of Algonquin, said this year’s turnout of 15 to 20 pets was a little lower than in past years. Wood works as a groomer for Paw-fect Pet Grooming in Elgin, which sponsored the contest along with Charlie’s Doghouse in Crystal Lake.
The Beech family of Algonquin took home two prizes for their dogs — a tie for first in the best trick category, and a third place for best costume.
Rick Beech said he has been using positive reinforcement to teach Smokey, the family’s Weimaraner, to do tricks like how to bark on command, roll over, beg, and flip a treat from her nose to her mouth. “I’ve never done pooch school with her,” he said.
Beech’s 10-year-old daughter, Rachel, said she and her mother made a red polyester lobster costume for their Yorkie Poo, Teddy. “It was a really great experience to do something fun with my dog,” Rachel said.
Founders’ Days board President Jeff Krajweski said he expected a great turnout for this weekend’s festivities, with no rain forecast for either Saturday or Sunday. “We started Thursday night and attendance has been very good,” Krajewski said. “We’re going to have a beautiful weekend.”
The Founders’ Days parade starts at 11 a.m. today on Eastgate Drive and Route 62. The fireworks show starts at 9 p.m. Sunday from Riverfront Park.