Rachael Albert, Senior, Assistant Editor
Delicious food, live music, and dogs. Lots and lots of dogs. That’s what you’re signing up for when you decide to attend Sweet Paws Rescue’s annual Barktober Fest held at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm. Sweet Paws Rescue is a wonderful Northshore-based organization that rescues dogs and cats, the majority of which are from the South, but more and more animals here in Massachusetts are being surrendered or abandoned every year. The appropriately named event is a great way to support a good cause while having tons of fun, and all the money that is made from selling tickets is a direct donation to Sweet Paws.
The 8th annual Barktober Fest was just celebrated and was amazing, though a bit less picture-perfect than in the past due to it being in the middle of a Nor’Easter. However, it was a rain-or-shine event, and plenty of people huddled under the tents that were set up. And I must admit, seeing all the dogs in their adorable little raincoats made it almost worth it.
Sweet Paws Rescue animals come in all different shapes and sizes, and from a pair of great danes to a puppy in a wheelchair with a license plate that reads “Baby Steven,” there are so many friendly and happy pups to pet and play with. If hanging out with dogs isn’t entertaining enough for you, there are also local food and drink businesses, other animal organizations, live music, a dog agility course, and so much more.
Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm itself is also a gorgeous venue, and, when it’s not raining, the surrounding trees are vibrant wearing their autumnal leaves, and you are able to see the farm’s various animals, including a really fat pig. Overall, Barktober Fest is just a wonderful event for a wonderful cause and you should definitely check it out.
Barktober Fest is held every year in mid-late October, so keep an eye out for when the next one is. Sweet Paws also has various other events throughout the year, so if you want to keep up to date you can go to their website or find them on Facebook or Instagram under the username “Sweet Paws Rescue.“ They are also always looking for volunteers, so if you are interested in fostering or adopting cats or dogs, please check them out. There are also many other ways to support them, like going to events like Barktober Fest, donating, or simply spreading their message. They save people, one dog at a time.