SATURDAY,
We can’t wait for you to join us for the 2023 Celebrity Paws in the Park presented by Crews Subaru on June 10! It is going to be an amazing day of fun for the entire family, and the event helps raise money for the lifesaving work at Charleston Animal Society. Each year, we touch the lives of almost 20,000 animals!
The event takes place at Riverfront Park in North Charleston, a beautiful location set on the Cooper River. Everything starts with the Rachael Ray Foundation Walk for Animals, followed by the day-long festival that includes our first Barks & Brews extravaganza and the world-famous K9s in Flight, great food, pet adoptions, and a whole lot of family fun.
We’re excited, too, for the visit by @ aguyandagolden internet stars Johnathan Lower and his famous golden retriever Teddy. See all the details throughout our special section. Thanks for all you do for our community animals. We can’t wait to see you!
Joe Elmore, CAWA, CFRE President and CEO, Charleston Animal Society
By Andy Brack
When South Carolina real estate professional Johnathan Lower has to go to the doghouse, it’s a little different than usual. Over the last couple of years, he and his pet golden retriever, Teddy, have become internet sensations with millions of TikTok followers around the world with comedic visits to a custom dog bedroom replete with a television, simulated fireplace and more.
The dynamic pet-owner duo will be featured stars all day Saturday in North Charleston’s Riverfront Park at Celebrity Paws in the Park, the largest animal event of the year in South Carolina.
“We could not be more excited about having internet stars Johnathan and Teddy involved this year as our special celebrity hosts,” said Charleston Animal Society President and CEO Joe Elmore. “With almost 6 million TikTok fans and over 1.5 billion social media video views, Johnathan and Teddy’s involvement will certainly bring our message about helping homeless animals to new audiences.”
Thousands of animal lovers are invited and expected to participate in the fun events of the day at Riverfront Park in North Charleston and presented by Crews Subaru:
• Walk for Animals: Celebratory walk for those who helped with fundraising. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m.
• Celebrity Paws in the Park festival: The event starts at 10 a.m. and lasts until 3 p.m. Plan to sit, stay and play all day in canine activity zones, including pet adoptions, Swift Paws lure coursing and canine demonstrations. You can also see the world famous “K9s in Flight,” the country’s premier high-flying dog entertainers. Great live music will be provided by Midnight City.
Two new features make the 2023 Celebrity Paws in the Park more fun than ever:
• “Barks & Brews” Craft Beer Festival offers a relaxing area where nine local and regional craft breweries — Brewlab, Tideland Brewing, Frothy Beard, Snafu, Commonhouse, Palmetto Brewery, Two Blokes, Low Tide Brewing and Bevi Beni — will provide tasty suds that festival-goers can sample and relax as they enjoy pets and the park. You can buy Barks & Brews presale tickets through June 9. The $25 discounted price includes entry to both Celebrity Paws in the Park and Barks & Brews, a commemorative wristband for you and a bandanna for your dog. You’ll also receive a souvenir glass plus tastings at participating breweries.
• Military families get in free thanks to the Rachael Ray Foundation. Just show military I.D.
Lower reflected how pets like Teddy can be a Godsend to people around the world.
"Dogs can be a beacon of light for people, they're mood lifters," he told the Anderson Independent Mail near his hometown of Piedmont. "Some people are in bad situations and bad times, and sometimes a funny video can lift spirits. It helps."
Lower said he and Teddy had their first viral hit with “Teddy Tuesday, where I take our fans with us as Teddy and I spend the day together.”
Then, he recalled, the idea expanded when his fiancé, Katelyn Diane, had the idea to take the Teddy Tuesday format and apply it to helping homeless dogs in shelters.
“Shelter Dog Saturday was created where we take a homeless dog from Anderson County Paws out on a day
long adventure and share that video online,” he told Charleston Animal Society. “So far, every dog featured in Shelter Dog Saturday has been adopted shortly after the videos have premiered.”
The Shelter Dog Saturday promotion has been featured in national and regional publications as a way of finding new homes for rescue dogs.
“We were so excited when Charleston Animal Society approached us about becoming involved with other organizations across South Carolina,” Lower said. “We felt participating in Celebrity Paws in the Park was a great way to be a part of their event and to expand the meaning of our platform.”
Charleston Animal Society is thrilled to welcome back Crews Subaru as the presenting sponsor for Celebrity Paws in the Park in its second year.
“For the last 13 years, Crews Subaru has partnered with Charleston Animal Society to support our lifesaving mission,” said Elmore. “When we created Celebrity Paws in the Park as our spring signature event — an event that I know the community will fall in love with — we only approached Crews Subaru to partner with us as the presenting sponsor because we know of their commitment to this community and their support of organizations that help both people and pets.”
Ken French, marketing guy for Crews Subaru, said the company was honored to be presenting sponsor for the next two years because “Subaru Loves Pets!”
“As an integral part of our ‘The Subaru Love Promise’ to our community, we believe that people and pets are better together,” he said. “As the 2021 Subaru Retailer of the Year, Crews supports many programs that benefit children, and Celebrity Paws in the Park brings our passions of kids and pets together.”
Since 1874, the mission of Charleston Animal Society has always been the prevention of cruelty to animals. Over 15,000 animals will turn to Charleston Animal Society for caring, compassion and hope this year alone. In addition to caring for homeless animals, adopting them into new homes, and reuniting lost pets with their families, the organization responds to animals in crisis as a result of both man-made and natural disasters. The comprehensive shelter medicine program not only provides direct services for as many as 1,200 animals in our system of care at one time, the shelter veterinarians also spay or neuter upwards of 10,000 dogs and cats each year and they provide emergency medical services to critically ill and injured animals arriving at the shelter daily. For more information, visit www. CharlestonAnimalSociety.org.
Saturday’s fun starts at 10 a.m. June 10. Riverfront Park is located on the old Charleston Navy Base property at 1061 Everglades Ave., North Charleston.
CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/Paws
SATURDAY, JUNE 10
WHO ARE YOU WALKING FOR?
9 a.m. Walkers lineup
9:30 a.m. Fundraising Awards presented
10:15 a.m. Live Music: Bullets Benign
Noon Live Music: The Midnight City Band
9 a.m.–1 p.m. Watch a hot air balloon lift-off! The balloon will be tethered for these rides, weather permitting.
PRESENTED BY
UNDERDOG FANTASY SPORTS
10 a.m.–3 p.m. Tastings from nine different craft breweries.
Save money and buy tickets in advance at CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/Barks
BREWERIES:
Brewlab
Palmetto Brewing Company
Commonhouse Aleworks
Snafu Brewing Company
Frothy Beard
Two Blokes Brewing
Tideland Brewing
Bevi Bene Brewing Co.
Low Tide Brewing
Watch rescue dogs make gravity-defying leaps for frisbees.
10:30 a.m. Frisbee Demo
12:30 p.m. Frisbee Demo
2:30 p.m. Frisbee Demo
Find an activity for you and your dog, for memories to last a lifetime.
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Challenge your dog on the SwiftPaws Lure Course (onsite signup required)
• Make your dog an artist at Pawcasso Canvas
• Find out how fast your dog can run at Fido’s Speed Race and Radar
10 a.m.
10 a.m.–3 p.m. Adopt a dog who will fit your family perfectly.
Charleston Animal Society
Mount Pleasant K9 Officer Demonstration
11 a.m. Charleston County Aviation Authority K9 Drug and Bomb Sniffing Officers Demonstration
Noon Mount Pleasant K9 Officer Demonstration
2 p.m. Charleston County Aviation Authority K9 Obedience and Bite Work Demonstration
Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary
Dorchester Paws
10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Stroll through the vendor village to interact with sponsors and get some fun swag!
Celebrity Paws in the Park presented by Crews Subaru is going to be the largest animal event in South Carolina, and Teddy and I knew we had to be a part of it. Charleston Animal Society is a lifesaving machine, and this event helps make so many happy stories possible. Stories like Mika.
Just one week before Celebrity Paws in the Park, I went to visit the Animal Society as part of @aguyandagolden’s “Shelter Dog Saturday” feature where we take a shelter dog out for a special day all on its own. The dog we took out is named Mika — a golden retriever/husky mix — known as “the great escape artist” at the shelter. Somehow, Mika had learned how to open the gates at the shelter, so the staff had to keep an extra close eye on him. Learning this, I knew that Mika was very clever and had a mind of
his own. A very sweet and personable dog, I didn’t understand why someone had to leave him at the shelter after having him for seven years.
Our day included a pup cup and a visit to Petsmart for toys, a collar and a custom nametag. He also went to Taco Boy for a chicken taco that he devoured. Within hours of us posting Mika’s story, this mellow, playful 7-year-old was adopted into a new, loving home.
As happy I was about Mika’s adoption, I couldn’t stop wondering about the other 70 dogs at the shelter that day waiting for their second chance. The day I visited, the shelter was buzzing with energy. Media from ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates were there to publicize the critical overcrowding with mainly large-breed adult dogs. In addition to the dogs, there were hundreds of kittens, many of them neonates, that needed round-
the-clock care. As I learned, these animals couldn’t be in better hands.
Beyond adoptions, Charleston Animal Society spays or neuters more than 9,000 dogs and cats each year to prevent homeless puppies and kittens from being born. It provides veterinary care to another 9,000 animals and delivers more than 24,000 vaccinations to pets preventing deadly diseases like rabies. In February, Charleston Animal Society broke a Guinness World Record with its VAX-A-PALOOZA vaccine clinic!
In 2022, more than 7,400 school children received humane education lessons through Charleston Animal Society. Last year, 337 cruelty cases were investigated with the Animal Society’s help and 852 animals were rescued out of harm’s way through 46 emergency rescue operations.
The care and compassion poured into each one of these animals is evident in just one visit to the shelter. But all that love is expensive to provide. Charleston Animal Society estimates the lifesaving cost for each animal averages about $523 per animal. Your donations help make the stories like Mika’s possible. There’s a saying at the shelter, and it’s true — “YOU are Charleston Animal Society.”
Provided
Johnathan recently spent the day with Mika at Charleston Animal Society to help the pup get adopted
So please come out to Celebrity Paws in the Park! Remember that with every ticket you buy, every donation you make, every beer you purchase — you are giving back to the homeless animals we all love so much. Thank you for coming this Saturday to Riverfront Park in North Charleston. Teddy and I can’t wait to see you there!
Johnathan Lower and his golden retriever Teddy are @aguyandagolden of TikTok fame. Both will be at Celebrity Paws in the Park on June 10!
Ask any brewery in town what social media posts get the most likes and comments and undoubtedly they will all say “the ones with dogs.” And honestly, who can refuse a double tap or comment on a sweet, little puppy face. I know, I can’t!
Charleston’s brewery and brewpub scene has become a haven for dog lovers who want to bring their furry friend along for a pint of suds. So it would only be natural that Charleston Animal Society’s biggest event of the year, Celebrity Paws in the Park, would include beer from some of the finest breweries in town.
When Charleston Animal Society and I first sat down to discuss what a beer festival within a bigger festival would look like, I was giddy at the opportunity to help curate. You see, I adopted a puppy at an adoption event at Palmetto Brewing Company about two years ago, and I know
first-hand the life-changing work that they do for our community.
Between adoption events and mass vaccination events, the team at Charleston Animal Society is consistently working to save and protect the members of our community who cannot save and protect themselves. It’s truly remarkable work. And that’s the very reason that it was a no-brainer for nine of our local breweries to participate in this very special, Barks & Brews festival at Celebrity Paws in the Park on Saturday in North Charleston.
“Some of the best decisions in life are those that are spontaneous and Xul (pronounced “zul”) was definitely one of those,” said Mackenzie Reep, assistant manager at Brewlab Charleston. “I am so grateful to have found a best buddy. Xul and I are so happy that Brewlab is partnering with Charleston Animal Society for the Barks & Brews Festival.”
Most of the breweries in Charleston are dog-friendly. They love and welcome adop-
tion events multiple times a year. And many of us in the industry now have rescue pets filling our homes with love from these events. Just in the past month, Charleston Animal Society has held adoption events at Brewlab Charleston, Tideland Brewing Company, Palmetto Brewing Company and Snafu Brewing Company with many successful adoptions. Puppy adoptions will also be available at the Paws in the Park festival.
Here are a few folks who’ve adopted from rescues at a brewery. Frothy Beard’s head brewer, Kim Arnold, adopted her dog Moo from Charleston Animal Society in October 2019.
“I adopted Moo because I fell in love with a well-cared-for puppy who was just as happy as I was to take him home,” she said. “The volunteers at Frothy Beard that day were so helpful and made the process as easy as possible, having knowledge about him and his past and having helpful tips for bringing him home.
The Barks & Brews festival will be within a sectioned-off VIP area at Riverfront Park. The festival will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.
Each of the nine breweries will bring one or two different style beers for participants to enjoy. The $25 discounted advance price ($35 at the gate) for the day-long event includes entry to both Paws in the Park and Barks & Brews, a commemorative wristband for you and a bandanna for your dog. The ticket also comes with a souvenir tasting glass for unlimited samplings from the breweries.
Barks & Brews will have its own seating and games for pups and their humans. You can purchase your tickets at any of the participating breweries or at CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/barks
Tarah Gee, general manager of Brewlab Charleston, is editor of HOPS, a quarterly craft beer magazine published with the Charleston City Paper.
(in alphabetical order)
Bevi Bene Brewing Company
1859 Summerville Ave Ste 100, Charleston
Brewlab Charleston
2200 Heriot Street, Charleston
Commonhouse Aleworks
4831 O’Hear Ave, North Charleston
Frothy Beard Brewing Company
1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., West Ashley
Low Tide Brewing
2863 Maybank Highway, Johns Island
Palmetto Brewing Company
289 Huger Street, Charleston
Snafu Brewing Company
3280 Industry Dr, North Charleston
Tideland Brewing Company
4155 Dorchester Rd Suite C, North Charleston,
Two Blokes Brewing
547 Long Point Rd #101, Mount Pleasant
Hot air balloons won’t be the only thing flying high at this year’s Celebrity Paws In the Park!
K9s In Flight founder John Mishta, joined by Gail Mirabella and The Dynamo Dogs, will be showcasing their best dog performers who jump through the highest of hoops and catch big air in pursuit of their favorite Frisbees.
Mishta and Mirabella are slated to deliver three shows during Celebrity Paws In the Park, presented by Crews Subaru, at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Each show is approximately 20-25 minutes, with six to eight dogs performing a variety of tricks such as high jumps, hoop jumps, box jumping and of course, Frisbees. Together, Mishta and Mirabella have more than 40 years of experience in the performance dog world, from working on the Purina Pro Plan Performance Team, to NFL and NBA halftime shows, to shows at theaters hospitals, and schools.
It’s not just the tricks that are impressive — every dog came from an animal shelter or rescue organization, as both Mishta and Mirabella fully embrace the K9s In Flight motto “homeless to high flying.” Their larger mission is to educate the public about the importance of pet rescue and adoption, and building the bond between canine and owner.
“Touring with John, it’s all about rescuing and adopting a pet to save a life,” Mirabella explained. “I have 24 dogs of my own, all of them rescued or adopted. Three of them were dogs at — risk of euthanasia in a shelter because they were so high-drive.”
Mirabella’s pack, The Dynamo Dogs, have been breaking stereotypes about rescue dogs since 1996 and working with K9s In Flight since 2004. Mirabella said that people are surprised when they hear that all of their dogs are rescued, and when they see the number of dogs who perform. People are also often surprised at the variety of breeds among the performance dogs.
Like Tripper, one of the most unique members of the Dynamo Dog team, who is a three-legged terrier who will high jump through hoops and chase balls. He was originally found as a stray in Los Angeles and had been hit by a car. A rescue group treated him, and he was eventually adopted by Mirabella. Tripper is now a crowd favorite and the team’s “Most Valuable Meet and Greeter.” People are also surprised when they see Jester, a standard poodle, who was originally in training to be a service dog but failed the program. Or Mia, a pitbull mix who was found as a stray in Tennessee. Mirabella adopted Mia after fostering her, something known
by many as a “foster failure.” Mirabella noted that she has even seen people’s opinions of pitbull type dogs change after seeing a performance.
However, when it comes to performance dogs, it’s not necessarily about the breed, but about their drive. Mirabella said there are two things she looks for in a performance dog: compatibility with her pack, and focus or fixation on a toy or treat.
“Dogs are well-trained, not well-behaved — it’s all about training and consistency,” Mirabella explained. “You have to figure out what makes them tick. One of my dogs won’t catch a frisbee but is so treat motivated he is one of the best hoop trick dogs I have.”
With a degree in animal science, Mirabella has a deep understanding of the importance in training dogs, for both performance and to be a pet. She often fosters or works with dogs to learn basic skills like crate training, socialization and leash walking that can help them get adopted. Giving a dog a “job” can also help them overcome any issues, whether that job is performing tricks or just learning how to catch a frisbee. She explained that being a leader and providing direction using your dogs own motivations helps make redirection from negative behaviors easier and reduces their overall stress level.
For people who are interested in becoming involved in the performance world with their own dogs, Mirabella suggests looking online for group classes or working with a professional trainer to start. Group classes are great for bonding and socialization, and having professional guidance can help learn techniques and most importantly, learning your dog’s limits and avoiding injuries.
“I sometimes do a quick ‘How to Get Started’ during the show,” Mirabella said.
For more information on K9s In Flight and The Dynamo Dogs, please visit www.k9sinflight.com or www.thedynamodogs.com
