It's not

It’s about the love of all dogs…

The Pawsitively Elgin (PAWS) Dog Festival is a 100% volunteer-driven organization.  We hold our one-day annual event at the Springwater Conservation Area.  The festival was created to bring awareness to dog adoption and animal rescues, not just in Elgin County, but across Ontario and Canada.

PAWS is run by a Trust and all funds raised through the event are donated to the named beneficiaries for the event year.  Established in 2017 with our first event in July 2018, our event increased in size roughly by 25% the following year and after coming out of a 2-year pandemic, our attendance doubled from 2019.  This year we project at least a 50% increase in our overall numbers.

To date we have raised and distributed over $46,000, not only to our event beneficiaries, but also other Ontario Rescues during the pandemic to aid with their increasing costs in a time when fundraising wasn’t easily accomplished.

Our event is at the end of July, and we rent the entire 6 acres of the “Day Use and East Campground” in the Springwater Conservation Area for the day.  Springwater is located between St. Thomas and Aylmer Ontario, which is roughly in the centre of Elgin County.  Attendees and exhibitors have traveled from as far as Toronto, Barrie, Windsor and Bracebridge to attend, and others as close as the West Campground of Springwater.

We are excited for our 2023 entertainment lineup!  We have The Flying Furballs, Details Agility, the Aylmer Disc Dogs, a Lure Course and of course Dock Diving.  Entertainment is scheduled throughout the entire day along with contests on the stage for the attendees and their dogs, with fabulous prizes donated by sponsors and exhibitors.  Our “Smooch a Pooch” photo booth is a huge hit every year.

Our exhibitors and sponsors enjoy large campground sites. They are always thrilled to hear that they can pull their vehicles up and park behind their tents if they want.  We have direct sales reps and crafters as well as local businesses join us.   We also have a Young Entrepreneur (grade 12 or under) program which gives kids with proven businesses a free site.  Nonprofits and animal rescues are also given a free site. There are a limited number of sites for both.

We want to make Pawsitively Elgin 2023 the best one yet, not only for our rescues, but for the community. It’s been a rough few years, and nothing brings people together more than a beautiful day, fresh air, friends and family, good food, browsing and shopping and lots and lots of dogs.

We look forward to spending a day in the park with you!