Dogs go to Chattanooga Market

photo Judith Songy gets a kiss from her Husky, Gracie, during a game of "musical dogs" at the American Cancer Society's Bark for Life event at the Chattanooga Market on Sunday. The annual event honors dogs' caregiving qualities with a 1-mile walk, games and contests.

Lady got a lot of attention at the Chattanooga Market on Sunday.

The Great Dane, who was there with her owner, Elizabeth Evans, was one of the many dogs enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of the Chattanooga Market with their owners as participants in Bark for Life, a dog-friendly event to benefit the American Cancer Society.

"We can't allow dogs all the time, but we do love dog day," said market general manager Paul Smith, who brought his black Lab puppy, Thunder. "We're just so happy to host Bark for Life. Anytime we can take a slug at cancer, too, we do."

Dogs only are allowed one weekend a year at the Chattanooga Market, Smith said. For the last three years, the weekend has benefited the American Cancer Society.

Smith said market attendance usually drops in November, and though attendance was about what he had anticipated, he was happy with the number of dog owners out Sunday.

"We love seeing all the different breeds," he said.

Beth Ann Webb said she got a call from a friend about Bark for Life on Sunday and immediately headed that way with her two rescue dogs, Gnocchi and Ivy.

"We've got a lot of homeless dogs in Tennessee, and I really think it gives us a venue to find them homes," said Webb, who runs the private pet rescue service Wet Noses and Wagging Tails and works with the Pet Placement Center in Red Bank.

Webb said she had talked to many people at the market and wished there were more public events like Bark for Life in Chattanooga.

"This is becoming quite the dog-friendly city," she said.

Ann Ploetz said she wished that she could bring Roxie, a brown Pomeranian, to the market more often, but she knows why they are not usually allowed.

"I can understand that people are afraid of the big dogs, and the issues that can arise," Ploetz said.

Kyle Morris used her little black short-hair for free advertising, dressing her in one of the hand-appliqued children's shirts she and Nikki Keck were selling at their booth, Dragonfly Designs.

They couldn't tell whether the canine mannequin was bringing more traffic than usual to the booth.

"The more positive someone feels about a booth, the more likely they are going to come in," Morris said.

Webb said the event was a positive experience and was glad to be able to participate.

"We've met some wonderful people, and it's for a great cause," she said. "We're definitely coming back next year."

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