Gimli resident Alec Baldwin hosted his 18th Annual Dog Party last Saturday to bring the community’s dogs and dog owners together for an afternoon of impromptu romping, meet and greets, lolling about, agility challenges, treats and lots of doggone good fun.
Fifty-one people and 27 dogs enjoyed the party in the big field at the corner of Solvin Road and Highway 9 in the Vesturland neighbourhood.
Baldwin, who has autism, is well known for his love and knowledge of dogs and has competed professionally in dog shows. As an artist, Balwin was commissioned by the National Dog Show in Philadelphia to paint a portrait of dogs for the cover of its brochures, posters and passes. Baldwin also painted a Dog Party mural on the Gimli Sea Wall.
When asked how he’s made his dog party such a success over the years, Baldwin said it’s simply a fantastic event and his parents have always worked with him to ensure everyone has a great time.
“The dog party was awesome. I enjoyed having it in Gimli. When I started having it in 2008 and now it is my 18th year when we have a fantastic celebration,” said Baldwin. “And I certainly think my parents are good team-mates and picking up everything, and we got collections and organized and decorated it. Everything, including food supplies and equipment and toy prizes for the kids.”
Some of the dogs are old acquaintances, having attended previous dog parties or having met at the Gimli Dog Park, while others were new to the scene but quickly became fast friends. The humans, too, shared laughs, memories and stories about their dogs.
In addition to helping dogs socialize and bringing people together, Baldwin and his parents, Tanis Benson and Joel Baldwin, provided complimentary dog and human treats, swimming pools (for the dogs) and prizes for dogs who showed exceptionally good form, which included being the smallest dog, a wire-haired dachshund named Lucy (one of three Lucys at the party), the most stylish dog, a poodle named Black Jack who rocked up fashionably late sporting a 1980’s Cyndi Lauper-inspired hairdo, the youngest dog, a 22-week-old beagle named Frida, and the oldest dog, a 14-year-old Bolognese named Alfi.
Kids also got a prize for completing the dog agility course composed of tunnels, a ring jump, hurdles, weave poles, a teeter-totter and a ramp. Ruby, who attended the party with Lucy (a mini poodle shih tzu) and Linus (a bichon frise), won the “Guess the Breed” contest.
