For each person attending Libertyville’s Dog Days of Summer, at least one dollar was raised for Lake County philanthropic causes.
More than 11,000 people attended the three-day Cook Park event, which started Saturday and was co-hosted by Libertyville Knights of Columbus Council #3674 and the village.
The heat of the weekend made jumping into the 26,000-gallon pool more of a relief than a competition for the dogs on hand.
“It’s an event that’s dedicated to families and their furry friends, and it’s kind of a low-cost way to take your family out, see the competition, see the vendors, (and) get out of the house with your dog,” said Mike Lynn, event co-chair with John DeReu of Libertyville.
Both estimated that more than $11,000 was raised for local Catholic charities to address hunger relief, including Lake County area residents needing handmade beds. Knights of Columbus Council #3674 supports St. Joseph Parish of Libertyville, and proceeds from the event benefit the parish’s food pantry, as well as Most Blessed Trinity Parish’s soup kitchen in Waukegan.
DeReu said the parish’s food pantry serves about 2,100 visitors each month. The bed ministry constructed “22,000 beds in the last three years … (serving) all over northern Illinois. They deliver the beds.
“We also reached all the way into Great Lakes and we supported the Fisher House,” DeReu added. Fisher House at Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) in North Chicago is a free hospitality lodging program for families of United States military veterans receiving care at Lovell FHCC or a non-VA community hospital.
The Dog Days of Summer schedule included a professional DockDogs competition of approximately 40 dogs from around the country, plus the participation of local pups.
Vendors and pet adoption agency tents lined the sidewalks. Opening ceremonies took place Saturday morning with Libertyville VFW Post 8741 providing the color guard. Sunday featured a pet blessing.
Libertyville Mayor Donna Johnson addressed the opening ceremony audience from the top of the main stairs in front of the park’s historic Ansel B. Cook Home.
“During these times where there’s tremendous stress … the one thing that helps us get through is our furry friends,” Johnson said. “Their unconditional love and support are very cathartic; they help with our long-range health; they keep us walking.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to our furry friends, which is why we honor them today,” she continued. “Because without them, our lives may not be as fulfilled or as long as they should be.”
Brian Tonkovic of Arlington Heights, a yearly event participant, had dogs Charlie, a chocolate labrador, and Ozzy, a yellow labrador, jumping in the local competition.
“It’s a blast,” Tonkovic said.
Hawthorn Woods spectators Elena DiBella and her mother, Jennifer, watched the pool action from bleacher seats set in the shade. Being there was, “super fun,” Elena DiBella said with a smile.
Jennifer DiBella said, “It’s nice to be in the community and enjoy something a little bit different.”
On the shoulders of his father, Tim Ayres of Libertyville was son Jack, 5, both close enough to the pool as spectators to potentially feel the dog splashes.
“This is our third year coming here, and it’s just fun to watch,” Tim Ayres said.
Dutton, 4, a yellow Labrador from Libertyville, took his dip in the oversized pool.
“Oh, he loves it,” said Dutton’s owner, Austin Johnson of Libertyville. “Any time he can get in it, he gets in it, like a lake. Anytime we go to Wisconsin, he loves jumping in the water, jumping in the lake, any time he can.
“It’s a great thing we have here in Libertyville,” he said. “It really is. It’s kind of a tradition that is pretty awesome there, and we get to do it every year.”
