Lakewood Ranch's Adriana Fil, Mya Fil and Charlotte Miller greet adoptable puppies from Nate's Honor Animal Rescue Center at Woofstock on Lakewood Main Street.
Photo by Madison Bierl
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Bradenton's Jordan Smith has a special bond with her 2-year-old golden retriever Nala. She described her as a poster golden, always happy and willing to do tricks because she is so smart.
Most important, she has a love for other dogs and people.
Woofstock at Lakewood Main Street, which took place April 18, provided a space for all sorts of dog lovers to come together. There were over 30 pet centered vendors, a Puppy Pals Live (as seen on America's Got Talent) show, free pet caricatures and more.
Proceeds from beverage sales are to be donated to Nate's Honor Animal Rescue Center.
Samantha Davis, volunteer and event coordinator at Nate's, said it was a fun way to spread the word of their mission.
"No matter how big our small events are, we love to get our puppies out there, socialize them and get our name out and change the stigma of what shelter life is," Davis said.
Brittany James is a dog trainer who has been performing with dogs since 2019. For Woofstock, she led all of the dog tricks during the Puppy Pals Live show. She said she especially enjoys performing for pet owners to show what sorts of tricks their dogs might be capable of doing.
"All of these tricks that we do in the show anybody can teach their dogs," James said. "We hope that after they see one of our shows, they go home and work with their own dogs at home and try to stay strengthen that bond and have a little bit of fun."
Nicole Hackel, the events manager of Lakewood Ranch, said Lakewood Ranch is such a pet loving and dog centered community so they wanted to create a brand new event surrounding that.
"It's so nice to be able to have everybody come out and bring their pets and enjoy the day," Hackel said. "It benefits a great cause."
Static, a 5-year-old Border collie, catches a frisbee midair during the Puppy Pals Live Show at Woofstock on Lakewood Main Street.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bradenton's Lucy Riley is chosen as a volunteer during Puppy Pals Live and receives a kiss from 9-year-old Border collie named Paparazzi at Woofstock.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bradenton's Jordan Smith, who came to Woofstock after seeing it on Facebook, says her Golden retriever Nala is always loving and happy.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Renae Fjugstad, owner of Suds ‘n Scissors Pet Spa in Lakewood Ranch, attends Woofstock with her 3-year-old Chinese Crested Sailor.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Kelvin Nguyen of Tampa Caricatures draws Kona, a 9-year-old Peagle, at Woofstock on Lakewood Main Street.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Yonelle Otero's personal dog Cody kicks off the Puppy Pals Live show riding in style.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Maggie Milne, a community guide with the Lakewood Ranch New Homes Center, makes sure as many furry friends as possible receive a Woofstock bandana.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch's Charlotte Roberts, 7, greets Dolly, a therapy dog with Humane Society of Sarasota County, at Woofstock.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch's Alia Lascaibar, 10, and Zaina Johnson, 9, pet 8-year-old Newfoundland Callie who loves people at Woofstock.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch's Kara Song, Camryn Palazzolo and Susan Palazzolo test out the "Kissing Boof" with their dogs Arlo, Chase and Nacho.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Nokomis's Holly Williams says the free caricature she had done at Woofstock really captured the smile and personality of her dog Zuzu.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Tracy Bohlmann, Gary Heckman, Kolleen Urich and Allison Van Hatten work the drink booth as volunteers for Nate's Honor Animal Rescue Center, the beneficiary of Woofstock.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Waterside's Josh Mott and Krystal Hall attend Woofstock on Lakewood Main Street with 14-month-old Saint Berdoodle named River.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Brittany James and Yonelle Otero swing the rope to allow Static, a 5-year-old Border collie, to jump rope during the Puppy Pals Live Show.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sarasota's Nora Pitts, 4, is in her element with music and dogs at Woofstock on Lakewood Main Street.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Sarasota's Andrew Vuleta, Amanda Moura, London Profita and Dante Profita walk Lakewood Main Street with their dogs Athena, Capri, Nala and Luna at Woofstock.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch's Nolan Pendola, 5, dances to the music of the Puppy Pals Live show at Woofstock on Lakewood Main Street.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Events Coordinator Grace Flowers and Events Manager Nicole Hackel of Lakewood Ranch are glad to bring Woofstock, a brand new furry friend focused event, to Lakewood Main Street.
Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.
