Dog lovers, vendors and others gathered at Linganore Winecellars on Saturday afternoon for a fun time with pets during K9s in the Vines, an annual fundraiser for the Animal Welfare League of Frederick County.
Dogs and their owners walked around the grounds of the winery, enjoying live music and food and meeting other pets and their owners.
While dogs greeted each other, barking and touching noses, owners walked around and visited vendors. People could visit tables set up by animal rescue organizations and meet dogs available for adoption.
Although the weather Saturday was unpredictable, with the sun shining one minute and short bursts of rain the next, the turnout was strong and consistent throughout the afternoon.
Anthony Gonzales, a board member of the Animal Welfare League, said this is the organization’s third year hosting K9s in the Vines since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The festival was held annually for several years, but went on a hiatus at the height of the pandemic.
Gonzales said all of the event’s proceeds go toward supporting the Animal Welfare League’s rescue programs, including dog and cat adoption, a pet food bank and a financial assistance program to help owners get veterinary care for their pets.
“First, I hope the dogs here get adopted. We work with a lot of different rescue organizations to put these events on — they’re the whole reason we’re here,” he said. “Second to that, I hope the vendors have a great time. I hope all the patrons have a great time, get some more awareness about the programs and businesses in the local area.”
One animal rescue group at the event was P3 Rescue. P3, or Perfectly Paired Pitties, is a pit bull rescue organization that also focuses on helping to combat veteran suicide by pairing dogs with veterans.
Sarah Smith and Joel Benjamin are the co-founders. Smith said that a few years ago, she and Benjamin fostered a pit bull from Prince George’s County, which has a ban on pit bull dogs.
Smith said the pit bull they fostered had been abused, so they spent years working with her to build her confidence. She and Benjamin fostered a second dog from Prince George’s County, but the dogs that were facing euthanasia just kept coming.
In March 2024, Benjamin and Smith were having a conversation about veteran suicide — Benjamin is a veteran — and talked about how their two rescue pit bulls provide support and comfort.
Smith said they thought:, “Wouldn’t it be great if every veteran had dogs like ours?”
“That’s where the idea for the rescue came, is just pairing the dogs with the veterans,” Smith said. “It’’s a dual purpose. The veterans save the dogs by helping us get them out of the shelter. The dogs save the veterans by helping combat veteran suicide.”
Although anyone, not just veterans, can adopt a dog from P3 Rescue, the organization’s ultimate goal is to help provide veterans with support.
Right now, the organization has five dogs working as emotional support animals and one in training as a service dog for post-traumatic stress disorder for combat veterans.
Benjamin said the event turnout was great, and P3 Rescue got to network with other businesses running tables.
Smith liked the fact that K9s in the Vines took place at a winery, a relatively unique venue.
“You can do adoption events at pet stores, which are great, but you only have so much space, and this brings different types of people, which I love,” she said. “There’s something for everybody.”
Co-workers Nancy Bald and Cassidy O’Brien came to the festival with their dogs Vida and Ollie, respectively. They both love to go places with their dogs and thought K9s in the Vines was the perfect opportunity.
“I think it’s really great that we bring any attention to animal welfare,” Bald said. “For me, it’s all positive thoughts, and I appreciate it. That’s why I decided to come.”
