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wag It Forward:
​a nonprofit festival for pets

Save the Date!
​Join Pet Food Warehouse at the
​Champlain Valley Exposition on
Saturday, September 23, 2023
​10am to 4pm

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location

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The Champlain Valley Exposition, 105 Pearl Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452

$5 TICKETS

T-SHIRTS

  • Entrance fee is $5
  • Children under 12 years old are free.
  • Parking is free.​
  • Tickets are available for purchase at the gate or in either PFW store through Friday, Sept. 22nd.
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Wag It Forward 2023 Tshirts are now available in stores and online for $28! All profits go directly to the participating animal nonprofit groups. Grab yours today before they sell out!

Pets

  • Leashed dogs are welcome!
  • Cats should be secured in a bag or carrier.
  • The event can be stressful for some pets. Pets in distress or creating a dangerous situation may be asked to leave.
                   We care about your pets!
  • An animal waiver is required upon entrance for all pets in attendance.​
  • All waivers must be submitted at time of entrance as a hard copy (no digital copies accepted).
  • Skip the line and fill out your waiver ahead of time. Waivers are available at Pet Food Warehouse, or can be found here, or can be completed at the event entrance.
Animal Waiver

The Event

  • Pet Food Warehouse is excited to celebrate its 40th anniversary with the biggest and baddest 80’s themed Wag It Forward: A Nonprofit Festival for Pets at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, VT, with the aim of drawing attention to the many animal welfare groups we have in Vermont, and to provide a fundraising opportunity for these groups and the animals they benefit.
  • Last year, we had the most successful WIF yet! The Under the Sea themed festival resulted in over $20,000 donated to 21 local animal welfare groups from WIF proceeds! Over 1,200 humans and their pets enjoyed the beautiful fall day visiting the 35+ pet-centric vendors along with the beneficiary groups and volunteers. We hosted dog dock diving, live music, multiple selfie stations, agility courses, and a professional branded photo booth, and had an impressive turnout of costumed pets and people to partake in the contest midday.
  • Wag It Forward 2023 kicks off again with the Chase Away Canine Cancer 5K fun run; Dock Dogs will be back with competition waves and practice dives; our local 99.9 The Buzz Bash crew and live music will keep the atmosphere fly; enter the 80’s costume contest at 2pm for a chance to score radical prize packages; cut the rug to Pontoon's live sets of 80's tunes; set your dog off on the lure course from 802 K9 training; catch the two informational demonstrations from dog experts Laurie Lawless and Emily Lewis; scarf up sweet nourishment from local food vendors; tie-dye a bandana in the Fun Zone; marvel at the agility demonstration by NOMAD Agility; visit the 33 local animal nonprofit groups attending as beneficiaries; chat with the 30+ pet-loving vendors and sponsors throughout the grounds; and much more!
  • The event will be held rain or shine!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2023
​10AM TO 4PM

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EVENT MAP

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event attractions

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DOCK DOGS SCHEDULE: 
Friday, September 22nd
  • Onsite registration/Practice - 3:00pm
  • Big Air Wave #1 - 4:00pm
  • Extreme Vertical Competition - 5:30pm
Saturday, September 23rd
  • Onsite Registration/Practice - 9:00am
  • Big Air Wave #2 - 10:00am
  • Big Air Wave #3 - 11:30am
  • Speed Retrieve (All in one Finals) - 1:30pm
  • Big Air Finals - 3:00pm (Pro, Semi Pro, Contender & Amateur Finals)​​
register IN ADVANCE here
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EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY   by
Gone to the Dogs Photography
Vermont's Pet Photographer
Jilian Turner

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​MUSIC PROVIDED BY
The Buzz Bash Crew
99.9 The Buzz

Until 12 Noon
​with early morning coffee + cocoa provided by
Dunkin'
​122 Pearl St, Essex, VT
​while supplies last only.
​And two sets of live 80's music after noon by Pontoon!
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CHASE AWAY 5K
In-person event Saturday, September 23rd
  • Same-day registration - 8:00pm
  • In-person 5K - 9:00am​
REGISTER IN ADVANCE HERE
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FAMILY FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT
  • Airbrush Tattoos
  • Balloon Twisting
  • Big Blue Train Rides
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DEMONSTRATIONS FROM:
Lure Course by:
Agility Demos by:
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Police Dog Demos by:
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​Informational Demos by Dog Experts
​Laurie Lawless and Emily Lewis
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2023 Sponsors

WAG IT FORWARD IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THESE BENEFACTORS:

MOST TRIUMPHANT (MAIN SPONSORs)

Wellness Pet Brands: Wellness, Whimzees, Old Mother Hubbard, Sojos
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Pets Global Family of Brands: Zignature, Fussie Cat, Essence, Inception
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tubular sponsors

Andy's Dandys, The Honest Kitchen, Pronature
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bodacious sponsors

American Natural Premium, Identity Pet Food, The Pour House, Rock Star Real Estate, Vital Essentials
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righteous sponsors

Bellcate School Dog Treats, Beco Pets from Only an Ocean, Caru, Darford Baked Dog Treats, Dominion Tech, Fera Pet Organics, Fetch the Leash, Ghost Dog Dairy, Healthy Hemp Pet, Hemp Vet, Island Memorial, Koha, M&T Bank, OC Raw, PetSafe, The Richards Group, Tickled Pet, Vetriscience
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wicked sponsors

Andy & Audie, Charlee Bear, Fido Biotics, Goodness Gracious, Grandma Lucy's, Hugglehounds, Lennox, Nature's Own Dog Chews, Northfield Savings Bank, Simply B Vermont, Under the Weather, Waggle Woof & Wander
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Excellent sponsors

4 Legs & A Tail, Adecco , Drs Marko Family Chiropractors, Ice House Farm, Invisible Fence of Northern Vermont, Kelly's K9 Cookies, Rawz Natural Pet Food
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Totally Rad sponsors

Best Western Plus Windjammer Inn, Myers Container Service, The Wild Bone Co.
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additional support from...

Artvark Pet Products (manufacturer of select WIF brand products); Mammoth Pet; Naturally Fresh Cat Litter; Ruffwear; Vanness Pet Products; Zippy Paws

WIF FESTIVALS OF YEARS PAST
What is the WIF Fund?

Stay updated via instagram

and facebook

Follow @WagItFoward on Instagram:   ​https://www.instagram.com/wagitforward/
​https://www.facebook.com/WagItForward/
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Pet Food Warehouse, Ltd. is based in Northern Vermont. We are not affiliated with any other Pet Food Warehouses in the country.
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  • Home
  • SHOP PFW
  • Products & Services
    • COVID-19 Updates >
      • Curbside Service
    • Cat & Dog Foods
    • Cat Litter
    • Gift Cards
    • Pet Wash Express
    • Engraved Pet Tags
    • Raw Food Club
    • PFW Paw Points
    • Discount Programs
  • About Us
    • Our Story
    • Our Mission
    • Meet the Staff
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Contact Us
    • Employee Login
  • Events
    • Specials
    • Pronature Pals >
      • Success Stories - Pronature Pals
    • Local Adoptables
    • Wag It Forward >
      • WIF Fund
      • WIFs of Years Past