Photo gallery for Bil-Mar Classic returns

By GARY BROWER
myZeeland Staff

Eleanor Seavey’s cat Sheba keeps a close watch on the front door of On Silver Shores jewelry and gift shop in downtown Zeeland.
Sheba watches the customers come and go and has been known to befriend a dog from time to time.
“She likes dogs, but she has a typical cat reaction. She’s wary of them,” Seavey said. “There are some dogs that go past here in the afternoon when we are still open and she will touch noses with them. She’s pretty calm about dogs.”
Sheba’s tolerance for the canine kind will be severely tested Aug. 9 when Dogarama, featuring a full day of furry fun, returns to Main Avenue after a one year hiatus.
“August is the dog days of summer anyway and this is a way for families to come together and show off their pets,” said Zeeland Downtown Marketing Coordinator Abby deRoo. “There are so many times when you wish you could take your pets with you and we want to encourage that. Who doesn’t love their pets?”
The event was started in 2005 as way to break up the doldrums between the Fourth of July and Labor Day, and to bring people downtown who shared a common interest. Dogarama was immediately successful, drawing about 800 people to Main Avenue in 2006, but did not return last year because there was no one to lead the organization of the event.
“We watched lots of people get to know each other all because they were holding on to a dog leash,” Seavey said. “It’s a really good promoter for a sense of community for Zeeland, I think.
“The neat thing is that people come down here and it’s so much fun and it doesn’t cost you any money. It’s such a cool family thing.”
The day-long festivities begins with a mile-long group dog walk at 8 a.m., which owners are encouraged to join.
DeRoo jokingly said the walk, which is similar to the Jingle Bell Dog Trot from the Christmas parade, was designed to tire the dogs out before the main events begin.
Following the walk, the Rev, Anna Bogertman from Second Reformed Church in Zeeland will do a blessing of the dogs at 9 a.m.
After that, it’s time for the dogs to show off their talents. The remainder of the day will be filled with a series of back-to-back contests, each highlighting a unique skill or feature of the canine companions.
There will be 21 contests, ranging from those involving looks and a look-alike owners to those involving aptitude and attitude.
“Very few of our contests involve real talent. They are so subjective,” deRoo said. “They are all just silly. How do you judge the cutest dog or the best kisser? It’s just something that is supposed to be fun.”
While the day will certainly focus on the dogs, Sheba and her friends will not be totally left out. Later in the afternoon, after the dogs have had their moments in the sun, it will be time for the feline to shine as there will be a handful of contests for cats.
“The couple of times they’ve done this they’ve noticed that the dog portion was always the most popular,” deRoo said. “We didn’t want to exclude cats entirely. We put them at the end so hopefully most of the dogs will be gone before the cats come.”
The organizers haven’t forgotten about humans, either.
Non-profit groups from animal hospitals and rescue shelters will be handing out brochures detailing their services, while face painters will decorate childrens’ cheeks with images of their favorite pets. A sketch artist will be on hand to do drawings of pets and their owners.
At The Diner and Frank’s Restaurant will each be serving hot dogs and corn dogs, as well as paddle pups ice cream bars. Many downtown businesses will be welcome pets in their stores during Dogarama.