FLORRIE’ S JULY DOG DAYS
Florrie dogstrust. org. uk www. insidekent. co. uk • 63
DAYSOUT
FLORRIE’ S JULY DOG DAYS
BY FLORRIE, iK’ S RESIDENT COCKAPOO
Hello my summer-sniffing pals!
July is big, busy and gloriously full of things to do- which makes it the perfect month for one of Kent’ s biggest summer traditions: The Kent County Show!
If you have never been, think countryside celebration on a grand scale. We’ re talking livestock, food producers, shopping, displays, countryside experiences and enough sights, sounds and smells to keep curious noses thoroughly occupied- there is even a doggie splash jumping pool, which is as fun as it sounds! It’ s a proper Kent day out and brilliantly suited to summer-holiday adventures with the whole family- small humans included.
TOP SAFETY TIPS FROM DOGS TRUST CANTERBURY
• Avoid walking or doing activities with your dog during the hottest times of the day; early morning or late evening are often the best times.
• Keep to shaded areas when out on walks and make sure your dog has access to shade in the garden, too.
• Always take plenty of water with you when out with your dog and make sure they always have access to fresh water at home.
• Tarmac can get very hot in the sun, so check it with your hand before letting your dog walk on it so they don’ t burn their paws.
My small human is actually a young farmer so you may catch him expertly guiding around some sheep or goats in the show pen, while my big human loves to shop at all the independent stalls, some of which are just for dogs! There’ s plenty to explore across the showground, from heritage crafts and farming favourites to local food, live demonstrations and shopping. For dogs that enjoy people watching, strategic snack supervision and a lively atmosphere, this is top-tier entertainment.
And here’ s the important bit( well, team iK thinks so): you can catch me for meet and greets at selected times in the insideKENT Best of Kent ® Discovery Zone. Yes, really. Come and say hello, grab a photo, vote for your favourite Kent things to do, share your best Kent walkies and admire my professional event-attending skills.
As always with summer events, pack water, take shady breaks and keep leads close in busy areas. A little planning goes a long way when there are excited humans, tempting food smells and approximately 1,000 things to investigate.
Here is to a big weekend of adventures.
with Florrie
• Never leave your dog alone in a hot car- not even for a few minutes, or even with the windows open.
• Use a cooling mat or wrap an ice pack or frozen water bottle in a tea towel for your pet to lie on and supervise them to ensure they don’ t chew it.
Hopefully see you there,
Florrie dogstrust. org. uk www. insidekent. co. uk • 63