’Twas the season to bone up on your hound’s vocal chords.
Yuletide yelps and Hanukkah howls filled Prospect Park on Saturday as our canine brethren unleashed a jolly repertoire of holiday tunes at the annual canine carol-fest hosted by Fellowship for the Interests of Dogs and their Owners, a family-friendly frolic beefed up by a visit from Santa and the other top dog in town — Borough President Markowitz.
“Bark! The Herald Angel Sing!” drew nearly 200 pet owners and their prancing pooches — many of whom put on the dog for the occasion — to the Long Meadow below the Picnic House where they yipped away at reworked, dog-friendly lyrics, including “Frosty the Mastiff,” “O’Hanukkah,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Schnauzer” and “The Driedel Dog.”
The canine crooners were allowed to stay off-leash for an extra hour, and their spirits were further lifted when Santa and his helper handed out doggie treats. There was mulled wine and Christmas punch for the owners, and two kinds of cake for both man and beast. Tags, coats and scarfs doled out as doggie prezzies had the awesome guests arfing with appreciation, too, according to event coordinator Betty Schwartz Dowling.
“I never realized that something could make a dog so outwardly happy!” she yawped, adding that one bowwow named Sadie was beside herself after being clad in a coat by her owner. “She bounded over to me and kissed me!”
The wag-nificent shindig was definitely worth singing about from the kennel tops, said Park Slope resident Demetria Daniels, who brought along her musical Maltese, Lucky, for the second year in a row.
“My dog loves music and dog biscuits, and we had a wonderful time!”
Reach reporter Shavana Abruzzo at sabruzzo@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2529.
