The dog days are upon us, so pack up your pooch and a picnic and head to the Museum of Natural and Cultural History for a celebration of all things canine.
In honor of National Dog Day, the museum and Greenhill Humane Society present the second annual Dog Days of Summer, a free outdoor event set for Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Dogs and their humans will gather on the museum’s south lawn for a variety of dog-friendly activities, including obedience demonstrations, crafts and a doggie photo booth compliments of Trixie Longstocking Photography.
At 7 p.m., UO astronomer Scott Fisher will join the fun with a talk titled “A-Not-So-Serious Look at the Dog Star Sirius,” followed by a friendly game of stump the astronomer.
Attendees can also meet adoptable dogs from Greenhill Humane Society and 1st Avenue Shelter, check out a variety of local dog-centric businesses and explore the museum’s exhibits for free during their extended evening hours.
Inside the Explore Oregon exhibit hall, visitors can check out displays on Oregon’s dynamic wolf population and investigate 35 million years of dog evolution through rarely seen fossils.
“The Dog Days event is a fun extension of the research showcased in Explore Oregon,” said event organizer Lauren Willis, “but mostly it’s about celebrating our canine friends and the many ways they enrich our lives.”
—By Kristin Strommer, Museum of Natural and Cultural History