By Debbie Adams
The Lancerlot Sports Complex saw a huge turnout on August 24 for the fifth annual Dog Days of
Summer event which welcomes dogs from all over the valley to the Lot’s ice rink and outdoor
pool for an afternoon of fun.
canines to the Lancerlot pool. (photos by Debbie Adams)
the Lancerlot ice rink.
visit to Dog Days at the Lancerlot.
The “coolest” dog event of the summer was sponsored this year by Oakey’s Pet Funeral Home
and Crematory, along with the Town of Vinton, Pretty Paws Dog & Cat Grooming, and Noah’s
Ark Animal Complex.
The first Dog Days celebration at the Lancerlot was in 2019 to help dogs, and their owners, beat
the summer heat with cool activities. The event has returned each summer since (except for 2020
due to the pandemic).
Dog Days is the Lot’s gift to the local community – an afternoon of pure joy for pets and their
owners alike, at no charge.
“Dog Days” always includes a Dog Adopt-a-Thon event if you haven’t met your fur-ever friend
yet. In 2024, the Franklin County Humane Society, Angels of Assisi, and the Regional Center for
Animal Care were there to assist those interested in adopting a pet.
There were numerous pet vendors and information booths on site, including Oakey’s, Pretty
Paws, the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs (with an appearance by Diesel), Off Leash Canine, Let’s
Aroo, Well-Trained Dog & Pet Care, Pawsome Pet Sitting, Bedford K-9 units, Pawdicure, High
Hopes Dog Training, The Dog Mom, Field of Dreams, the Roanoke SPCA, Therapeutic
Elements, Intelligence Canine Training, Pawtree Pet Health and Wellness, and the Dog Aging
Project. Food vendors included Chick-fil-A, Deb’s Lemonade, Cuba’s Cups and Treats (for
dogs), the Lemonade Girls, and more.
One adoption agency noted, “Even if they don’t get adopted today, it is good for them to get out
and get socialization and exposure to the community. Even if someone doesn’t decide to take
them home today, there’s always a chance they might swing by the clinic and pick them up another day; at least they’re getting that socialization. We don’t know how likely it is they’ll go
home, but we’re crossing our fingers and hoping.”
“It’s been outstanding hosting and watching this wonderful event grow over the years,” said
Lancerlot Sports Complex General Manager Joe Miller, who brought along his dog, Rocky. “It’s
really such a fun and cool event for the dogs and their owners to attend. We hope that many dogs
find a loving family and a new home during the Adopt-a-Thon. Our goal for this event is to offer
something different and unique for all dogs and owners alike across Virginia’s Blue Ridge.”
brought along his dog, Rocky, and his daughter, Mckenna, for the fifth annual Dog Days of
Summer.
