It’s beginning to look a lot like Canine Christmas at Bishop Animal Shelter

Dec. 25 is more than a month away, but Saturday is Christmas Day for the dogs of Bradenton.

That’s when Bishop Animal Shelter SPCA will host its 19th annual Canine Christmas festival.

It’s one of the highlights of the canine social season. Last year, more than 3,000 people and their dogs attended Canine Christmas.

As always, this year’s festival features dozens of local vendors, including animal rescues, food trucks, dog groomers and trainers. Other vendors will offer pet supplies and holiday items. Food trucks will serve shaved ice, hot dogs and pizza.

Bishop and other rescue agencies in the area, including Boxer Rescue Angels of Florida and Gulf Coast Golden Retriever Rescue, will have pets available for adoption.

For those of you who already have all the dogs you need, Canine Christmas features a Doggy Fashion Show, training demonstrations and an obstacle course (for dogs, not for people).

Photographers will be on hand to take pictures of people and their pets, suitable for personalized Christmas cards. Live music offers include a steel drummer and an a capella group singing Christmas carols. It’s all free and family-friendly. It’s obviously dog-friendly too, but dogs have to be “well-mannered” and leashed.

Details: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.Nov. 18, Bishop Animal Shelter SPCA, 5718 21st Ave. W., Bradenton. Free. 941-792-2863, caninechristmas.com.

This story was originally published November 15, 2017 at 1:18 PM with the headline "It’s beginning to look a lot like Canine Christmas at Bishop Animal Shelter."