Pawsome weekend brings services and education to pet parents in Sun Peaks

Sun Peaks’ second annual Paws in the Peaks returned this September, bringing together dog lovers, pet owners and community organizations for a weekend filled with pup parades, adoption showcases and education. The three-day event not only celebrated the mountain community’s four-legged friends, but also spotlighted the businesses and organizations that support them.

One of those groups was the Kamloops Veterinary Clinic (KVC), whose staff connected with festivalgoers while providing nail trims, answering questions and raising awareness about preventative care. 

“It’s been great,” veterinarian Courtney McRorie said. “We’ve interacted with a lot of people, answered questions and even done nail trims. It’s also been a chance to educate people on things like heartworm and flea prevention.”

The clinic also used the event to highlight its Oscar Fund, which supports emergency and preventative veterinary care for surrendered animals or clients in need.

“If an animal is surrendered to us, we perform any surgeries or treatments they need and then adopt them out to a new family,” veterinary technician Kari Noonan explained.

The event itself continues to grow. Naomi Kerchinsky, executive director of Tourism Sun Peaks (TSP), noted this year’s pup parade saw double the number of dog registrants compared to last year, with 61 pups taking part.

“Araya Law and Engel & Völkers, who put on the pup parade, did a tremendous job,” Kerchinsky said. “Overall, I think it’s just a fun event for September to celebrate those four-legged furry friends we have in our lives.”

New additions this year included themed gatherings such as Pastries and Puppies and Pints and Puppies, along with a double-feature movie night at the Sun Peaks Centre  Stage. The pup parade remained the signature event, followed by a community barbecue that raised funds for the Pacific Assistance Dog Society. 

“With that money, we’re looking to have a Sun Peaks puppy litter,” Kerchinsky said. “We’ll name all the puppies after Sun Peaks landmarks and it will be a goal to raise funds throughout the year to support this great organization.”

Looking ahead, organizers hope to expand the programming even further by adding agility courses, super dog showcases and demonstrations from search and rescue teams.

“In Sun Peaks, we really celebrate our dogs and our furry friends,” she said. “September is a great month to visit and events like this highlight how pet-friendly our community is, from patios to accommodations. At the same time, it’s about celebrating our own community and the dogs we all know and love.”

For the KVC team, being part of Paws in the Peaks was both rewarding and educational.

“Everyone’s really friendly, and the dogs are adorable,” said one of the members, Rachel Lobb. “This has been a really positive experience.”