The NFL Draft is going to the dogs.
In a manner of speaking.
The Woofles Corp., which operates Woofles Premier Pet Resort in Robinson Township and several subsidiaries, is preparing for its inaugural Woofles Pup Draft, a one-of-a-kind, NFL Draft-style event designed for both two-legged and four-legged guests alike.
This family-friendly event, which will take place at the AHN Montour Sports Complex on Wednesday, April 22 – a day before the real NFL Draft — is open to the public and dog lovers from across the region are invited to attend.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Through Our Hands Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping students with intellectual disabilities with the latest employment skills, knowledge and tools to help them build their futures. Additional proceeds will support the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, helping provide care and shelter for animals in need.
The event kicks off at 4 p.m. with “Yappy Hour,” which will feature several food trucks, business vendors and live music from Dancing Queen, a top Pittsburgh area ‘70s disco band.
Guests will also have the opportunity to meet adoptable dogs from the Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, which will be on-site for meet-and-greet opportunities.
The event also will feature a wide variety of interactive dog activities designed to engage and entertain pups of all personalities. Activities include Woofles Lightning Paw Circle, Fast Track Circuit, Touchdown Runs, Orbit Ball, Little Pup Car Rides and the Brain Boost Puzzle enrichment experience. A Woofles Meal House will also be available, offering homemade meals for dogs to enjoy during the event.
Families will find plenty of child-friendly activities as well, including Thomas the Train rides for children and small pups under 60 pounds, face painting, dog treat decorating, a photo booth and a bubble zone.
At 6 p.m., the highly anticipated Pup Draft ceremony is scheduled to begin. During this portion of the event, registered dogs will be drafted onto teams, and each dog will make a grand entrance down the red carpet and receive its own custom team jersey, handcrafted by the talented Lisa Walker. Following the draft, Puppy Bowl-style games will take place in which dogs participate in fun, interactive activities with their teams.
Food vendors for the event include Chicks-n-Waffles, Wood Stoked Barbecue, Bruster’s Ice Cream of Robinson, Traveling Tom’s Coffee Truck, and more. Alcoholic beverages will be available (must be over 21) with valid license photo ID.
On-site business vendors include VEG ER for Pets, Paw & Order Dog Training, Texas Roadhouse, Invisible Fence, Nature’s Reward, Positively Natural Puppy Treats, Allstate, The Heroes Closet 412 and All About Cats Rescue.
VEG ER for Pets is the event’s Top Dog supporter, and supporting sponsors include Riverhounds AHN Montour Sports Complex, Paw & Order Dog Training and State Farm – James Bair of Moon Township.
Tickets for the Woofles Pup Draft can be purchased online at www.wooflespupdraft.org for $10 per person in advance or $15 at the door. Those interested in enrolling their dog in the draft can do so with a $250 donation. Tickets to win prizes from in-kind donors can be purchased online at https://go.rallyup.com/pupdraft2026/Campaign/Details
For the safety of all guests — both human and canine — attendees are asked to follow event guidelines: all dogs must be current on vaccinations, leashed at all times and socially appropriate with no aggressive behavior. Owners are responsible for their dogs and must clean up after them. Dogs must be healthy, and no feeding of other dogs is permitted without owner consent. Children must be supervised at all times, and all guests are encouraged to respect each dog’s space.
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