‘Photos and text by Kevin Gutting
‘I’m nuts about mutts,” goes the popular Dixon/Woods tune of the 1930s, and on Sunday — “National Mutt Day” — about 300 people, and nearly half as many dogs, were of a like mind as they filled the grounds of Fort Hill Brewery in Easthampton for “Barks & Brews,” a sold-out fundraiser for the Dakin Humane Society.
In addition to a complimentary brew and the camaraderie, the festive attractions included a cooling “splash zone” and two separate hot dog-eating contests — for the dogs, of course, small and large. Most contestants in the small-dog category politely savored their servings of hot dogs, but in the large-dog contest, the larger portion was dispensed with in just 12 seconds by a brute named Brody.
Amid a trio of kiddie pools on the other side of the grounds, Kathy Glasser of Springfield watched her Boston terrier, Shelly, frolic in the chest-high water, noting how the 4-year-old rescue loves the pool.
“At home she won’t come in. She’s out there for two hours,” Glasser said. “I have to keep checking on her.”
But mostly, considering the sheer number of dogs meeting each other, it was a surprisingly calm afternoon of music, cold beer and catching up with friends of both the two- and four-legged variety (and even one three-legged spaniel).
Near the front porch of the brewery where an acoustic act was between sets, Pat LaValley of Easthampton chatted with several friends from Southampton who had recognized his 7-year-old Labradoodle, Fausto, from their years on the regional agility circuit. Fausto, named for Fausto Coppi, the Italian cycling star of the ’30s and ’40s, was spread out serenely in the center of the action, accustomed to the din and perhaps thinking of the old days — old in dog years, that is.