North Vancouver's first BYOD dog festival draws roughly 800 people to DoubleTree hotel

Roughly 800 people and their dogs gathered at the DoubleTree by Hilton in North Vancouver on August 17, for the city's first BYOD (Bring Your Own Dog) festival. The event brought local dog lovers and associated vendors together for activities including a doggy photobooth, live music, and dog treats like "puppuccinos."

The festival served a dual purpose beyond entertainment. "Vancouver is a really hard place to meet people," said co-organizer Aliya Bhatia. "Meeting-new-friend events are also very awkward, so dogs make it really easy to meet people and connect with them over a shared love of dogs."

Many dogs wore yellow bandanas bearing the words "I dig you," signalling their owners were open to chatting. The event's rule was simple: if a dog wearing a bandana approached you, the attached human was expected to start a conversation.

Gabriel Peralta attended with his mini Aussie doodle Onyx, having found the event on Instagram. He travelled from Richmond with his fiancé and her co-workers. "It's the sense of social gathering for everyone and having that community base," Peralta said. "This is our first time here at a dog event, so it's nice to have everyone with the same niche all together and meeting new people [and] dogs."

For Vancouver resident Kayla Irwin, the festival provided a rare opportunity to include her pet in outings. "There are a lot of things that you can't bring a dog to in the city," she said, noting the challenge of bringing pets to errands like grocery shopping or hanging out with friends. "So when dogs are invited, I jump at the chance." Her three-year-old chihuahua Joey attended dressed in bling and shades.

The hotel, which rebranded from Holiday Inn & Suites to DoubleTree by Hilton earlier this year, plans to host more community events. "Our goal is to host community events and to bring the community together," Bhatia said. "Whether it's a kid or dog events, we want to be known as a place that people can come hang out." Bhatia expects to run a more focused "I Dig You" event in October.