Calling All VIPs (Very Important Pups)

Your weekend plans just got a whole lot cuter!

We sit down with Downtown Manager Alicia Hartley to talk about Historic Downtown Perry's Dog Days of Summer, a pet-friendly event built for local shopping with your furry friend. 

In this episode, we share everything dogs and their humans can enjoy during the event, including free doggy waste bag dispensers from the Main Street Advisory Board, exclusive Perry dog bandanas from Visit Perry, and the Pup-arazzi photo station on the City Hall lawn. 

Alicia explains how the event came to life as a creative way to support local businesses during the summer months and introduces the new Paws Approved program, which helps visitors easily identify downtown shops that welcome leashed dogs inside.

You'll also hear about dog watering stations, complimentary treats, special promotions, and even puppy ice cream pup cups from Scoopology.

If you love dogs and shopping local, this episode is for you!

Dog Days of Summer
June 13, 2026 | 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Historic Downtown Perry

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Transcript

Welcome To Inside Perry

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to the Inside Perry Podcast, where you get an inside look at Perry, Georgia's local government. We're glad you chose Perry, where people make the difference. Whether you stay a few hours or a lifetime, your time in Perry will be rewarding and unforgettable. I'm Tabitha Clark, Communications Director for the City of Perry.

Introducing Dog Days Of Summer

SPEAKER_00 0:23

And welcome to another edition of the Inside Perry Podcast, and we are talking about probably one of my new favorite events downtown. We are talking about historic downtown Perry's dog days of summer, and I have with me downtown manager Alicia Hartley. Alicia, it's dogs.

SPEAKER_01 0:41

It's dogs during the summer, fluffy little friends on leashes while you go shopping. What's not to love? I mean, that's like that's hallmark right there. Yes. Yes. And I think the weather's supposed to be good this upcoming Saturday. So, like such a blessing. Get out of the house, get your get your get Fido out of the house. That's right. Get little Charlie out of the house and Bella and go for a walk in downtown Perry.

SPEAKER_00 1:06

That's right. And there's so much fun things to do. So let's get like the specifics

Date Time And Location Details

SPEAKER_00 1:10

out of the way. Yeah. So it is um June the 13th, which is this Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in historic downtown Perry. So tell us about what all our furry friends are going to experience.

Giveaways Bandanas And Photo Spot

SPEAKER_01 1:23

Let's start with giveaways because who doesn't love something furry? Love it. So the Main Street Advisory Board will be giving away doggy wastebag dispensers. So something to throw on your leash. You always need it if you're a dog owner. That's right. Take care of the place that you're walking around. So we'll be giving those out to everyone that's walking with their pup on the street. And then our friends over at Visit Perry will be giving out dog bandanas. Oh, they're so cute. So your little pup can be running around representing Perry. That's right. And there's a picture of it online. I believe it's your dog.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

Yes, it's my dog TiVo in that like little posing photo. That's right. And he wears it so well. So if you want to get a kind of inside look at what those pups are going to be wearing, we have it on our social media. So what else is gonna be happening?

SPEAKER_01 2:06

So once your dog dons this really cute bandana, take him over to the paparazzi station for a little photo op. We'll have a little photo backdrop for you to take a photo with you and your dog on the City

Vendors Rescue Info And Dog Treats

SPEAKER_01 2:18

Hall lawn. And then we'll have some vendors that are dog themed. We got some vendors that are gonna have dog treats. We got pods of Middle Georgia rescue setting up so that they can give you information if you're interested in fostering or adopting or rescuing a dog. And then we'll also have some other vendors selling, you know, tumblers for all the dog breeds, all those good things. So we got something for for the dog parents too, if they're interested in shopping.

Paws Approved Shops And Specials

SPEAKER_01 2:43

Speaking of shopping, um, a handful of our businesses will be officially pause approved, meaning that they welcome in pets into their shop and that will be noticed or be able you'll be able to tell which businesses are pause approved by a nice little window cling on their front window of their retail shops.

SPEAKER_00 3:00

Yes, and it's nice and bright, so you can't miss it. That's right. And those are the ones that welcome all four legged friends of dogs into their shop.

SPEAKER_01 3:08

And earlier today, I noticed that Sugar Plum Tree is offering a discount if your dog pays for your shopping trip over at the sugar plum tree. So your dog can just tap that's right, tap that little card and get a discount when you go shopping at Sugar Plum Tree. I just love it. So, how did this idea come

Why Downtown Created This Event

SPEAKER_01 3:25

about? You know, we're always looking, we being the Main Street Advisory Board and the Promotions Committee, are always looking for different innovative ways to reach a customer base during the summer. With people traveling, with school being out, June and July gets to be a little bit tough. It's hot, nobody wants to go out and do anything. So we're like, let's do something for the dog people. You know, we do lots of family-centered events, but like let's do something for the dogs and their the doggy parents and get them out in downtown Perry to show the love, um, take their dogs for a walk, visit the farmers market, do some shopping. So we wanted to try something different, and so like who doesn't love to just walk on the sidewalk and see a big fluffy dog? Yes, I I know there's gonna be so many cute ones. Even if you don't have a dog, come out and pet all the dogs. There you go. Ask permission first, but come out and like see all the dogs and ask to pet all the dogs.

SPEAKER_00 4:16

And this is a great extension of anytime we have uh, you know, an outside event, city-sponsored event, we always do welcome like well-behaved leash dogs.

SPEAKER_01 4:25

Yes, yeah, it's not a secret.

SPEAKER_00 4:26

Right, right. So that's you know, this is kind of an extension of that. Well, plus, you know, normally dogs weren't allowed inside, but with this new program and this event, you know, now you can see perfectly clear on the outside of the business which one can go in. So I think it's just a great extension.

SPEAKER_01 4:43

And a lot of our businesses will be offering um like dog watering stations outside their shop or giving away doggy treats or doggy biscuits to dogs that are shopping along the sidewalk or that are welcome to come into the shop. And then I know Scoopology will be also be offering puppy ice cream. The pup cups. Yeah. So there's a there's honestly something for the pet parents to come shopping and explore downtown if you haven't been before. Downtown's an easy walk to walk your dog. Oh, yeah. There's pine straw, there's grass. We already have permanently affixed doggy waste stations on some of our lamppost and street posts in downtown. Um, so we do it is a welcoming environment for for pets.

SPEAKER_00 5:23

Yeah, absolutely. So I know that this is probably going to be the start of a great tradition here for the entire summers to come.

SPEAKER_01 5:31

That's right. We hope that this is look gonna be like the inaugural year of Dog Days of Summer and becomes an annual recurring event here in historic downtown Perry.

Where To Get More Information

SPEAKER_01 5:39

Wonderful.

SPEAKER_00 5:39

So, Alicia, if somebody needs more information, where can they find it?

SPEAKER_01 5:43

Yeah, they can find it on the Dog Days of Summer event on the historic downtown Perry's Facebook page or on the city's website at Perry-GA.gov. Well, wonderful.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

Well, Alicia, we look forward to seeing you there and all of our new furry friends.

SPEAKER_01 5:56

That's right, come check it out.

SPEAKER_00 6:00

Thanks for listening to the Inside Perry Podcast, your inside look at Perry's local government. Take a look at the show notes for more information about today's episode. If you like Inside Perry, we encourage you to subscribe and share the podcast with your friends and family. We look forward to seeing you around in our amazing community where Georgia comes together.