Attendees give two paws up at Havre's Woofstock

Dogs and their owners alike braved cold weather Saturday for a special event, Woofstock, to raise money for the local animal shelter, said Friends of the Havre Animal Shelter President Kim Federspiel.

Havre's first Woofstock was held in Pepin Park with live music, vendors, food trucks, beer and wine. Friends of the Havre Animal Shelter organized this event a few months after receiving their nonprofit status and made quick work of raising money for the Havre Animal Shelter.

The Havre Animal Shelter is a part of the Havre Police Department and the money that was raised during Woofstock will go to spay and neuter clinics and a "trap, neuter, release" program for the rising stray cat population in the city, Federspiel said.

These programs are usually outside of the shelter's budget, both Federspiel and her husband, Havre Animal Control Officer Pete Federspiel, said Saturday.

Many people at the event were walking around the different vendor booths, listening to the music or stopping to grab a beer from one of the tents. Triple Dog Brewing Co. donated four quarter-barrel kegs for the event, volunteer Jayme Seidel said.

Seidel said the event was going well and it was nice to get the community together.

"I think this is the first dog-friendly event like this in Havre," she added.

The event was going so well, she said, they were out of the beer from the kegs donated by Triple Dog.

Community member Laura Willis said it was wonderful to see dogs in the park, adding that she supports animals. She said the bands were fantastic and the food was amazing. Fat Billy and the Boyz BBQ and Parker's food truck were at the event.

Willis said the event was a great opportunity for animal lovers to come and show their support, adding that it is hard to find a place in town where people can have their pets, including finding housing where pets are allowed. She said she had not heard of the nonprofit Friends of the Havre Animal Shelter before the event and coming was a last-minute decision, but she was glad that there are things like this in Havre.

"I'm surprised by the number of dogs," Willis said.

The Havre Dog Park Club also had a booth at the event and was accepting donations. Club President Jenn Archibald said she was having fun at the event and was glad to see so many people out. She added that she got involved in the event after one of the members of the club, who is also a member of the Friends of the Havre Animal Shelter, told her about it.

Pete Federspiel brought a few dogs from the shelter to the event, setting up a kissing booth and a pen where kids could play with some of the puppies. The puppy at the kissing booth was a 16-week-old female German shepherd-Rottweiler mix named Baby, Federspiel said, adding that it was very popular and many people had fun.

He said Woofstock was the debut of Alpha and the six other puppies in his litter, which were in the pen area where kids could step inside and play with the seven puppies. The puppies tumbled and rolled as smiling, laughing kids played with them.

Federspiel said the event was going very well, and some of the puppies will have the chance to be adopted into homes.

He added he was grateful for the Friends of the Havre Animal Shelter, and that as a group they can do more than he can by himself.

Kim Federspiel said that the experience was amazing, adding that she was overwhelmed by the support and how much of the community came out for the event despite the weather.

She said she was having fun and she hoped to repeat the event in the future, although maybe a little earlier in the year when it is still warm outside. Federspiel said they held the event so late this year was because the group was waiting for its nonprofit status but they still wanted to have an event this year.

"It's nice to see people come out and support Pete," Federspiel said. "They see how much work and heart he puts into the shelter."

She added that her daughter Olivia, 3, also made dog treats for the event with a friend and was selling them to help raise money.

Community members Christina Hoppe and Emily Riggin, who was at the event with Riggin's English bulldog Gertrude, said they were having fun at the event. Both of them agreed that it was a good way for people to meet other people in town and socialize.

Havreites Nate Ramsey, Kirby Vande Kop and Ashley Vande Kop were also at the event with Ramsey's dog Marcey, a pit bull mix. Kirby Vande Kop said it was an amazing event and was a great idea for the community.

Ramsey said it was exciting to raise money for the Friends of the Havre Animal Shelter and the Havre Dog Park Club. They agreed that Havre has no real places for dogs, adding that only a few parks allow dogs, and they hope that they stay because they enjoy going to them for that specific reason. Ashley Vande Kop said they were there to support a good cause.

Ramsey added that the Havre Animal Shelter has been great. Marcey has run away before, he said, and Federspiel was very kind and understanding, returning Marcey and even giving her a new tag because she lost hers.

Brian Rhoades, who played with the band Black Labbeth formed to play at the Woofstock, said that it was good fun for a good cause.

Lyle Lossing, who played with Muttley Crew at the event and also plays at Kicks@6, said he heard about the event through Rhoades and felt good about being at the event. He said he loves all animals and events like Woofstock are great for a community, adding it's important that people get together.

He said it's important to spread good energy, and that is one of the reasons he loves to play music. Positivity is contagious, he said.