OKMULGEE – Milling around events at the Muscogee Nation Festival, it is not hard to find just about every demographic: kids, teens, adults, elders, and dogs. This year’s Festival saw many four-legged friends accompany their owners for the two-day event.
Janie Bear’s (Mvskoke) dog is named Lucky, a Chihuahua mix. Lucky and Bear enjoy going on walks and traveling together. This year marked Lucky’s first time to Festival. Bear admitted that she never thought that she would be a dog owner.
“He’s a lucky dog. Somebody thought I needed a dog, and I don’t like dogs. I’ve said that all my life. And now I have a dog. He’s a rez dog,” Bear said.
This year’s social Stomp Dance was notably held in the Mvskoke Dome due to the weather. She said she and Lucky looked forward to watching others stomp and shake shells together. In addition to the social Stomp Dance, Bear explained that she looks forward to the drawings and the Saturday night fireworks every year.
Sharon Baker (Seminole/Choctaw) and her husband, Duke Baker, brought their silverback Yorkshire terrier, Petie, to the Festival 5k Run. Petie is named after Oklahoma State University’s mascot, Pistol Pete.
Petie enjoys going for walks and looking for other dogs. The Bakers went to support their son, Steven Baker (Seminole), who ran in the 5k. Steven Baker, who ran this year’s Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, won the MCN Festival 5k men’s division with a time of 15:28.
Sharon Baker shared that she enjoys the variety the festival offers for attendees.
“I enjoy the concerts and the food. And the crafts and the booths, everything about it. I love festivals, all the Native festivals. I’ve been to the Choctaw Festival and the Seminole Festival over the years,” Sharon Baker said.
When discussing music tastes, Duke Baker said he is a Kiss fan and was looking forward to Gene Simmons’ performance. Sharon Baker enjoys live music; she is more of a country music fan.
Terrie Billie (Mvskoke) and her Labradoodle, Benjamin, were also spotted at the Festival 5k. Billie and Benjamin enjoy running together. She also finds it comforting to take him along with her to the clinic for appointments. According to Billie, when Benjamin goes missing, he usually has a favorite hangout spot.
“On his time he likes to go to Eagles Corner in Morris. He’s Facebook famous. Everyone’s like, ‘Who’s dog is this?’ And of course he always gets delivered back to us because everyone knows him now,” Billie said.
Two Festival staples that Billie and her family enjoy frequenting are the parade and the rodeo. Benjamin is busy working on becoming a registered emotional support animal.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has safety tips for pet owners taking their dogs outside during the summer months. According to ASPCA, it’s important to keep plenty of fresh, clean water on hand to prevent dehydration. Never leave an animal unattended in a hot vehicle- it can result in fatal heat stroke. Know the symptoms of overheating in pets: excessive panting, difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, and collapse. It is also recommended that pets visit the vet for a summer checkup, especially if they are not on a year-round heartworm preventative medication.
