Group in Cleveland sets record for largest dog photo shoot
Sunny skies CLEVELAND — and temperatures in the low 80s helped contribute to a Guinness World Record at PAWSitively Pinecrest, a carnival for dogs, Saturday at Pinecrest shopping district in Cleveland.
More than 300 dogs were photographed during the five-hour event to shatter the Guinness World Record for largest dog photo shoot. The previous record was 123, set in 2017 in the Philippines.
The final, official number of dogs that set the record had not been confirmed.
Toward the end of the event, all dogs in attendance and their owners posed for a group photo in Pinecrest’s Central Park. A rooftop photographer and a drone in the sky captured images of the enthusiastic crowd.
Brittany Dunn, official adjudicator for Guinness World Records, said the official record was based on individual photos of the dogs taken in the registration area, not the number in the group photo.
Dogs had to be registered in advance of the group photo to count toward the record, explained Dunn, based in New York. The dogs were required to meet certain standards — such as being at least 1 year old and not wearing clothing or jewelry — to be eligible, and as a result some dogs were disqualified, she said.
Dunn presented Lisa Pocci, vice president of marketing for Fairmount Properties, with a certificate in recognition of Pinecrest’s record-breaking achievement.
Fairmount Properties is the developer of Pinecrest, a 58-acre mixed-use district that opened last year, and was an organizer of the event. This was the first time it was held at Pinecrest, a popular destination for dogs, Pocci said.
“We do a lot of events at Pinecrest, and one common thing we noticed, no matter what we do, is that people like to bring their dogs,” she said. “So we decided, why not do an event that’s all about dogs, and while we’re at it, do something really grand and special and try to break this world record for the largest dog photo shoot.”
PAWSitively Pinecrest featured a dog playground, where canines could exercise or take a dip in a small pool of water; a pet caricaturist, who drew sketches of dogs; a Vendor Village, including pet merchandise, services and giveaways; and doggie dessert stations. Some dogs tolerated the heat better than others, and there were cooling stations available for those who needed them.
In addition, the event offered on-site adoptions in partnership with the Cleveland Animal Protective League, the Geauga Humane Society and the Lake Humane Society. The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs, which seeks homes for elderly dogs who have been abandoned in shelters and pounds, and Oshie’s Tail Wagon Rescue and Transport, a foster-based organization for dogs about to be destroyed in kill shelters, were also on hand.
“We wanted to raise awareness for these local organizations that are doing such amazing work,” Pocci said, “and at the same time provide a family-friendly atmosphere that’s great for families, kids and obviously dogs.”