Dog owners
found a way to satisfy their appetites and spend time with their canine companions during the “Brunch with your Pup” event Sunday at Lake Formosa.
Dog owners and their pups soaked up patches of sun that peaked through shady oaks Sunday on the shore of Lake Formosa.
In an effort to bring more people to its sculpture garden, the Mennello Museum of American Art hosted its first “Brunch with your Pup” Sunday morning.
The city-owned museum drew about 100 people and their dogs, including Abraham, who was the largest canine of the group.
The mellow 135-pound Great Dane sat quietly near a blanket by the water as his owners munched on a breakfast of shrimp and grits.
“We’ve taken him out ever since we’ve gotten him,” said his owner Michelle Skorzewski. “So this is right up his alley.”
But at home in Cocoa, the gentle giant looks after several dogs and cats, including a 2-pound puppy that enjoys laying on top of the giant dog and nibbling on Abraham’s ear.
Sunday morning he got some time off from his duties, and luckily for Abraham, the menu had choices for humans and dogs alike.
For people, the selection included andouille potato hash, kale olive oil garlic and white beans, and grits.
For dogs, Pookie’s Pet Nutrition and Bow Wow Bakery had a buffet for its canine fans comprised of egg rolls with chicken and brown rice, chicken hearts and mini muffins.
It was the mild temperatures and the crisp breeze that brought out Apollo’s rambunctious side.
The fluffy 4-year-old wheaten terrier bounced around the garden on a leash, happy to sniff and meet the dozens of other dogs.
“He likes it more than I like bringing him,” his owner Josh Lowndes said jokingly. “He can be difficult.”
Between 10 a.m. and noon, people and pups stopped in, including Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and his 8-year-old labradoodle Sammie.
In the coming months, the sculpture gardens will host more dog-centric events as the museum continues to develop its Pet Membership program.
Shannon Fitzgerald, the museum’s executive director, said those who pay $25 get 10-percent discounts at participating pet businesses and free or discounted admission to its pet events.
Members can expect “yappy hours” and others like “Brunch with your Pup” in the coming months.
The program kicked off in August, and to date has more than 100 members to date, Fitzgerald said.
“I thought it was a way to introduce multiple audiences that might not come to the museum,” Fitzgerald said. “It exposes the
museum…but it also invites owners and their pets to come here.”
While not museum members, pairing brunch with their pack of dogs was enough to convince Felicity and Kamal Boucetla to drive to the museum north of downtown from their Mount Dora home.
All four of their dogs: Gatsby and Poppy, who are Bernedoodles, and Winston, a miniature poodle, devoured bowls of food.
Meanwhile, Grayson, a 9-week-old poodle puppy, hopped around a playpen nearby.
“This is our pack,” said Felicity Boucetla, who works in research and development. “We love brunch and we obviously have a love of dogs, so finding a combo of the two where we can bring the dogs and have brunch is great.”