In an event that should resonate with the golf community, more than a dozen shelter dogs have new homes thanks to an adoption event held annually at the Equip Expo.
The TurfMutt Foundation's seventh annual Mulligan's Mutt Madness, held in partnership with the Kentucky Humane Society at Equip Exposition in October in Louisville, helped find new homes for 13 shelter dogs. Brandon McMillan, an Emmy-winning dog trainer, TV personality and host of the show Lucky Dog, was on hand at the event where TurfMutt presented a $10,000 donation to KHS.
"It's incredible that 13 lucky dogs left Equip to start their new lives with people who have a soft spot for the green industry and dogs in need," said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and the TurfMutt Foundation.
First-time Equip attendee Annie Brock adopted Skid, a chihuahua.
"He was super calm for a chihuahua, and that's really what I liked about him," she said. "Skid is doing great here at our farm in Illinois. He loves my other two dogs and he and my daughter are already best buds."
Jessica Shinkle, an event manager at the Kentucky Expo Center, the site venue for Equip, took home Rose.
"I always go to the Mutt Madness to look at the cute pups, but when I saw Rose, I knew she would be a great playmate for our 2-year-old dog, Jack. He is super gentle with Rose, and we are very pleased with our new addition."
Over the years, Mutt Madness has placed more than 100 dogs in forever homes. Mulligan, the namesake dog for the event, was adopted by Kiser at the 2019 Mutt Madness event.
"It's hard to beat seeing great dogs find great people," said Alisa Gray, president and CEO of the Kentucky Humane Society. "This year, we had Equip attendees coming to our shelter the next day to adopt dogs they met at the event."
In its 16th year, TurfMutt was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute's TurfMutt Foundation and has reached more than 70 million children, educators and families since 2009. The foundation is title sponsor of "Lucky Dog," the Emmy-winning television show in support of dog rescue and rehabilitation.
