Woof! – The Rainbow Dog Show, a firm favourite on the Rainbow calendar is happening on Sunday 19 March. express knew the best way to get the real tea was to get it straight from the dog’s mouth, so we sat down with Murphy Oates in Ponsonby and chatted over a puppuccino and got the inside (pooper) scoop!
For first-time pooches and their people, what can they expect at Woof!?
It’s a furrrtastic time where my four-legged friends strut the catwalk, I mean dogwalk, in front of celebrity judges competing in various categories. There are scrumptious prizes to be won for Best Dressed, Dog & Owner Lookalike, Most Camp, Most Butch, and more! It’s $5 per category to enter and all the money raised goes straight to the SPCA, which is where I came from!
What was the first inspiration for your man-servant Steven to create Woof!?
Steven really felt there was something missing in Auckland for the Rainbow Doggy Community and as he and his friends love us doggos so much they decided to create an event where we could call come together and celebrate us doggos! He wanted to put on an event where everyone is welcome and it’s nice and relaxed and they can raise money for the SPCA while having fun at the same time! It’s now been a whole decade of doggy delight.
Wow, 10 years! Will we see another 10 years of Woof!?
I think that’s very likely considering it has such a loyal following and great sponsors. Dad seems to think as long as people and doggos like me are having a good time at the park then long may it continue!
Pride Dog Shows seem to be getting more popular around the country, is this because of Woof!’s success?
Dog Shows have been a part of Out in the Park in Wellington in the past and Steven has even hosted Dog Shows at The Big Gay Out, so I know that Steven wouldn’t claim to have invented Queer Dog Shows. Woof! has become quite well known over the past few years though with lots of media coverage so I do think this may have inspired other Doggy-related events. Steven is even hosting a smaller-scale Woof! at the Tauranga Moana Pride Picnic on Saturday 12 March!
That sounds like fun, it must be a great way for people and dogs to meet. Does romance ever blossom, human or K9?
Well actually yes. We know of several couples that met at Woof! and are still together to this day! Woof! is a great place to meet both people and dogs as us doggos provide the perfect excuse to strike up a conversation. It also attracts a wide variety of people, some people don’t go to many gay events but they come to Woof!
Is there much doggy cruising at the park???
Well if you know us doggy, you know we like to have a sniff around *wink wink*. We do like to make friends and every now and then one of my friends throws caution to the wind and tries to hump a hunky husky or a dashing dachshund. The great thing about us is we love everyone unconditionally….
Unconditional love sounds lovely! When and where does this furry love fest take place?
It all happens down the bottom of Western Park in Ponsonby/Freemans Bay. The closest entrance is the end of Beresford St West. Registrations start at 1pm and the fur flies at 2pm sharp. But come early and meet me and all my friends. Like Steven, I love a belly rub and a tasty treat. See you there…. Woof!
Photo | Murphy Oates strikes a pose for Bob van Bekkum.