Guest blogger WhyCLE's CLEpups

Happy Friday! What are you doing this weekend? If you have a dog like WhyCLE, check out these CLEpup-approved places and events. As WhyCLE shares in today’s guest post, these dog-friendly hotspots are fun for both you and man’s best friend! Of course, if you do own a dog, you may need to find a sitter if you win the pair of tickets up for grabs in the Taste of the Browns giveaway. You still have a couple days left to enter – the giveaway closes on Aug. 29 at 11:59pm.

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Much thanks to Amanda for letting me guest blog for her while she’s enjoying some relaxing family time! Amanda is one of my favorite “blends” (blogger + friend = blend). I love her energy and enthusiasm for bringing to light the unique and wonderful things about CLE and I’m sure you all do too!

CLE is a great town, not just for us, but for our fuzzy friends! My fiancé and I have two dogs (referred to on my blog as CLEpups) and we are so happy with the amount of dog-friendly places and events that CLE has to offer. After all, it’s not just us who want to get out and enjoy this special town!

Lakewood DogPark offers a fenced-in area in the Metroparks for you and your pups to play. Lakewood Dog Park was recently the subject of a campaign from residents to shut the park down due to complaints about noise from barking. However, a group of dedicated park lovers kept the park open and construction is under way to make it even bigger and better.

Fairport Harbor Beach is part of the Lake County Metroparks system and boasts a dog-friendly stretch of beach along the shores ofLake Erie. Pups can run, play, chase tennis balls in the lake, and more. This is a favorite spot for the CLEpups during the Dog Days of summer.

Clark Fields in Tremont also has a dog park, so your pup can get his play on while you get your intramural sports on! This is an off-leash park which has a very cool pup-height water fountain!

For more information on dog parks near you, check out this link: www.clevelanddogparks.com/index.html

After an exciting day in one of Cleveland's dog parks, this CLEpup needs to take a rest

From running in parks to chilling at a local bar, there are bars and restaurants that are dog-friendly in CLE.

Tuesdays have gone to the dogs at Tremont Tap House. Every Tuesday through October, the bar hosts a Yappy Hour on their patio, with treats for your pup and delicious food and drinks for you. Each Yappy Hour benefits a local animal-centered charity.

Great Lakes Brewing Company welcomes your furry friend on their patio and provides water and treats. Keep the delicious craft beer for yourself!

Just across the street from GLBC, Garage Bar will even allow your pup inside, so long as they’re friendly to other pups and patrons.

If wine is more your style, Wine Bar Rocky River’s patio, which is one of my favorite patios anyway, will allow your sophisticated pooch to mellow out with you.

This is just a small sampling of dog-friendly patios where you can enjoy some of the great food and drink of CLE with man’s best friend.

Indians fans can take their favorite canine to the annual Puppypalooza. This year's took place on Aug. 23.

There are also dog-centered events for you and your pup to enjoy.

Every year, the Cleveland MetroParks Polo Field is home to Canine Fun Days. 2011 marked the 18^th year of this festival, which benefits Greyhound Adoption of Ohio. There are races and various fetching and activity competitions, plus more fun for humans and dogs alike.

The Cleveland Indians host an annual Puppypalooza game. This year’s Puppypalooza was Tuesday, August 23 where the Indians took on the Seattle Mariners. The Indians scheduled a puppy parade on the field before the game and lots of doggie friendly activities. And don’t worry…no fireworks! Tickets included a donation to the Cleveland APL.

On September 11, the Holden Arboretum will host Woofstock from 9am-3pm. There will be a one-mile fun walk, a pet agility course, live music, contests, shopping and more. Proceeds benefit the Geauga County Humane Society.

Your pup should enjoy exploring CLE just as much as you do and given all these great places and events, there are no shortage of places to start.

About the Guest Blogger

WhyCLE is a CLEgal, born and raised.  Although she’s lived other places, she always comes back home – by choice, not by chance.  The people she knows who make a life here genuinely love it, but often hear the same question, “Why Cleveland?”  The worst part is when it’s people who actually live in Cleveland asking this question. She gets convincing outsiders and is on board with the need to sell them on our scrappy (not crappy) town.  But when Clevelanders themselves ask, “Why Cleveland?”  Well, that’s a problem…  Follow CLEgal on her blog and @WhyCLE as she answers that question for visitors and Clevelanders alike.