Woof Camp 2009 - Review

Started by Chuck Renslow at the Gold Coast Leather Bar, 400 gay leathermen gathered for the first International Mr. Leather contest in Chicago in 1979. The event has grown to be an annual tradition for the leather community, drawing contestants and 15,000+ attendees from around the globe. IML was once an exclusive event for Old Guard leathermen, the event has expanded in recent years to include a more diverse crowd. pups are included, of cause!

The San Francisco K-9 Unit howled the Waldorf Room at Chicago Hilton, the official hotel of IML 2009 on Friday night. WoofCamp being the one of the four in-house parties of IML attracted about 70 pups & Handlers and hundreds of IML attendees. SquarePegToys once again was the sole sponsor and DJ Sam Storicks was providing the music for the event. This year’s theme was “Race Ya!” featuring dog races, definitely quite a scene when nearly two dozens of pups were running to hunt the popular puppy piñatas or rallied to clobbered the wicked cat or the rascally rabbit. (Poor Brue the bunny dude who was nearly pinned down on the floor by tens of puppy paws. Arf~~~~~) Sirrah was absolutely very proud of himself for hunting a bunny at the night. Beside those new pup games, WoofCamp also offered pet portraits as a new add-on idea for the event, favoured by pups, friends and Handlers who wanted their howling good moment photographed.

WoofCamp was first opened to pups and Handlers for a two-hour private session before public access. Vet exam and grooming stations were in service taking care the well being of attending human pups. An active area for romping around with other pups and a quiet area for new pups, for pups intimated by the larger, more aggressive pup play area or for those who just want to rest or nuzzle with each other or their Handler. Nibbler recalled his first puppy event as an amazing, friendly and welcoming experience. He started as a shy pup but quickly warmed up by Snuggles’ puppy back ride, whereas he was a bit of a trouble puppy as he bumped into someone else’s doggy bowl when chasing after Snuggles and splashed water all over the place. Ughhh... Alpha pups such as Alphapuck enjoyed in his way as he patrolled around the ballroom and kept other puppies in line, though he probably missed Nibbler’s misbehaviour.