Fall really rolled out the red carpet for folks and their four-legged friends at the first annual Pet Jam 2017 on September 30, presented by Bounty and Charmin. Sunny skies and mild temps set the stage at the scenic Grailville campus in Miami Township as the League welcomed festival-goers for a full day of music, food and fun!

The inaugural event drew more than 800 attendees from all around Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky communities, which helped the League for Animal Welfare reach its goal: Awareness of—and support for— oldest and one of the region’s largest no-kill animal shelters.

“This was our first large-scale outdoor benefit, and we are so grateful to everyone who helped us make it a success,” says Marilyn Goodrich, Executive Director of the League. “It’s our mission to create awareness in our community about the number of homeless cats and dogs in Greater Cincinnati, and encourage responsible pet ownership. With the amazing attendance, and participation from musicians and vendors, Pet Jam 2017 helped us get there!”

With music on three stages—from acoustic to reggae to rock—there was something for everyone for local music fans. “Pet Jam was right up our alley,” says Dave Shields, guitarist for White Liger, which played the Cover Band Stage overlooking the pastoral fields of Grailville to an enthusiastic crowd.

“We’re all pet lovers, and we thought it was a great way to help out the League.” Shields, who counts among his coterie of pets two dogs, goats and horses, says it was a great way to give back. Helping the League, he says, “is really aligned with our values.”

Among the 17 bands playing, No Sorrow from Cincinnati’s west side took the Main Stage late in the afternoon. Nick Snow, whose folk-bluegrass fusion band played the main stage, added: “The venue was great…and the land was beautiful. Everybody involved was great to work with. We look forward to a second annual Pet Jam next year!”

A vendor village surrounded the main stage, offering goods from handmade soaps and health and wellness options to home improvement services and unique canine treats. Food trucks served up everything from roadhouse BBQ to vegetarian and vegan treats to artisan doughnuts. In the beer garden, there were plenty of tasty sips from local craft breweries to go around. And all day, adoptable, loving dogs from the League for Animal Welfare browsed the action with their handlers, getting their share of love and petting from festival attendees.

“The outpouring of help for a first-time event just blows my mind!,” says Carrie Leary, Volunteer Manager for the League. An army of more than 100 volunteers gave their time to make Pet Jam possible, manning everything from the admissions tent to trash collection. Area corporations and organizations fielded teams of helpers, from BHDP Architecture to Miami University’s Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity to Multi-Color Corporation. “The volunteers made my heart sing,” Carrie says. “They worked so hard, and stepped in when something needed to be done—and they did it with a smile!”

The League would like to thank the incredibly talented bands who donated their time and talents:  Boo Radley, Chakras, Circus Siren Orchestra, Devon Johnson and The Midnight Travelers, Encore Duo, Elementree Livity Project, Kumasi Project, Veronica Grim & The Heavy Hearts, Chris Lee Acoustic, The Millcreek Drifters, Nicholas Brehm, No Sorrow, RP Coltrane, Shifted Fate, The Verbs and White Liger.

Much gratitude to all of our sponsors:  Presenting Sponsors, Bounty and Charmin; Acoustic Stage Sponsor, Bartlett; Media Sponsor, Mix 94.9; Adoption Van Sponsor, Hillside Small Animal Hospital; Family Zone Sponsor, Hug the World Foundation; Roadie Sponsors, MedVet and PNC Bank; and Groupie Sponsors, Bentley’s Pet Stuff, Camp Bow Wow, Care Center, Deck Renewal Systems, Inc., DogWatch Hidden Fences, Lykins Energy Solutions, Sanger & Eby, and Withamsville Animal Hospital.