Dog Days at Mystic Seaport
Join us in Celebrating Man's Best Friend!
Returning in August 2011
Mystic Seaport is excited to host its third annual Dog Days. Watch demos by the Newfoundland Club of New England and the Connecticut Canine Search and Rescue group. More details coming in 2011.
Due to the specialized jobs of some of Dog Days' participants, scheduled demonstrations may be cancelled if they are called away for an emergency.
Need a place to stay during Dog Days?
Check out these local, dog-friendly hotels:
Another Second Penny Inn | Red Roof Inns |
2010 Dog Days Photo Contest Winners
July 19th Winner
| July 26th Winner
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August 2nd Winner
| August 9th Winner
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August 16th Winner
| August 23rd Winner
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Exclusive Interview with Rufus
From 2010 Dog Days
Rufus, the 2006 Westminster Best-in-Show winner, returns to Mystic Seaport for Dog Days August 28-29, 2010. On Friday, August 27, 2010, Rufus will be the Grand Marshal and head judge at the Museum's first Dog Parade. Registration begins at 5 p.m. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. and continues around the village green. Rufus looks forward to meeting the dogs of all Museum staff, too. In fact, there will be a special prize only for staff who bring their dog. If you're on staff and enter your dog in the parade, you'll be in a drawing to win a day off with pay! As he gets ready for the event, Rufus took time out to speak with us from his home in Holmdel, NJ.
How long have you worked at Mystic Seaport?
I guess you could call me a seasonal employee. Last year was my first time working at Mystic Seaport, helping out with the first Dog Days event. I was thrilled to be invited last year - as well as this year. It'll be fun to come back and see the friends I met last year.
What's the best part of your job?
While I do love laying around all day, I'm pretty lucky in what I get to do. At Mystic Seaport, I loved taking my first boat ride on Necessity and being interviewed by CNN. I also really liked having my picture taken with just about everyone who came to the event. When I'm not at Mystic Seaport, I love visiting my friends in hospitals and nursing homes knowing that I can bring a smile to their face.
What's the most challenging part of your job?
Good question. Probably the most challenging aspect is making sure that everyone that wants to pet me or take a picture with me gets a chance. Sometimes things can get a bit crowded. I really love that people come out to see me, so I want to make sure that if someone does, that they get a chance to say hello.
What's the funniest or most notable on the job experience you've had?
I have two great stories from last year. I loved having the chance to go inside the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. That was a ton of fun! I even had my picture taken next to it! The other fun part was taking a walk in downtown Mystic and having two people pull to the side of the road, stop their car and ask if I was Rufus! Who else would I be?! I guess they were excited to see me!
What do you like to do outside of work?
I love to rest and just, well, enjoy some down time. I keep a busy schedule, you know. I also love to go with my mom to run errands around town. It's a lot of fun to go to the grocery store and other places with her. I also love the Yankees. I even have a NY Yankees uniform!