The first-ever promotion by the Indians benefits the Animal Protective League, which receives a portion of the tickets sales.
The Indians hosted the first-ever Puppypalooza on Thursday at Progressive Field, attracting 267 dogs and 461 escorts. Fans and their pooches walked the rubber track around the field before the start of the game against the Oakland A's. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two loves -- dogs and baseball -- came together Thursday night as 267 dogs and 461 escorts paraded into Progressive Field and around the warning track.
Six-year-old Doug Kabicek balanced over the railing from his front row seat to coax the pups up for pets and licks.
"He's such a dog lover. He's petted half of them," said his mother Michelle, as pugs and pinschers, boxers and schnoodles pranced past.
"How much does that one weigh," he shouted to Robin and Wally Adamson, who drove up from Columbus with a pair of massive black and white New Foundlands, Maggie and Grady. At 140 pounds of furriness (and drool), Maggie dwarfed the 42-pound elementary schooler from Parma.
"Puppypalooza" was a first for the Cleveland Indians.
The promotion, standard fare at many minor league sporting events, benefited the Cleveland Animal Protective League, which received a portion of the tickets sales and helped fill a section of the park near the right field foul poll with some extra fans.
Before the game, the dogs were adorned with blue bandannas and were given special peanut butter and honey ice cream. They played in puppy-sized pools and frolicked on sod laid out under a tent on Carnegie Avenue.
About 60 volunteers from the APL checked dogs into the game and, armed with plastic poop bags, safeguarded the field as the dogs circled the stadium.
Daric Barton, a first baseman with the Tribe's opponent, the Oakland A's, stood in front of the visitor's dugout petting a silver horse-of-a-dog named Zeus. And as the Indians mascot Slider strode by, a gaggle Chihuahua's nipped at his pink fur-clad heels.
After the parade, the dogs settled into their seats, some sharing nachos with owners. Others lazed in the shade of the "party deck" lapping from little metal water bowls. Their barks occasionally echoed around the concession area.
Ryan Burket, an avid fan who has a partial season ticket package, trotted around with Sushie, his 4 1/2 month old Boston Terrier who wore a tiny custom-tailored jersey. Her favorite player is Shin-Soo Choo, Burket said.
"I wouldn't have missed this for anything," he said.