Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Mesa Museum Faces The Dogs Days Of Summer

Enjoy the Dog Days of Summer with a very cool event that helps a great cause! Power Paws Assistance Dogs will be at the Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N. Macdonald in Mesa, on Friday, August 8th, from 5:30 pm to 8 pm.

The Power Paws Assistance Dogs will be in the museum demonstrating some of their 90 learned commands that allow physically challenged people to live more independent lives. See these service dogs open and close doors, turn lights on and off, push elevator buttons, retrieve dropped items and more. The trainers will also answer questions and provide information about the Power Paws program.

The event, which is part of Nights at the Museum on the second Friday of every month, is also an opportunity to give back to the community. Admission for the event is free, with the donation of new, packaged school supplies. Your contribution will be given to the City of Mesa’s “Adopt-A-School” program for those less fortunate. Otherwise, admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 3 to 17. Museum members are free.

After the event, you are encouraged to stay in Downtown Mesa for “Second Friday.” Many of the shops, galleries, restaurants and other businesses along Main Street between Country Club Drive and Center Street will be open as late as 10 pm. Some will offer discounts while others will host live music, art exhibitions and other activities.

For more information on Dogs Days of Summer at the museum, contact Arizona Museum of Natural History Curator of Education Kathy Eastman at (480) 644-5662. For more information on the Power Paws program, contact Mesa Power Paws Assistance Program at (480) 945-0754.