SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Union Depot in Lowertown is going to the dogs on Saturday, February 2 when Doggie Depot, the popular celebration of all things canine, takes place at the venue. This year’s event has been expanded and will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Animal Emergency and Referral Center of Minnesota is the Presenting Sponsor of the event which will include rescue dog adoptions, a dog-inspired marketplace, Q & A with Katie K9 from MyTalk 107.1, and the crowning of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival doggie royal court – Canine King Boreas and Canine Queen of Snows. Royal watchers everywhere won’t want to miss seeing the Saint Paul Winter Carnival Royal Family officially crown the canine winners in a festive ceremony complete with doggie-size crowns.

On January 16, 15 Queen and 15 King canine finalists will be chosen to go tail-to-tail in the online voting contest. From January 18-27, the public will have the chance to cast their vote on who they think is the top dog by visiting www.uniondepot.org/doggiedepot. Representatives from Sidewalk Dog Media will be on hand to share tips about the Twin Cities’ most pet-friendly restaurants, retailers and more. Twenty area rescue organizations will have dogs available for adoption and more than 30 pet product vendors will sell wares in the marketplace.

The annual Doggie Depot event at Union Depot offers families and rescue dogs the chance to meet in a safe, informative setting and results in many dogs finding their “forever home” and many families experiencing the joy of welcoming a four-legged lovable pet into their family. Lisa Overlin, a guest at the 2018 Doggie Depot, came to the event looking to adopt a Schnauzer. Though Boxers are one of her favorite breeds, she has a disability and uses a wheelchair so she was afraid that breed would be too large for her to handle. She met with the representatives of Minnesota Boxer Rescue who encouraged her to participate in their foster-to-adopt program and to consider a smaller female Boxer named Destiny who was soon to arrive at Doggie Depot. “I agreed to try the program and when Destiny arrived, she ran up to my wheelchair and our bonding began,” said Overlin. “After fostering her for nearly a year and changing her name to Maeley Mae, I decided to formally adopt her. And I also became a volunteer with Minnesota Boxer Rescue!”

Doggie Depot is free and open to the public and guests are encouraged to bring their dogs to Union Depot for this special event, which is the only time dogs are allowed inside the venue. There will be fun activities for guests and their dogs, and photographers from KME Photography will be on hand to capture photos of people with their pets. There are several convenient and affordable parking options at Union Depot with options starting at a $2 flat rate. For more information and a list of participating vendors and rescue organizations, visit www.uniondepot.org/doggiedepot.