Photo courtesy of Culture Lab LIC
Aug 21, 2024 By Shane O’Brien
Culture Lab LIC is set to host its penultimate dog adoption event of the 2024 season at the beginning of September, connecting local pet adoption services with potential new owners.
Culture Lab, located at 5-25 46th Ave. in Long Island City, has been hosting “Pup-up” on the first Sunday of every month since June, providing a number of local rescues and vendors selling a variety of dog-specific products with an opportunity to reach members of the local community.
Local rescues, including Korean K9 Rescue, Badass Animal Rescue, Rescue City and Heart and Bones Rescue, are set to take part in the next Pup-up event, scheduled to take place at Culture Lab between 12 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sep. 1.
Other rescues are invited to attend the upcoming event and can register their interest any time between now and the end of August.
Several New York-based dog vendors, such as Pawsbury Lane, My Pups Bakery, Dogtopia of Long Island City, Top Dogs Club LIC and Coco Café and Treats, will also be partaking in the event.
Photo courtesy of Culture Lab LIC.
All dog rescue services and dog vendors can make use of Culture Lab space free of charge for the Pup-up events.
A Halloween-themed Pup-up event, the final event of Culture Lab’s outdoor season, is also scheduled to take place between 12 and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, with attendees encouraged to dress their dogs in fitting Halloween costumes.
Dawn DeVito, Culture Lab’s Director of Marketing and Events, who has been integral in launching the monthly events, said Pup-up has been extremely popular among dog lovers in the local community over the summer, with each event drawing crowds of between 200 and 300 people.
DeVito said Pup-up has also been popular among dog owners who are not necessarily looking for new pets, stating that many people attend to sample local dog vendors or to let their dogs play in mini-dog parks installed by Culture Lab for each event. The astroturfed dog parks include a broad selection of tennis balls for dogs to play with and a sprinkler system to help keep them cool during the warm weather.
However, the main function of the events is to connect rescue animals with potential new homes and Pup-up has enjoyed enormous success on that front, with ten dogs successfully rehomed during the August event.
Photo courtesy of Culture Lab LIC.
DeVito said the event highlights Culture Lab’s role within the local community, stating that it also showcases that the gallery welcomes dogs to many of its events.
“We’re an art gallery performance space, but we are also a community space and a very large part of our community,” DeVito said. “What’s great about Pup-up is that it lets people know Culture Lab itself is very dog friendly.
“Maybe you can’t come to our dog event, but you can bring your dog to the gallery and you can bring your dog to a concert and you can bring your dog to a stand-up comedy show. Your dog is welcome anywhere.”
Edjo Wheeler, Executive Director of Culture Lab, said he has been surprised by the success of the event and the sheer number of dogs adopted at Pup-up over the summer.
Wheeler added that the events simultaneously help bring the community together and provide an essential service for local rescue centers.
“We really do exist to be a hub for arts and culture and community,” Wheeler said. “One of the best feelings is being able to donate space like this for organizations like these dog adoption facilities. It really is what brings the whole community together and it’s an important service.”
Wheeler recalled one particular dog named Pickles, who was adopted over the summer while wearing a vest encouraging people to “adopt me.”
“There was this really cute dog named Pickles and he just wore a little vest that said, ‘adopt me’. One of the volunteers walked him around and everyone got to pet him. And then he got adopted. We were all really excited.”
Pup-up will conclude for 2024 following the special Halloween event at the beginning of October, but DeVito said the event would be returning to Culture Lab for the organization’s outdoor season in 2025.
Culture Lab is open four days a week, from 5-9 p.m. and from 2-9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
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