National Pet Day is April 11, and Dallas Farmers Market is giving it the full weekend. The Ulti-Mutt Weekend (April 11–12) is the market's most dog-forward event of the year — costume contests, rescue adoptions, free microchipping, and the Dallas Police Mounted Unit bringing actual horses.
Dog Costume Contest
Registration opens at the Information Booth Saturday at 9am. The contest runs at 10:30am at Pearl Street Plaza. Categories: Best Costume, Best Owner-Dog Duo, Most Creative, and Most Likely to Win a Blue Ribbon at the State Fair. No entry fee. Prizes donated by market vendors (gift certificates, market merch, treats). Bring your own trophy if you think you'll win.
Pet-Friendly Vendors
Several vendors bring dog-specific goods this weekend — handmade bandanas, training treats made from market produce, custom pet portraits, and one vendor doing pet ID tags engraved on-site. Ask the Information Booth for the pet vendor list when you arrive.
"Dogs at The Shed on a normal Saturday are a feature. On Ulti-Mutt Weekend, they're the whole point."
Free Microchipping from Hearty Paws
Hearty Paws Animal Foundation is on-site Saturday and Sunday with free microchipping for dogs and cats (cats welcome too, bring a carrier). No appointment needed — first come, first served. Hearty Paws also has adoptable animals available; ask about their current fosters.
Local Rescues On-Site
Two Dallas-area rescue organizations will have adoptable dogs at Pearl Street Plaza Saturday — ask the Information Booth for which rescues are participating this year. If you're not in a position to adopt, these rescues always accept donations and volunteers.
The Dallas Police Mounted Unit
The Dallas Police Department's Mounted Unit brings horses to Pearl Street Plaza on Saturday morning (10am–noon). Kids can meet the horses and officers. The DPMU horses are trained for urban environments and crowd-accustomed, but please ask the officer before approaching.
Market Dog Etiquette
DFM is dog-friendly in The Shed but dogs are not permitted inside The Market Building or Pearl Street Plaza stage areas. Keep dogs on a leash at all times. Bring water — April can run warm. The Information Booth has a dog water station on busy event days.
The Shed is open Saturdays 8am–5pm and Sundays 10am–5pm. All Ulti-Mutt Weekend programming is free. Hearty Paws microchipping: first come, first served.
