Clark
and Lois, Ron and Hermione, Belle and Beast – the stories we hold dearest to
our hearts have frequently been filled with the perfect couples. However, with
Valentine’s Day on the horizon, studies have shown that more and more people
aren’t just settling for whatever’s available. Instead, they are on the hunt
for the real-life Prince Charming – but not for themselves.
The
V-Day 4 Lyfe, happening on Feb. 14 in Downtown Vancouver, is an event meant for
guests of all shapes and sizes – but especially those on four paws.
Co-sponsored by company Find My Prince, the team has one goal: to help dogs
find their Prince (or Princess) Charming. The company sets up speed-dating
nights for humans across the Lower Mainland, with its biggest event of the year
being on Feb. 14.
“The
V-Day 4 Lyfe event is the only one of its kind,” says company CEO Olive Mutts. “It’s
the only event we run specifically for dogs, but owners seem a lot more willing
to go to a speed-dating event if it’s for their best dog friend instead of for
themselves.”
Now
entering its fourth year, founder Fockse Layday is proud about how the event
has grown. The first event back in 2008 had only 50 dogs and their owners, but
this year’s event has a projected 2,000 attendees.
“We
literally have to, like, rent out a whole building!” said Layday, founder of
the company. “It’s better than Christmas!”
Although
some people may be offended by Layday’s flippancy towards what is, for some
religions, a very important day, Layday reminds us that February is the season of
forgiveness.
“It’s
the time of year when you have to let bygones be bygones. You can’t be mean to
your dog forever just because he shit on the carpet last October,” she says. “If
not, he’ll never be able to get that diamond collar for that special someone.”
Layday
herself does not own a four-legged friend, but points out that “Nintendogs are
almost just as good as the real thing.”
Charles
Spaniel has been attending the event since its inception, accompanied by his
black Labrador, Spunky. Unfortunately, the pair remain unlucky in love, but
Spaniel hopes that this year will be the year – for both of them.
“He
really needs a man in his life,” he says. “It’s been many a year where he’s
been hanging out at home while I go to the job that puts bread on his table. I haven’t
been able to explore the human dating scene myself, because I’ve been so worried
about his well-being.”
“Once
I know that he’s found a Poodle or a Daschund to call cute pet names every
night before bed, I’ll be able to worry about my own love life, and how my
fertility clock will soon have stopped altogether.”
Until
then, Spaniel keeps himself busy every V-Day at the event. Set up in the style
of a speed dating night, dogs and their owners go through three rounds of ten
dates – all within 90 minutes. In the down time between rounds, there are
plenty of opportunities to purchase a pick-me-up if the dates aren’t going so
well.
Each
year there are many vendors that sell a wide range of Valentine’s Day
merchandise. It varies from t-shirts (for humans and dogs) and bejewelled
collars (primarily for dogs), to wedding veils (dogs only) and flower petal
baskets (for humans, at the wedding of the dogs).
“I’m
just so glad that we are able to give dogs and humans a place to bond over
something that brings every species together,” says Layday. “Regardless of how
many legs you have, or if you have paws or feet, everyone, like, just wants to
find that special someone, that Prince Charming.”
V-Day
4 Lyfe advertises that they have “rounded up all the hairy Prince and Princess
Charmings” for the event. It would seem that for a pooch, the only place to
find true happiness is by attending the unique date night.
“Everyone
deserves to find love,” says Spaniel. “And when they find love, they deserve to
celebrate it however they want.”
//Samantha Thompson, editor-in-chief
//Grahpics by Kele Elliott
//Samantha Thompson, editor-in-chief
//Grahpics by Kele Elliott
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