This last weekend a local husky rescue in southern Wisconsin had a sled demo and information/fund raiser at a local nature center. The wife and I thought it would be fun to look in on, make a donation, and give Maya a chance to hob knob with her own kind. Upon arrival we were told that if we were not with the adoption people we could not attend with our dog. Always the diplomat I rudely told them what they could do with themselves and left, but I also noticed that we were not the only people who came with a dog that were being tuned away(surprised how many Malamutes were in the area) The only other such event I have attended is sponsored by Free Spirit Siberian Rescue in Harvard Il. They not only allow they encourage people to attend with there dog. It's a a nice day to mix with other husky owners admire the dogs and watch the sled team demo's.
After a long story line the question is: Are dogs normally allowed at rescue events? What have been your experiences?

In a word, that sucks! The only barely logical reason I can think of for that would be if the nature center didn't have liability insurance to cover any "accidents" - but then I have to question what their liability would be.

The Parks and nature centers here allow dogs in the public areas (car parks / immediate surrounding area ["any place a vehicle can go"]) but forbid them beyond that for their safety. Small dogs invite attacks by bears / cougars / etc and large dogs seem to provoke attacks on their humans<which I find odd>.

I would have been irritated in your position, if the sled dogs were there I can't really see much justification for refusing other large dogs to be there as well. And I'm not sure how much of the diplomat *I* would have been ... I speak a good variety of "French".

i do lots of rescue events with our rescue and we only do ONE that does not let other dogs attend and it is because its a event held inside a museum and has other groups NOT rescues there. we as a rescue can have our dogs there but that is it.

now was the event stated that outside dogs were not to come anywhere in the advertisement? if not, that is fault of the rescue for not making it clear. being the type of event you describe i would have bough ours to, that really sucks and i hope they learn from it.