Petco and Padres score with dog promotion

Baseball fans and pet owners will have an opportunity to take their best friend with them to the ballpark later this summer when Petco holds its 11 annual “Dog Days of Summer” event and pregame “tail” gate party.

Petco hosts the event at Petco Park on Wednesday, July 1 for the 12:40 p.m. home game between the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners. After hosting the event for 11 years, Petco has the logistics and unique operational considerations associated with bringing 500 dogs into a Major League Baseball stadium down pat.

Pet parents interested in participating must submit applications showing their pets have up to date licenses and vaccinations. The deadline for those submissions is May 30 and roughly 500 dogs are allowed to attend the game with two complimentary human passes.

Gates open at 10 a.m. for a pre-game "Tail" gate party which will feature pet friendly activities and vendor giveaways. In one of the more unusual pre-game activities, there is a pet parade that takes place around the warning track of the field. Dogs in costumes and other apparel all parade around the field to show off their best looks with their pet parents.

All participating dogs and pet parents are asked to remain on the warning track and off of the grass to ensure the safety of both humans and animals, according to a Petco spokesman.

"One of our most-anticipated events, 'Dog Days of Summer' offers pets and their parents a unique opportunity to create memories, make new friends and bond with each other," said David Hallisey, Petco’s vice president of communications. "While many of the pets who will be attending the event have wonderful homes, we also hope to bring awareness through the event to the millions of dogs who are still looking for their forever families."

To get some action going on social media, pet parents are encouraged to share photos of their pets celebrating their love of the Padres on Instagram using the hashtags #PadresPets and #SDinHD. One winner will be awarded a prize pack including a $500 Petco gift card and Padres pet apparel. As for those unique operational considerations associated with the event, dogs are permitted to do their personal business at an area called the Park in the Park.

In addition, there are variety of cleanup stations throughout the Park in the Park where pet parents can clean up after their pets.