OSU ready to welcome Bow Wow Film Festival

Friday, January 31, 2020

The Bow Wow Film Festival, the nation’s premier traveling dog film festival, is returning to OSU. 

The festival kicks off with a meet-and-greet with Pete’s Pet Posse dogs at 5 p.m. Feb. 18 at the OSU Student Union. The slate of 17 short films begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Union Theater. 

Explorer Pipeline is again sponsoring the traveling film showcase, which began in 2014 to celebrate the love of dogs and their unique bond with humans. Festival organizers partner with animal welfare organizations to host events and have helped raise more than $250,000 for animal welfare causes. The 2019-2020 season includes dates in 20 states, from the festival’s home base in Colorado to Alaska, but OSU’s Stillwater campus is the tour’s sole Oklahoma stop.

This year’s festival features touching films that will warm the heart, including the debut of OSU’s own "Healing Hearts at Oklahoma State University," which celebrates Pete’s Pet Posse, OSU’s one-of-a-kind pet therapy program, and how a dog named Sandy overcame cruelty to become a pet therapy animal. 

“Sandy, who was in the first class of Pete’s Pet Posse, was used as a bait dog in a dogfighting ring, and this film celebrates her journey toward becoming a therapy dog,” said Kendria Cost, executive assistant to First Cowgirl Ann Hargis and chair of the Pete’s Pet Posse Advisory Board. “Several other rescue dogs in the program are also discussed. This film exemplifies  how dogs can overcome challenging pasts to teach humans about love. They’re incredible animals.” 

Hargis called  the festival a great way to raise awareness and celebrate the unique success of Pete’s Pet Posse. 

“I am so proud of the work Pete’s Pet Posse does at OSU,” Hargis said. “I am especially proud of the rescues, like my Scruff, who have overcome such odds and are giving back unconditionally. Animals teach us many things if our hearts are open. I wish we were all as intuitive as our pets.”

The event is free and open to the public. This year’s festival is expected to run about 75 minutes with no intermission. Concessions will be available. 

All proceeds from the event will benefit Pete’s Pet Posse. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Mack Burke | Editorial Coordinator | 405.744.5540 | mack.burke_iv@okstate.edu