Up to 25 dogs will strut down a runway along the Miami River this Saturday, dressed in their finest outfits, as part of a brunch and fashion show benefiting a local dog rescue. The event, called Paws & Pose: The Fashion Paw-ty, runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Kiki on the River, mixing waterfront brunch service with a canine catwalk competition judged by celebrity panelists.
According to WSVN 7News, the event will feature fashion, fur, fun and friendly competition, with celebrity judges narrowing the field down to a final three contestants. Organizer Caroline McDonald told the station the idea grew out of International Dog Day, saying Miami is centered around animals and treats them as family. Twenty-five percent of Paw-Ty Pass ticket sales will be donated to a local dog rescue, though the station's report does not name the specific organization set to receive the funds.
Tickets are priced at $99 for a Paw-Ty Pass, which includes reserved runway seating, a human brunch entrée, a Barkarita or glass of rosé, and a pup cup with Barkfast waffles for the dog attendees, per Ticket Tailor's event listing. The schedule calls for guest arrival at 1 p.m., brunch service at 1:30 p.m., the canine runway walk at 2:30 p.m., and winner announcements at 5 p.m. Attendees will also have access to a Pup-Up Boutique featuring a new luxury pet apparel and accessories collection from designer Allysa Payne Beverly Hills, according to Secret Miami.
Prizes, Pampering and a Portrait Artist
The runway competition carries real stakes for winning pet parents. The grand prize is a four-hour private Kiki Yacht Charter experience, with second place earning a Faena Day Pass and third place taking home a two-month luxury spa pass at Barks & Bubbles, Secret Miami reports. The event will also include a photobooth and personal portraits from a portrait artist, per WSVN.
Barks & Bubbles Luxury K9 Spa, which operates out of the Midtown 5 development at 125–135 NE 32nd St., offered a 15 percent grooming discount to all registered dogs competing in the runway show ahead of the event, according to the Ticket Tailor listing. The spa provides dog grooming, nail trimming, hair washing and dog outfits. Vanessa Menkes, speaking with WSVN, described the shop as the perfect place to come bring your dog to get groomed, to get their nails trimmed, to get their hair washed, and we also carry a variety of outfits so if you want to select an outfit for a fashion show, this is the perfect place.
A Waterfront Venue Built for the Spotlight
Kiki on the River, located at 450 NW N River Dr. in Miami, was founded in 2017 by hospitality operator Roman Jones and generates approximately $29 million in annual revenue across its 5,500-square-foot waterfront space, according to The Real Deal. One guest told WSVN they were honored and excited to participate with their dog, a sentiment echoed among pet owners preparing outfits for Saturday's runway.
The Bigger Picture for Miami-Dade's Shelter Dogs
The fundraiser lands amid broader efforts across Miami-Dade County to address shelter capacity and stray populations. The county broke ground earlier this month on a $25 million, 30,000-square-foot South Dade Pet Adoption and Protection Center designed to expand veterinary care and shelter space, as Hoodline reported on the shelter groundbreaking. Miami-Dade County Animal Services reported a 92.70% save rate for shelter animals in 2023, exceeding national no-kill benchmarks, per county data.
The timing is no accident. International Dog Day, created in 2004 by animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige to honor dogs and promote shelter adoption, falls on August 26 each year, according to DayAlmanac. McDonald said Paws & Pose was directly inspired by the holiday, tying Saturday's runway show to the county's ongoing push to find homes for animals still waiting in shelters.
-4.webp?w=160&h=400&fit=crop&crop=edges)
