During the baseball game against Central Arkansas, the Alumni Association hosted its annual “Bark at the Park” event to cheer on the Red Wolves.

Dogs in all shapes and sizes came with their owners to watch the game, meet other dogs and get free toys and bowls. Amanda McDaniel, director of alumni events, said it’s an easy event to host each year. 

“We spread the word on our newsletter and on social media and through different media outlets and just invite everybody,” McDaniel said. “There’s obviously no fee for this. You just come into the ball game, buy your ticket and enjoy the little swag gifts.”

Attendee Avery Meredith said she loved seeing all the dogs at the event.

“It brings the whole community together,” Meredith said, “My favorite part is seeing all the dogs and talking to everyone.”

Meredith brought her dog, Beau, an eight-year-old goldendoodle, who she said loves cheering on the Red Wolves. 

While the game went on, alumni met up with old friends with their dogs by their side. 

McDaniel said that since they started this event in 2019, attendance has grown exponentially and they have to bring more treats and different swag each year.

“It has grown a lot more. A lot more people, a lot more dogs,” McDaniel said. 

Jordan Dodd, a first-year nursing major from Sherwood, Arkansas, brought her dog, a corgi named Louie. 

“I got him as a surprise,” Dodd said. “He turned one year old in February. He has a lot of energy all the time. He just likes making friends with everybody.”

Dodd said that while she hasn’t gone to a baseball game at A-State, she thought Bark at the Park would be fun to attend.

“I saw that it was Bark at the Park and I was like, ‘I don’t do enough on campus, so it’d be fun to come with Louie,’” Dodd said. 

Dodd and Louie joined a small dog race between the bottom of the third and the top of the fourth innings.

Birk McBride, a junior physical education major from Wynne, Arkansas, brought Franny, his own golden retriever, to the game. 

“She listens most of the time,” McBride said. “She’s very playful. She loves everybody.”

McBride said he thinks the alumni event is a big deal for the games and the campus.

“It brings the alumni back to stuff like this,” McBride said. “Alumni can bring their kids and it shows them, ‘I want to come to school here one day.”

McDaniel shared McBride’s sentiment on how important it is that the Alumni Association hosts Bark at the Bark every year. 

“It really supports A-State baseball and it’s a great way to get our fans out, both alumni and friends,” McDaniel said. “What better way to do it than bring your dog with you?”

Over 1,457 fans, dog and human alike, watched the Red Wolves take home a victory against the UCA Bears.

Birk McBride, a junior physical education major from Wynne, Arkansas and his one year old English cream golden retriever Franny pose for a photo at Bark at the Park.

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