Experts Provide Tips For Leash Safety After Concerns Raised At Woofstock

This year's Woofstock had some of its biggest crowds yet. The outdoor, pet-friendly event helps draw attention to local shelters and animal adoption.

Experts said despite the success, there are safety lessons to be learned.

Woofstock is Green Country's biggest pet adoption event, bringing in more than 40 vendors and 30 animal rescues and shelters.

Hammond Animal hospital owner and head Veterinarian, Lauren Johnson, was at a booth of her own at the event.

She's not a fan of retractable leashes paired with loose, easily escapable collars, which she saw a lot of.

“The leash situation was a little out of control. There were a lot of dogs there that didn’t have collars and leashes that weren't really fit properly. But mainly retractable leashes that I am really against," she said.

She said a big problem was big dogs on leashes that can't handle them and inattentive owners.

"Dogs will start to go astray and people get tripped, and I did witness a few falls there," she said. “Totally could’ve been prevented."

She said it's also a good idea before a big event to socialize your dog, and get them used to large crowds.

"That detail is overlooked quite often, and so you can't really always predict what a dog is going to do in a situation where there's a whole bunch of animals around, and in that sense I saw a lot of dogs putting on the brakes, slipping out, and going for it," she said.

She recommends avoiding retractable leashes, and making sure your dog is in a collar or harness that fits.