As fresh snow welcomed Bostonians into the first day of February, dog moms and dads alike joined together to celebrate the month of love at the Boston Dog Moms Valentine’s Day Barkuterie Brunch in one of the city’s national historic landmarks: The Liberty Hotel. Hosted by a growing organization founded in 2023, the event surpassed attendants’ expectations and featured dog-friendly charcuterie boards, VIP portrait sessions, raffle games and a chance to give back to the community through donations.
Boston Dog Moms was founded by Andi Garbarino, an English teacher who moved to Boston in 2019. Garbarino began to professionally organize dog events, walks and meet-ups during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time where, “All of my friends came from Facebook groups and people in the dog park by my apartment,” Garbarino said. She has spent the last two years building Boston Dog Moms with the mission of helping members keep their pets safe and healthy.
“Nonprofits have always been really important to us,” Garbarino said, adding that the PAWsitive Pantry, a Vermont- and Massachusetts-based pet-focused nonprofit, worked with Boston Dog Moms to make this event possible. The charitable organization had pet supplies available to all event attendees, ranging from dog food to winter jackets and leash gear. They also contributed to some of the event activities by inviting dog owners to donate an item to the pet shelf in exchange for a raffle ticket.
“I actually came in and I started crying because it was so beautiful. There were volunteers. There were other local businesses here,” said Sarah Oullette, a Boston dog mom who teaches in the Brookline neighborhood. She described the atmosphere of the room as warm and inviting — the perfect place for dog parents to socialize, meet other pets and enjoy a few bites of fruit, cheese or cured meats from the charcuterie boards.
Oullette also highlighted the ease of connecting with people at dog-friendly events because local pet shop owners and small businesses are known to collaborate with Boston Dog Moms as a way to get to know the community.
Throughout the Barkuterie Brunch, host Amanda Marie entertained visitors and their pups with games, raffle tickets and fun contests. Some of the amusements included a “find your dog’s doppelgänger” competition and a small drop-off box where dog owners could deposit anonymous Valentine’s Day notes dedicated to their pets.
Marie also preserved the spirit of the event by playing lively music, announcing the Valentine’s Day dedications and promoting the local business working the Barkuterie Brunch.
“This is [a] wonderful event. … I mean, you know, dogs, it transcends everything, doesn’t it?” said Kenny Young, a luxury limousine car business owner and dog dad of three years. Young brought his best friend Molly along with him, a 6-year-old Coton de Tuléar dressed in pink in accordance with the Valentine’s Day theme.
Although the first of its kind, the Barkuterie Brunch was a huge success among Boston’s dog community.
As they expand their events and outreach, Boston Dog Moms is on their way to becoming a staple in Boston’s pet-friendly scene, ensuring that both pets and their owners have meaningful experiences with the community that surrounds them.
