Paws At The Palace

Scone Palace, one of Scotland's favourite visitor attractions, is set to welcome an array of dogs (and their owners) to an exclusive summer event where four-legged friends will get the royal treatment.

Paws at the Palace, organised in partnership with Dog Friendly Perthshire, will feature doggy fun and games, competitions, parades of different breeds, agility demonstrations and even some have-a- go sessions for those who fancy giving it a try. The all-day event this Sunday, 30^th June will also include food stalls for both humans and dogs, cool-down areas, and a host of stall holders selling a fabulous selection of doggy gear and gifts.

Scone Palace is also welcoming a very special VIP (Very Important Pooch) to the event - viral Cruft's sensation, Kratu, the Romanian rescue dog.

Delighted crowds watched Kratu wreak havoc around the Crufts agility course at the Birmingham NEC earlier this year and his "shaggy dog story" provided the perfect antidote to the doom and gloom of challenging political times. With millions viewing his hilarious antics on You Tube, Kratu hit the headlines across the globe.

Kratu's owner and trainer Tess Eagle Swan will also be lending her skills to help judge the fun show activities, and with an agility course on site, there may even be a chance to see Kratu perform - as only he can.

The event is a celebration of Scone Palace's recognition as one of the most pet-friendly places to visit in the world. Not only is it a perfect place for a dog walk, but the Palace's Old Kitchen Coffee Shop is open to dogs during the winter months, offering a dog friendly environment to enjoy a scone and coffee and even doggie treats at the end of a walk.

Last summer Scone Palace was named in the top seven of the U.K.'s most pet-friendly places and outranked several other famous Scottish locations, making it the animal lovers' favourite in Scotland. TrustedHousesitters, the world's largest house and pet sitting company, asked its users to vote for the best places in the world to take pets. Scone Palace won the accolade for its spectacular location and dog-friendly attitude.

The organisers are looking forward to welcoming many dog owners to Scone Palace for the special event. Heather McArthur, Events Manager at Scone Palace, said:

"It's clear from the number of four-legged visitors we get to Scone Palace, and from the success of Dog Friendly Perthshire, that we're in a region that loves its dogs. This inspired us  to dedicate a whole day especially to dogs and their owners. It is a chance for pets and their owners to mingle and take part in some fun activities whilst enjoying our beautiful grounds, and learn a thing or two as well."

Katie McCandless Thomas, who launched Dog Friendly Perthshire last year, will be attending along with her Lhasa Apso, Baxter, who fronts her campaign. She said:

"I launched Dog Friendly Perthshire due to popular demand and it now has more than 7000 followers on social media. I'm confident that Perthshire will become the dog-friendly capital of Scotland, and Paws at the Palace is another step towards that happening. We've already had interest from so many dog owners. It's safe to say that Paws at the Palace will be an unmissable event."

Visitors to the event will be charged admission to the Palace grounds. Tickets are available on the Scone Palace Events page.