Celebrating Pride Through Community, Creativity and Pets

If you spent last Saturday at Bristol Pride's Dog Show, you'll know it was about much more than adorable dogs (although there were plenty of those). It was a celebration of community, inclusivity and the incredible bond between people and their pets, and we're so grateful that Waggel had the opportunity to be part of it.

Our team spent the day at the event, meeting lots of wonderful people and, of course, their four-legged companions. From the moment you arrived, the atmosphere was impossible not to smile at. There were colourful outfits, wagging tails, proud pet parents and a real sense of belonging that carried through the entire day.

As the different rounds of the dog show got underway, you couldn't help but get caught up in the excitement. Every dog had their own personality, every owner had a story to tell, and every round was met with cheers from the crowd (not to be biased, but our favourite was Pig.) It wasn't really about who took home a rosette; it was about celebrating the joy our pets bring into our lives.

We also loved sharing something we'd created especially for the event: our first-ever Bristol Pride zine. Rather than handing out traditional leaflets, we wanted to make something people would actually enjoy reading and take home with them. Inside, readers found an interview with a queer couple from London about life with their dog, a beautiful pull-out poster created by a Madrid-based illustrator, an agony aunt column and a collection of articles exploring pets, community and identity. Seeing people stop to flick through the pages, smile at the illustrations and chat to us about the stories inside made all the work that went into creating it worthwhile.

One of the best parts of the day was simply talking to people. Throughout the event, we met pet parents from all walks of life, hearing stories about rescue dogs, lifelong companions and the little quirks that make every pet unique. Dogs have an incredible way of bringing people together. Whether you're chatting while queueing for a coffee or admiring someone else's pup, they make conversations happen naturally and remind you just how powerful those everyday connections can be. And to us, that's one of the reasons events like Bristol Pride Dog Show are so important.

In today's world, where LGBTQ+ communities continue to face growing challenges in many places, safe, welcoming spaces like Pride matter more than ever. They're an opportunity to celebrate identity, champion inclusivity and remind people that everyone deserves to feel seen, accepted and supported. Being able to partner with Bristol Pride Dog Show was something we're incredibly proud of, and seeing so many people come together in such a positive environment made the day even more special.

If you've ever shared your life with a dog, you'll know they're often much more than a pet. They're a source of comfort on difficult days, a reason to get outside when you need it most and a constant source of unconditional love. For many people, dogs become an emotional lifeline, helping to ease loneliness, improve mental wellbeing and provide stability through life's ups and downs. After speaking to so many attendees throughout the day, it was clear just how important that bond is.

Alongside our More Love zine, we created a collection of bespoke Pride tote bags exclusively for the first-place winners at the show. Designed in-house by the Waggel team, the totes were created as a celebration of the community, creativity and inclusivity at the heart of this year's campaign.

Each winner also received a selection of treats from our brilliant partners, Pooch & Mutt and Pet Hamper, helping to make every victory even better. By bringing together like-minded brands that care about pets and the people who love them, we hoped to create prizes that reflected the spirit of Pride: generous, joyful and full of love.

For us, supporting Bristol Pride wasn't simply about attending an event. It was about standing alongside a community that shares values we care deeply about: kindness, inclusion and celebrating people for exactly who they are. Those values are reflected in the people we meet every day and in the relationships they share with their pets.

If you stopped by to say hello, introduced us to your dog or picked up one of our Pride zines, thank you! You helped make the day one to remember. And if you couldn't make it this year, we hope to see you at the next one. We'll certainly be there.