When I see a dog named Sugar Momma coming to Mity Nice’s Second Sunday this weekend, I can’t help but feel good about life and the events we are creating (with much assistance from many wonderful people).

Our Second Sunday events are part of our efforts to be engaged and generous, and support causes we care about. So every month, we dream up something fun to bring more people into the amazing Ann Arbor Sunday Artisan Market. They are our partner on these events, and also we hope a recipient of some of the good karma and good customers that come to Kerrytown to enjoy the day’s activities.

Then, just to live up to our name, we try to add a second charity partner, one that fits the theme of the month’s event. So for May’s Making It & Moms, the Girl Scouts came in, sold cookies and talked about their summer camps. For Dads & Dogs, we’re bringing in the Last Day Dog Rescue group.

This is an all-volunteer group, where dogs stay in foster parents’ homes around the region. For the pet adoption event Sunday, one foster mom has signed up Sugar Momma, a sweet American bulldog and boxer mix. This cute, friendly pooch lives in Chelsea with our friend, April, (who we met when we adopted our dog Dannie Girl from the organization more than a year ago).

“She’s way sweeter than her name,” April says of Sugar Momma, and she will be great in a home with children. She’s also more interested in people than other pets. Sugar Momma is currently being treated for heartworm, so even if you cannot take her home, you could contribute to her care.

Last Day foster families are caring for close to 180 dogs and cats, and  April always has two or three or extra dogs staying with her.

We especially like Last Day Dog Rescue because its overhead is very low – they’re all volunteer and do not have a building to maintain- and because they save dogs that other shelters are about to destroy.  So we are donating 20 percent of our Dads & Dogs Italian ice sales to the organization.

Those who bring their own dogs to the Artisan Market will have fun too.

We’re thrilled to have some fun dog puzzles for pooches to play before, during or after the event. They come from Dogma Catmantoo,  just down Fourth from us. (Coming soon – a page of appreciation for the businesses and other sponsors that collaborate with us!)

We will have plenty of water bowls for your pooches and some treats along the artisans’ booths. The dog fashion show registration starts at 12:45 p.m. and the show begins at 1:30. (If your dog is not friendly or socialized enough to show up amid a bunch of dogs and kids and people, please bring a photo or submit it on our Facebook page!) And for those who can’t stand attire on a pet with a beautiful natural coat, it is a clothing optional fashion show!