Jenna Beauchesne, left, a resident of Dracut, Mass., and Alexis Charbonneau of Hudson, stayed busy among 23 vendors at the recent Wags to Whiskers animal adoption festival by representing the Animal Hospital of Nashua and AMC Medical Center Emergency Referral of New England. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

MERRIMACK – Chocolate. Onions. Avocados. Grapes. These nibbles and many more ingestibles are toxic to dogs, so said the canine poison control experts among 23 vendors of all things canine or feline at the annual Wags to Whiskers Festival, a pet adoption event hosted on Sept. 6 at Anheuser-Busch in Merrimack by the Humane Society for Greater Nashua (HSFN).

“This year’s annual animal adoption festival drew around a thousand animal lovers from several states,” said Jennifer LeBlanc, director of partnerships and corporate gifts. “Twelve out of the 16 adorable dogs we brought today found their forever homes.”

Everywhere, dogs of every size and color led their owners past row upon row of booths manned by vendors of a wide variety of wares. The grassy field at the venue was perfect for walkies. Shepherds, terriers, labs and chihuahuas on leashes sniffed the sod and begged for treats.

Merrimack’s Pets Choice was on hand with snacks for dogs and cats. Music boomed from a broadcast booth courtesy of Live Free Country radio 96.5 FM. Kids lined up for face painting that included cat whiskers. Lunch selections from mobile units provided sausage subs, beverages and ice cream.

Nashua was well represented by staffers from AMC Animal Medical Center and the Animal Hospital of Nashua. There, too, were reps from Veterinary Urgent Care on Daniel Webster Highway and many other local providers of pet foods, pet apparel, pet toys and safety products such as lighted doggie vests.

Nashua Police Officer John Turcotte and his K9 partner, "Ellie," thrilled youngsters and adults alike as the crowd attending this year's Wags to Whiskers animal adoption event visited the officer and the chocolate lab that is the department's certified community therapy and tracking dog. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Nashua attendee Laurie Boudreau arrived with a stately Golden Retriever named “Sage.” Linda Marquis of Nashua accompanied her and stopped to fluff the fur of “Winnie,” Marquis’s little black shitzu. Both praised the efforts of the Humane Society for Greater Nashua in its quest to help animals in need.

“It’s important work they do,” said Marquis. “I adopted my previous dog from them as a rescue.”

Other dogs drawing the spotlight that day were displayed by officers from the Nashua, Hollis and Merrimack police departments. Officer John Turcotte of the Nashua police brought “Ellie.” Merrimack Patrol Officer Steve Wallin showed off an agile K9 named “Drei.” In addition, Hollis Police Chief Brendan LaFlamme shared visits with “Skippy.”

A pair of HSFN volunteers — photographer Tim Niss of Tewksbury, Mass., and Alyssa Dunham of Londonderry — stopped to visit with a young brown dog, up for adoption. The pup leaned toward her from within one of a couple dozen cages in the adoption center tent. All but three of the cages were empty, for the occupants had found forever homes.

Dunham settled onto the grass alongside the cage and stroked the brindle-coated pup through the wires.

Wags to Whiskers volunteers Tim Niss of Tewksbury, Mass., and Alyssa Dunham of Londonderry visit with one of 16 pups up for adoption at the Humane Society of Greater Nashua's most recent Wags to Whiskers festival presented amid 26 vendors and a variety of supportive organizations at Anheuser-Busch in Merrimack on Sept. 6. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

“I already have two dogs at home,” she sighed, as though considering the addition of a third.

Niss said, “These dogs that are being adopted are getting a good start in a new home where they will have a lot of happiness.”

More information on the Humane Society for Greater Nashua can be found online at hsfn.org.

Nashuans Laurie Boudreau, left, and Linda Marquis, longtime pet owners and supporters of the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, prepare to join around a reported 1,000 attendees to the recent Wags to Whiskers animal adoption festival on the grounds of Anheuser-Busch in Merrimack. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

Celebrating the adoption of 12 out of 16 dogs presented to the public at the recent Wags to Whiskers annual festival hosted by Humane Society for Greater Nashua are these coordinators, from left, Atlee Jensen of New Ipswich, Kateland Ennis of Manchester, Jennifer LeBlanc of Northborough, Mass.,  and Kelly Boyce of Merrimack. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON