Grove City brings back Bend Bark, yoga and dog adoption event

Grove City is bringing back Bend & Bark at Breck Park, and this year’s draw is bigger than a simple yoga class. The second annual event will pair a one-hour session with Peace Yoga by Cheryl with adoptable dogs from D.A.S.H. Rescue at Breck Community Park, 3005 Demorest Rd., giving attendees a low-cost chance to stretch, socialize and possibly meet a dog they could take home.

The city’s schedule puts the yoga class from 1 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, followed by a meet-and-mingle from 2 to 3 p.m. with puppy playtime built into the back half of the event. Registration is $5 per person, space is limited and pre-registration is required through Grove City Parks & Recreation. The event is open to ages 10 and up, and anyone under 18 must come with an adult.

What makes Bend & Bark stand out is how clearly it leans into adoption. Grove City says no yoga experience is needed, and participants can do as much or as little yoga as they want. But the city also makes one rule plain: do not bring personal pets, because this is an adoption event first. Attendees are asked to bring their own yoga mat or towel, which keeps the setup simple and makes it easy to show up, participate and spend time with the dogs.

Breck Community Park gives the event a fitting home. It is Grove City’s only dog park, with separate off-leash areas for large and small dogs, and the city’s parks system manages 30 parks across 518 acres. Bend & Bark also lands in a busy stretch for registration, since Grove City Parks & Recreation says online registration is available 24-7 and the May-June 2026 activity guide opened Monday, April 20.

The return engagement matters. A July 2025 dog-focused pop-up at Breck Community Park also featured D.A.S.H., a sign that Grove City has been building a dependable pet-friendly format at the site. With affordable admission, a rescue partner and a clear adoption window after the yoga class, Bend & Bark now reads less like a novelty and more like one of the city’s most practical community events.