Guau Fest: Autumn Animal Welfare Festival Returns Sunday Dog lovers and families across Manilva and Casares Costa prepare for the annual Guau Fest pet celebration this Sunday 27 September. Dog leads are being untangled and travel bowls packed across the western Costa del Sol this Friday morning as Guau Fest prepares to return for its third edition this Sunday 27 September. The open-air canine gathering takes over the lawns of Jardines del Rosario, situated right along the coastal boundary between Manilva and Casares Costa. Gates open at 11:00 am, launching several hours of free family entertainment, demonstrations, and community-led animal welfare initiatives. Now an established autumn fixture for British expats, northern European residents, and local Andalusian families, the event bridges the seasonal transition as summer crowds thin out. The festival is organised in direct collaboration with local authorities and animal associations, operating hand in hand with the wider municipal "Deja Huella" (Leave a Mark) campaign. The drive promotes responsible dog ownership, urging owners to clean up after their pets and respect public coastal walkways. Demonstrations and Specialised Training Visitors can look forward to a busy morning on the grass, featuring informal agility courses, fun novelty categories, and practical behavioural advice clinics led by local canine educators. A key highlight on the programme is an operational display by professional working dogs, including a dedicated demonstration by the canine unit from La Línea Local Police, giving spectators a close look at detection and assistance work. Beyond formal training, the festival has expanded its schedule with interactive sessions designed for all ages. Pet parents can drop into a canine bakery demonstration to learn how to prepare healthy homemade treats, while children can join animal-themed illustration workshops. Free gifts under the "Casares Dog Lovers" banner will also be handed out to early arrivals bringing their four-legged companions. Lifeline for Local Animal Charities The festival remains a crucial platform for animal protection groups operating between Estepona and the Campo de Gibraltar. Well-established volunteer charities, including regional shelters that rescue abandoned animals across San Luis de Sabinillas and inland valleys, will host adoption parades throughout the day. These walks give rescue dogs direct exposure to prospective owners in a relaxed, social setting. Autumn fundraisers are essential for regional rescues. As temperatures drop and the off-season approaches, volunteer groups rely heavily on private donations to fund kennel maintenance, veterinary operations, and winter feeding programmes. Information stands staffed by registered charities will offer advice on fostering, volunteering, and complying with Spanish animal welfare regulations, including mandatory identification and microchipping rules. Practical Details for Visitors Entry to the parkland is free, with pet accessory stalls, veterinary advisory stands, and catering vans serving refreshments throughout the morning. For those travelling along the coast, Jardines del Rosario sits just off the A-7 coastal road, within walking distance of the seafront promenade connecting Sabinillas with Casares Costa. Local police and municipal civil protection officers will manage traffic flow and designate parking zones near the venue to prevent bottlenecks on the access roundabouts. With clear skies and comfortable late-September temperatures forecast across the western Costa del Sol, organizers advise attendees to bring standard non-extendable leads and plenty of fresh water for their dogs.