The TurfMutt Foundation’s Mutt Madness finds forever homes for 13 shelter dogs

At the event, the Foundation also presented a $10,000 donation to the Kentucky Humane Ssociety. 

The TurfMutt Foundation’s 7th Annual Mulligan’s Mutt Madness, held in partnership with the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS) at Equip Exposition 2025, was a huge success with 13 shelter dogs finding their forever homes. A beloved Equip tradition, the popular event featured three-time Emmy-winning host of Lucky Dog, Brandon McMillan, who was on hand to celebrate with new pet parents. At the event, the Foundation also presented a $10,000 donation to KHS. 

“It’s incredible that 13 lucky dogs left Equip to start their new lives with people who have a soft spot for the green industry and dogs in need,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and the TurfMutt Foundation. "On behalf of Equip and TurfMutt, I want to extend our warmest congratulations to the new adopters and welcome them into our TurfMutt ‘Howl of Fame.’”  

The newly adopted pups are already enjoying their new lives. Annie Brock, first-time Equip attendee, fell for a chill chihuahua she named Skid. “He was super calm for a chihuahua and that’s really what I liked about him,” says Brock. “Skid is doing great here at our farm in Illinois. He loves my other two dogs and he and my daughter are already best buds.” 

Jessica Shinkle, an event manager at the Kentucky Expo Center (KEC) where Equip was held, said, “I always go to the Mutt Madness to look at the cute pups, but when I saw Rose, I knew she would be a great playmate for our two-year-old dog, Jack. He is super gentle with Rose, and we are very pleased with our new addition!” 

Over the years, Mutt Madness has matched more than 100 dogs with their humans. In fact, Mulligan the TurfMutt — the spokesdog for the TurfMutt Foundation — was adopted by Kiser at the 2019 Mutt Madness event, making the effort deeply personal for the organization.

“It’s hard to beat seeing great dogs find great people,” says Alisa Gray, president & CEO of KHS. “This year, we had Equip attendees coming to our shelter the next day to adopt dogs they met at the event. Mulligan’s Mutt Madness is the event that just keeps on giving!"

To learn more about the transformative power of parks and backyards for people, pets and the planet, go to TurfMutt.com.  

About Equip Exposition 

Equip Exposition, the international landscape, outdoor living and equipment exposition, is held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, and is the third largest trade show in the United States. The show is a Trade Show Executive Gold 100 Grand Award Winner and is co-located with Hardscape North America. Equip publishes “equip" magazine and is owned and managed by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, an international trade association representing manufacturers of outdoor power equipment, parts, small engines, battery power systems, portable generators, utility and personal transport vehicles, golf cars and their suppliers. For more information visit  www.EquipExposition.com.  

About the TurfMutt Foundation

TurfMutt, which celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2024, was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation and has reached more than 70 million children, educators and families since 2009. The Foundation is title sponsor of “Lucky Dog,” the Emmy Award-winning CBS broadcast television show in support of dog rescue and rehabilitation. Both TurfMutt spokesdogs have been rescue dogs, and Mutt Mulligan is a cast character on the show, where her “Mulligan Minute” segments teach viewers about the benefits of green space. In 2024, the Great Lawn at Louisville’s award-winning Waterfront Park on the Ohio River was renamed the TurfMutt Foundation Great Lawn as part of a $1 million sponsorship. Championed by Mulligan the TurfMutt and through education partners such as Scholastic, Discovery, Weekly Reader and the USBGC Global Learning Lab, TurfMutt has taught students and teachers how to “save the planet, one yard at a time.” TurfMutt has been an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series won the coveted Cynopsis Kids Imagination Award for Best Interstitial Series. More information at www.TurfMutt.com.