One of the fringe benefits of pet ownership is the built-in social circle. Take a cruise through any city dog park, and you’ll likely see, standing in pack formation apart from the carousing canines, several other groups of well-bred, nicely groomed, social animals — the two-legged kind — yapping about the joys, sorrows, comedic interludes, and exasperating headaches that come with caring for a furry best friend. Tonight, you can socialize with your fellow leash wielders in swankier surroundings at the Liberty Hotel (215 Charles Street, Boston, 617.224.4000) during Yappy Hour, a weekly event that launched earlier this summer. Every Wednesday, the hotel's outdoor patio turns into a puppy pen where pooches are set loose to frolic while their owners likewise mix and mingle (and, if we may suggest, opt for a friendly handshake in place of a how-do-you-do sniffing). While your dog gobbles down complimentary treats, you can saddle up to the cash bar and guzzle some liquid courage to help you make puppy eyes with the potential mate across the way. Yappy Hour runs from 5 to 7 p.m., but if all goes well, there’s no stopping you and Fido from taking a summery stroll, or a howl at the moon, with a fellow animal lover afterward. Woof!
