The surface level reading of the hit ’90s-to-early-’00s situational comedy Frasier is the story of a barfly psychiatrist, Frasier Crane, returning to his home town of Seattle from Boston and moving in with his dad after his marriage ends.

The CityMag reading of the same television show is a grand utopian vision of a city where Eddie the Dog (arguably the show’s main character, despite the series’ title) lives happily in his apartment, in a society that treats him as though he were no different to his bipedal housemates.

This is also the vision we see for Adelaide’s future, and it’s the cause at the heart of this weekend’s doggy music festival, Houndwave.

“I’d ideally like to see the city a lot more dog friendly. A lot of European cities have green turfing spaces… and water bowls, and you’ll find there’s a few cafés and restaurants that are starting to put out water bowls for dogs, but not many,” says Helen Page – President of the Adelaide West End Association, which organises the event.

“I think over 40 per cent of families have dogs, and the statistics in the City of Adelaide are rather low, I think only 800 dogs are registered with council. And with the influx of residents through the new apartments and so forth, where do people take their dogs when they do move into the city?”

This is exactly what Fred the CityMag Sausage Dog has been saying for years.

To come along and support the cause, or just to hang out and listen to some local musicians in the company of pups, head to Light Square this Saturday, 1 April at 11am (this is not an April Fools – we promise).

Entry is free, there will be booze, food, and a bunch of dog-related stalls, and among the many talented Adelaide musicians there may (or may not) be a special appearance from local dachshund-about-town and ukulele expert, Mr Chuck (pictured, but no promises – he’s known to be a diva).