Volume 1, Number 2                                                                                                                    January, 2010

 

      Our Christmas Party

   It was a nice sunny November day at the dog park. There were a nice group of dogs playing and their owners watching and socializing. Everyone was talking about Christmas being right around the corner and someone says, "We should have a Christmas party at the dog park." Others joined in and agreed. And so it began, first we set a date, which was hard for everyone to agree on but Dec. 13th was chosen. Then we made food plans and everyone would bring a treat for the people and I said I would make homemade dog biscuits for the dogs.      

    Dec. 13th came and it was cold and drizzling rain off and on. It had also rained a lot in the past days. But a few of us die-hards came anyway even though the Colts were playing. I am so glad we went for it because we had a great time! We grilled hot dogs thanks to the grill master "Molly's" dad and "Boo's" mom for bringing everything we needed to cook and garnish and eat them. "Boo's" mom provided us with warmth by bringing her portable firepit. We had cookies and candy and "Mocha's" mom brought homemade eggnog. Hum good! "Peanut's" dad brought popcorn chicken and "Belle's" mom even brought "Puppy Chow" for the humans. In case you are wondering it is a great dessert not actually Puppy Chow!                                     
    Now for the dogs, they had the best time ever. They played and watched us very carefully as we ate. But, as I mentioned, it had rained a lot and they thought they were at a mud spa. It was so bad that "Molly's" mom went home and got old towels so owners could take their dogs home without destroying their vehicles. The horror stories the next days about how hard it was to wash the dogs was never ending. Me,"Josie's" mom, being one of them. As I carried her into the house wrapped in a towel, she managed to swipe her paw across the wall leaving a mud streak all the way to the bathroom. My drain got clogged with mud 3 times before she was clean. My clothes had to be washed twice to get them clean. Boy I'm glad I could tell that story one more time! Oh, but back to how much fun they had. "Kirby" and his dad were fairly new to the park and Kirby just fit right in playing and running. He was so much fun to watch. We had tons of dog treats for them, "Sweet Pea's" mom made individual treat bags for all the dogs and "Molly's" mom got rawhide treats for all of them. Everyone who was there had a special part in making our Christmas party such a great time and I want to thank all of them for joining in the fun. I am sure that there will be more fun times to come!     Barb Casler

 Jack Plays in Tennessee

On a recent visit down south, we visited the Chattanooga Chew Chew Canine Park.J

 Located at 1801 Carter Street, behind the First Tennessee Pavilion, the park has fountains and a separate small dog area. The web site warns that it can be muddy, but was fine the day we were there in October. Several sapling trees promise eventual shade. Kelly & Emily Roark and Jack

OUR NEW BULLETIN BOARD

Our new bulletin board has been installed.  Special thanks go to Pals for Paws for funding the materials in memory of “Max” and to Jack Sircle for building and installing the bulletin board.  This two sided board will provide news and information on site at our favorite dog park.  If you have materials to be posted, please send them to John Martino at Kokomo Parks Department, 1402 W. Boulevard, Kokomo, In 46901.

 

Pet parent Jack and Buddy await exciting information at our new bulletin board.

Interesting Article

The December09/January10 ELKS MAGAZINE has an excellent article on “First Families and their Pets”. This unexpected source has portrayed the many four-footed critters that have shared the White House.  Did you know that only three presidents did not bring some type of pet into the White House?   Many of us remember “Buddy”, “Socks”, “Him and Her” and “Bo” – but our Presidents’ home has also housed goats, cows, chickens, hamsters, snakes and other critters!  Apparently none of the animals were shy nor particularly respectful of the highest office in the land – many of them found ways to “crash” official gatherings and social events!

Can you Match?

 

President                                       Pet’s Name                         Pet’s Breed

1.       President Harding                      a.  Fala                                  aa. Terrier

2.       President Kennedy                   b. Pauline Wayne             bb. White Collie

3.       President Clinton                       c.  Laddie Boy                     cc. Scottie

4.       President Harrison                    d. MM Ying Yang              dd. goat

5.        President Taft                            e. Socks                                                ee. Siamese

6.       President Carter                         f. Rob Roy                           ff. pony

7.        President F. Roosevelt           g. Him & Her.                     gg. cat

8.       President Coolidge                    h. Macaroni                        hh. Beagle

9.       President Johnson                    i. Jack                                    ii. Cow

10.   President T. Roosevelt            j. Old Whiskers                  jj. . Airedale

 

                         

A summer afternoon in our favorite park.  (Summer will return! )

My Story: A Kokomo Humane Society Rescue

My story begins in December of 2008.  I was found inside the fence at the Kokomo Humane Society in the north end of Kokomo.  The staff found me there when they came to work. 

My future parents had just lost their miniature dachshund “Kerby” and my dad’s niece wanted to find a new companion for them.  Her husband searched for just the right one and saw me at the Humane Society.  When my future new dad came to the Humane Society to give me the “once over” we were playing when he noticed that I was having trouble seeing the toys.  That’s when the attendant told him that I had cataracts.  Dad said, “You will probably have to put her to sleep, won’t you.  She said “No, we won’t do that but it will take a longer time to find her a home”  -- Dad said, “No, she has just found her new home!”  Usually it takes a week to ten days for us to go to new homes, but my new Dad said “Will you call the Northeast Animal Clinic and tell them Don Wright has a new dog and wants to bring it over for an examination?”  The rest is history, as I went home with my new family on December 19, 2008.

After the holidays, my new parents started checking on the possibility of eye surgery for me.  The clinic in Indianapolis was expensive and my new doctor, Dr. Cooney at Northeast Animal Clinic gave my dad a referral to Purdue Small Animal Clinic.  At an evaluation in March, 2009 (boy, did a lot of people look at my eyes!!), they said I was a good candidate for cataract surgery and the price was affordable. A procedure in April was done to keep my retinas from becoming detached and when my eyes healed from that I was scheduled for surgery on June 10.  Mom and Dad took me over to Purdue and I had to spend the night alone (I was sorta scared).  Then Dr. Martin Coster and Dr. Heidi Klein were able to do the surgery including implanting a lens in my left eye.  The chamber was too small to do an implant in my right eye.  I CAN SEE!  And it is so much fun chasing “Miss Kitty” around the house – she’s better than a toy!

I enjoy barking at the swans and going for boat rides at the lake house and making funny little yodels when I get excited.  My Aunt Gail & Uncle Don help spoil me and I have them trained to give me tummy rubs.

I am glad to share my story with you and I am so thankful that my new parents gave me a good home.  If you are looking for a pet, check with the Kokomo Humane Society and give another dog the same chance that I have had.  Thank you.

“Molly” Wright

(Molly is a seven pound black miniature schnauzer mix with the energy of a whirlwind

 

 

Wow!  Have you seen our new entry way??

The Parks Department has improved the entrance to the dog park.  A newly laid concrete walk area extends on both sides of the main gate as well as through the enclosed gate area.  New sod has been laid around the entrance also.  This step is a great improvement as our entrance had seemed to attract mud!!!

 

 

 

Boo, an 8 month old Goldendoodle, enjoys his first Christmas Party at the Kokomo Dog Park!!  He figures the mud treatment is just a part of the holiday festivities!!

Sometimes a little kid just has to play in the mud!!!!  It’s what kids do!

 

 

 

Winter Fun in Kokomo’s Favorite Dog Park