This is the first Tales from Dog Park. I got the idea after many conversations with folks sitting on a bench, at one of the dog parks in Chicago. Hearing stories from people who wer e rich, poor, each with their own amazing story. Since I am a storyteller, I decided these stories of people and their dogs must be shared. But, the bottom line is we love dogs, dogs, dogs! And, MUST LOVE DOGS, goes without saying.
Dog Park is part melodrama, part psychodrama and total love of dogs. I can't remember when I first went to dog park. My dog, Jordan Simone, a Border Collie/ Golden or Flat Coat Retriever mix, whom I got from Anti-Cruelty in Chicago. She is my third rescue dog. In truth, these poochies rescue us, don't they? Jordan is a herding dog and goes around dog park barking at dogs who are being naughty...fighting or such. She is a total sweetheart and people call her "pretty girl". She is all girl dog, 11 years old and in good shape. I have had her 5 years and don't know what I would do without her.
This is the advent of PUPPY SEASON. We have had several fantastic new puppy arrivals recently. Monk, a 4 month old, brown and black Tibetan Mastiff pup of 30 pounds (who will get to 180 pounds) today was wrestling with cute Beagle- Bull dog (bugle) of three months. His name is Bubba. They had a jolly old time and kept everyone in dog park adoring each of them.
Then there is: Hank (the tank) 4 month old yellow lab pup. He is husky and hence the sobriquet of "The Tank". Steve, the Chuauah ...(looks like mini Visala) and Henry. Henry is a three month old English Bull dog and a cuddly delight. Winnie and Marcellus are cuddly little critters that grace the park around one PM daily. So, welcome to you all.. welcome to the Park Pack.
After you go to the same dog park around the same time each day, you will begin to meet what I call, "The Dog People". In Wiggly Field, they are known as the "Usual Suspects". Among these dogs are: a Wheaton Terrier named "Mochie" (that is a name of a Japanese dessert and I hope it is correctly spelled). Vinny and Paulie, pointer/mix dogs rescued from Kentucky, where alot of rescue dogs come from. In the rural South, often times dogs are allowed to go wild or just get a bullet in the heads. Vinny and Paulie (named after characters in the Sopranos) do not come much to dog park these days due to problems getting along with other dogs "issues". But they are missed and will be part of the Park Pack, always. Lizzie, Floyd, Mojo, Angus, Oliver, Promise, Canberraa, BoBo, Cassy, Leila, Rosie and many more will be shared here. So, stay tuned.
We all have memories of some of our dog friends who have gone "over the rainbow bridge", like Buster the chocalate lab. We have seen their humans grieve like losing a child. For many, their dogs are their children. The dogs heal our hearts.
The soap opera called Dog Park is an on-going story. Yesterday, I went to Hamlin Dog Park. A blood hound, Swiss Mountain dog mix named Trooper, at the urging of his human, bayed for me. The human told me the other day, a couple, well dressed (a big mistake at dog park) were having their first visit to dog park. It was a bit muddy and someone's dog jumped up on the wife and got her fancy clothes dirty. The husband, went over to the owner of the offending dog and they got into each other's faces. It almost evolved into a fist fight. But fortunately, the conflict dissolved. No one apologized and everyone went home. Quite an experience for dog park virgins. Live and learn and never wear anything you don't want to get dirty, muddy, or slobbered on to dog park. That's one of the unwritten rules of dog park. Some of these rules are unwritten and some are quite clearly posted. One of the written rules is: pick up your dog poo. As Gary, human to Floyd (chocalate lab) and Mojo (yellow/reddish lab, senior citizen) has been known to say, " Oh, it's Sunday, no one has to pick up dog poo on the weekends." That is because some of the people who come on weekends, do not closely watch their dogs and their dog's bathroom habits. The weekday and regulars are religious about picking up of the poo. What can you do? Pick up the poo.
I promised Joseph, our 13 year old Wiggly Park teen mascot that I would mention him and the fact that my dog Jordan is Joseph's dog girlfriend. Joseph is constantly being teased and cajoled by Gary and other guys at dog park. I think those guys remember what it was like to be 13 years old. Joseph is a sweetie. So, Joseph (who is human to Izzy, an American Bull Terrier) remember that you were mentioned in the very first blog!
I am looking for someone who is willing to do photos and upload these photos to this blog. anyone interested, just let me know. Also, let your friends know about this blog. The more the merrier. And dogs, do not care about the economy or job problems or anything much else. I love the joke about" When you ask a dog what time it is, they always say, "now, now, now. We should learn that one.
So, here it is: the maiden voyage of Tales from Dog Park. I hope that you enjoyed this inaugural blog and tune in again. The photos of dogs and humans will light up these stories soon. Humans will get pseudonyms, as the names will be changed to protect the innocent. And dog will be, well, dogs.
Dogs will always love you no matter what. They just want a little love, food, shelter and care. In return they will heal your hearts. As Franz Kafka, that amuzing Czech author proclaimed,
"All wisdom and knowledge resides in dogs". I couldn't agree more.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Premier of Tales from Dog Park
Today is the first blog from the Tales from Dog Park. I thought of calling it "Tails from Dog Park", but Tales encompasses both dog and people. This is about dogs and their owners and their passion for each other. Dog Park is a microcosm of urban dog owner life. It is, also, a view of the dog pack in action. For more than anything else, dogs want to be with a pack. They are, after all, pack animals. Since dogs are the cast of characters, I will shortly be adding photos of dogs and their stories.
I will start with my dog, Jordan. She is an 11 year old mostly black Border Collie and Golden Retriever/ Flat Coat Retriever mix. Not sure about that second part. She has a tuxedo shirt white spot on her chest. Jordan came from the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago. She was then 6 1/2 years old and had been given up by her first family 4 months earlier. She had been in a cage for the entire 4 months. No one wanted her. She was not the pretty girl that she is now. She had lost 20 pounds, had a permanently dripping eye, had no hair left on her bottom or tale. he was so depressed and hopeless that I had to call her name "Simone" three times before she lifted her head up and made eye contact. The look on her angel face said, "Could you want me, because no one has wanted me in four months."
When Jordan (whose name was originally Simone, hence her name Jordan Simone), made eye contact, she looked into my soul. And, it was love at first eye contact. That was it. She was my dog.
It was funny because I was not looking for a dog. I had previously rescued two pure bred golden Retrievers, Lucy and Abby...both fantastic dogs. I have great dog kharma, with men, not so good. I had been planning to get another golden, but had a funny dream. I dreamed that Lucy the Golden came to me and told me it was time to get a new dog. I was moving and had no plans to get a new dog. One thing was that in this dream, Lucy looked like a black Border Collie with a white chest. So, I went to the Anti-Cruelty to donate dog food. When I popped into the dog room, I saw the dog from my dream. So, what else could I do? I took Jordan home with me that night.
That is my dog story. There are many other
I will start with my dog, Jordan. She is an 11 year old mostly black Border Collie and Golden Retriever/ Flat Coat Retriever mix. Not sure about that second part. She has a tuxedo shirt white spot on her chest. Jordan came from the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago. She was then 6 1/2 years old and had been given up by her first family 4 months earlier. She had been in a cage for the entire 4 months. No one wanted her. She was not the pretty girl that she is now. She had lost 20 pounds, had a permanently dripping eye, had no hair left on her bottom or tale. he was so depressed and hopeless that I had to call her name "Simone" three times before she lifted her head up and made eye contact. The look on her angel face said, "Could you want me, because no one has wanted me in four months."
When Jordan (whose name was originally Simone, hence her name Jordan Simone), made eye contact, she looked into my soul. And, it was love at first eye contact. That was it. She was my dog.
It was funny because I was not looking for a dog. I had previously rescued two pure bred golden Retrievers, Lucy and Abby...both fantastic dogs. I have great dog kharma, with men, not so good. I had been planning to get another golden, but had a funny dream. I dreamed that Lucy the Golden came to me and told me it was time to get a new dog. I was moving and had no plans to get a new dog. One thing was that in this dream, Lucy looked like a black Border Collie with a white chest. So, I went to the Anti-Cruelty to donate dog food. When I popped into the dog room, I saw the dog from my dream. So, what else could I do? I took Jordan home with me that night.
That is my dog story. There are many other
TALES FROM DOG PARK vol. 1 number 1
Hello Dog People,
This is my first blog about Dog Park. It is part melodram, part psycho-drama and all for the love of dogs. I have been going to Wiggly Field Dog Park for more than 2 years. ( Photos of dogs will be added very soon...for they are the cast of characters). Jordan, my dog a rescue from Anti-Cruelty when she was 6 1/2 years old. I have had her for 5 years and at 11 years old, she is pretty and peppy and in good healthy. She rescued me.
Curiosity about the variety of dogs who show up at dog park (dp) is an ever expanding wonder. Most dogs there are rescue dogs. Some refer to their rescue dogs as mutts. I prefer the concept of hybrids. So
This is my first blog about Dog Park. It is part melodram, part psycho-drama and all for the love of dogs. I have been going to Wiggly Field Dog Park for more than 2 years. ( Photos of dogs will be added very soon...for they are the cast of characters). Jordan, my dog a rescue from Anti-Cruelty when she was 6 1/2 years old. I have had her for 5 years and at 11 years old, she is pretty and peppy and in good healthy. She rescued me.
Curiosity about the variety of dogs who show up at dog park (dp) is an ever expanding wonder. Most dogs there are rescue dogs. Some refer to their rescue dogs as mutts. I prefer the concept of hybrids. So
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