A NOTE ABOUT DOG PARK CLOSURES

For those of you who are new to our website/facility, you will want to know that the Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District has a "hotline" phone number that you can call during the rainy season to check on whether or not the dog park is open.  When there has been significant rain, they close the dog park to keep the dogs from tearing up the turf.   If you have any doubt about when that applies, you should call the following number (it's a recorded message, so you can access the information 24/7):

        916-966-1011 (extension 23) OR:  Follow this link to the Park District's Field Closure Update page.

The FORDOG volunteer group is NOT informed of changes in status due to weather, so we can't tell you when these closings will occur or how long they will last.  Given the time of the year, we urge you to check to make sure, especially if you live some distance from the dog park.

7TH ANNUAL FAIR OAKS RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERS GROUP "OPEN HOUSE" BETTER THAN EVER!

On Sunday, December 13th, over 30 members of our dog park community shared holiday goodies and a lot of good “visiting” at our annual Holiday Open House – we weren’t keeping track of things when this started, but we think this is number seven!  The weather seems to have kept a few people away, and we know that others had prior commitments with families and church and such, but those that did participate mostly stayed for quite some time, swapping dog stories and generally getting acquainted without the distraction of having to keep track of our dogs.  Just as important, about 580 pounds of dog food and 25 pounds of cat food (plus a number of blankets and towels) were collected for the Sacramento County Animal Shelter.  Those donations were delivered today [December 14th] to the Shelter’s brand-new facility, where staff were quite appreciative of our efforts.  On behalf of FORDOG, a very big “thank you” to everyone who donated, and we’re glad you could join the party!

Recommended Canine Resource for FORDOG Visitors

In our attempt to constantly provide good resources to our dog park community, related to the ownership of dogs, we’d like to introduce you to a website that is packed FULL of good information from experienced dog trainers and veterinarians and canine behaviorists.  The website is for “Dog Star Daily” (http://www.dogstardaily.com/)

You’ll find here information and ideas about a whole host of dog-related issues: nutrition, behavior (e.g. how to deal with excessive barking), training (what works, what doesn’t, and recognizing that what works for Fido may not work with Spot), puppies as Christmas presents, medical concerns, etc.  There are recommendations about books and DVDs.  There are videos and photographs.  There are discussions of various approaches to training.  There’s a list of “contributing editors” (aka bloggers) who have all been part of the training and/or research and/or veterinary world for some time, writing about recent research or training experiences.  At the moment, there’s a long article about Pit Bulls and the on-going, rather passionate conversations about banning them, training them, educating the public about them, educating owners about them, etc. 

Being a GOOD dog owner is a little like being a GOOD parent: much more complicated than we realize in the beginning!  Anyone can do it – own a dog, that is – but to do it right, in a way that is fair to this creature who has more intelligence than many people guess, and with social and emotional needs similar to but different from our own … it’s a challenge.  This website may provide some insights and answers for you.

This is what FORDOG and your dog park are all about …

The following story was reported by John (if you frequent Area 2, you have surely met John, one of our docents, and his Chihuahua, Amigo).  It’s a story that started on the afternoon of December 1st.  It’s not exactly a Christmas story, but it certainly is in the spirit of this season:

When John arrived at the dog park mid-afternoon, he noticed two dogs, a Lab and a Pug, running loose.   Susan, another docent and frequent dog park visitor, had noticed these dogs as well, and together they decided to try to bring them into the park.  Several minutes later, and with the help of another gentleman who lives in the area, the dogs were brought into Area 3 to ensure that they didn’t wander into traffic while a search for their owner(s) began.

John described them as extremely well trained, especially the Lab: “Two beautiful well trained dogs both of whom responded to my commands of sit, stay, and OK.  The Lab, obviously trained for hunting responded to heel, sit, stay. When I'd throw the ball he'd stay until I gave him the release signal, then run and retrieve and return to my left leg and sit.   This guy also knew basic hand and whistle signals.”

While John kept the two dogs busy, Susan rounded up a cell phone and called the County Animal Control; before the evening, she’d called them four times: darkness came, and still no one had come to retrieve the strays.  Several of our regular park visitors offered assistance, but everyone kept hoping that the owner(s) would come looking for their dogs.  Finally, Susan decided to take the Pug to a nearby vet clinic to see if she’d been microchipped.  Meanwhile, Andrew (who visits with Sugar) was texting someone he knows in Pug rescue.

And indeed yes the Pub had been chipped, and reported as stolen.  A message was left.  Still no sign of Animal  Control, and it’s getting seriously dark, and the dog park would be closed shortly.

Based on the Lab’s behavior when Susan took the smaller dog to the vet, everyone agreed that they probably belonged together, and a collective decision was made to keep them together overnight.  Andrew and Alex volunteered to take them home … phone numbers were exchanged … and everyone went their separate ways, concerned about the dogs but relieved to know that the odds of re-uniting them with their owner were now much better – and that they would be safe for the night.

Long story short:  The dogs were indeed re-united with their owner the next day.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The reason we share this story with you is that it is SUCH a good reflection of the spirit of ownership and shared responsibility – the spirit of community – that is nurtured at our dog park.  At least four people were actively involved in rescuing the strays, and at least that many more were concerned enough to offer assistance.  It took teamwork and it took a little self-sacrifice, of time and effort, to get these dogs back to their owner.  More than likely, every one of these “every-day heroes” would say that they did nothing special, and in fact this story – or episodes very like it – have happened several times at our dog park over the past eight years.  We just thought you should know.