Dog Days at the Lake

We can tell it's fall here, not because the leaves begin to turn (it's still in the 90's), not because the kids go back to school (kids here have been in school since the middle of August), but when they open up the swimming lagoon at the local park for the dogs. It's a wonderful way for the dogs and their humans to start the day. For a modest donation of $3, we could take Ozzie through the double gates to the lagoon, along with his sticks, and watch him make a bee line for the water. Being a bird dog, he faces the water waiting for the splash of the stick, rather than watching the stick itself as it is thrown.

We also bought some raffle tickets.

There were all the usual suspects--dozens of labradors charging into the water after tennis balls, sticks frisbees, and each other, a few other big dogs chasing each other madly around the track formed by the sandy beach, a Bassett Hound rolling in the cool sand and a Siberian Husky ankle deep at the edge of the water, daintily shaking his paws like a cat which has accidentally gotten into a puddle. There were a number of dogs, whose breed was not immediately obvious, and two Newfoundlands who had no interest in retrieving but loved following other dogs into the water.

People with small dogs, German Shepherds and other non-water dogs walked around the lake as usual, ignoring the madness at the lagoon.

It was all great fun, humans chatting with other humans while keeping their eyes on the canines, sipping coffee from the snack bar, and enjoying the sunny morning. It was difficult for anybody to leave without a smile, especially with someone just outside the double exit gates giving treats to all the departing dogs.

We hadn't been home for very long when we got a call informing us that we had won a prize in the raffle. OilMan went back and came home with a white dog park T-shirt with the names of many dog breeds on the back, and a big smile on his face....