Bark they did as dozens of dogs and their owners stopped by the Fifth Annual Bark in the Park for a frolic in the summer sunshine.
Held Saturday at the Grand Traverse Commons, the celebration of dogs featured music, contests, vendors and dog - and animal-related organizations all united by a love of man's best friend. Banfield Pet Hospital, East Bay Animal Hospital, For Animals, Pet Stop, the Dancing Dog Bakery and PetSafe Rescue Alliance were among the sponsors or presenters at the all-day event.
"The goal is to bring awareness to dog organizations throughout northwest Michigan, rescues, shelters and various organizations, vets, companies like Pet Stop and their products,” said Mike Dickerson, co-founder of PetSafe Rescue Alliance, the group that organized Northwest Michigan Bark in the Park. "This is strictly a dog event.”
Dogs available for adoption were showcased in the shade of a maple tree, including two fluffy puppies who charmed passers by. Fostered by Susan Ryckman-Taylor and her husband, Michael, Isabella and Stefano, both about 12 weeks old, romped, nibbled and napped throughout the day. Animal Control officers had removed the puppies from an untenable situation and PetSafe took them in for foster care and eventual adoption.
The five-year-old organization's policy is to adopt into a home that is a good match for each animal. PetSafe also requires that adoption of puppies or kittens takes place only after the first two sets of shots, worming and spaying or neutering. An adoption fee covers these costs.
"We have been fostering since December 1,” said Ryckman-Taylor of the couple's fourth set of puppies. "What is neat is to still be in contact with the adoptive family. It is really neat to know that they go to a really good home — we really screen them.”
An empty-nester and a nurse, Ryckman-Taylor said the intermittent and finite commitment of fostering is a perfect fit for their family.
"The nice thing about this is that we are busy people and I can tell our coordinator, 'No,'” she said, noting the flexibility between placements dovetails well with trips or other commitments.
Sheron Chisolm of Traverse City attended Bark in the Park with her recently-adopted dog, Sadie, a two-year-old mixed breed. A family for just two weeks, the pair were geared up to participate in some of the events that day, which included a best-trained pet contest, a best-dressed dog contest and a dog-owner look-a-like contest.
"The minute I got her home, she just acted like she was always there,” recalled Chisolm of her first days with Sadie.
A clinical manager of Mercy Hospice in Cadillac, Chisolm plans to train Sadie to be a service dog so the dog can visit nursing homes and patient homes.
"She never got any attention and she just loves anybody who pays attention to her,” Chisolm said.
Paisley, a lively beagle who eagerly chased a Frisbee, was a rescue dog from Detroit who attended the picnic with proud and caring owners in tow.
"I've never gotten a dog from a pet store, always the pound or a vet or a party,” said Daryl Richardson of Lake Ann, who attended Bark in the Park with his wife, Kristen and son Elijah, four months.
For more information on PetSafe Rescue Alliance, see their web site at www.petsaferescue.com.