Paws For A Cause 2009

Fairfield Island Park

"My little dog -- a heartbeat at my feet." --Edith Wharton.

The Dog Days Of Summer

It was a Doggone Good Day

The Chilliwack SPCA held it's annual "Paws For A Cause" event and fundraiser Sunday at beautiful Fairfield Island Park and it was a doggone good day. Dozens of dog people brought their pooches and at times it looked like there were more dogs than people.

I decided to leave the frisbees at home as a safer option at my age and when I arrived at the park it was a pleasant surprise to see dozens of very well behaved dogs. They had energy but it was a very controlled energy except for the three dogs who brought Margaret with them who had an handful.

People were asked not to let their dogs sniff each other because thats when dogs get ornary so no sniffing allowed!

Volunteers Juanita & Tony were working the registration tables and have been married for 51 years. For 12 of those years they've spent working with the SPCA and Tony said he's not had a dog day since. "Its fun to get out and enjoy the weather and help the cause," he said.

Away in the back past the all of the kiosks was Bev Merrick who is a dog agility trainer. Between demonstrations the Voice had the chance to talk with her about the track set up and what she did with the dogs. She let Bob the Jack Daniel go on a course and he sped through it with typical Jack verve. Every time I tried to get a photo of Bob he bolted by at breakneck speed. Just when I thought I had an award winning photo of Bob in the air over a hurdle, click, he was gone. Bob got to kill a teddy bear as his reward despite refusing to go in slow motion over the hurdles for me.

The track that Merrick was working with Sunday consisted of a tube, ramp and hurdles. She offers a 6 week Introductory Dog Agility Training course through the SPCA and for a donation of $75 you can have your dog on the road to pro training. Tax receipts are issued. For more information about this training which is also great exercize for your dog e-mail Bev at bjmerric@telus.net

It was a good show of support for such a great cause and when I left there I was convinced that dogs were really people with short legs and fur coats.

"When you leave them in the morning, they stick their nose in the door crack and stand there like a portrait until you turn the key eight hours later." -- Erma Bombeck