Kristy
10-04-2005, 02:21 PM
Event in the park for owners, pooches features treats, contests and 'doga'
By LINDA BRYANT
Staff Writer
It was a laid-back day for the dogs at the 16th annual Dog Day in the Park at Centennial Park yesterday. Some even relaxed and did a little yoga with their owners.
Others went the space-age route and had a microchip the size of a grain of uncooked rice injected under their skin.
The microchips are a high-tech form of a dog tag. A veterinarian or animal rescue worker can use an electronic scanner to get information about a lost pet from a microchip.
Lisa Reeves, spokeswoman for the Nashville Humane Association, sponsor of the event, estimated attendance between 3,500 and 4,000 people.
"This is the best year we've had, by far. We've handed out a lot of programs, " Reeves said.
Canines were coifed, clipped, leashed — and ready to compete in events such as "Best Dog Bark," "Best Frisbee Catch" and "Best Tail Wag."
Reeves said the humane association doubled the amount of grassy open space for the event this year and added quirky things such as the yoga event — called "doga."
Some at the park, part of which is slated to become Metro's third dog park by the end of the year, said dogs are more popular than ever.
"I think attitudes have changed," said Heidi Dixner, a vendor at the event and owner of five dogs, including a 15-year old golden retriever and a 17-year old toy poodle.
Dixner owns Red Rover Pet Services, an east Nashville dog day care, grooming and training business with her husband, Robert Regan.
They are expecting their first child soon.
"A lot of people aren't having children until later," Dixner said. "I think people are really enjoying their dog's companionship."
Meanwhile, Claudia and Brian Forrester of Bellevue are married, too, but don't have any children. They brought their 3-year-old cocker spaniel Missy with them and were meeting friends who own a Dalmatian.
"Missy needs the socialization,'' Brian Forrester said. "She needs to be acclimated."
Lillie and Gene Parker of Hermitage came with Molly, a 3-year-old black Labrador.
Molly is one of four dogs in the Parker family.
"Having a dog gives you a sense of purpose," Gene Parker said. "I think it makes you healthier and happier, but it costs a lot.''
The Parkers said they have five grown children.
Gene's T-shirt reads: "Agenda for the day: let dog in, let dog out, let dog in, let dog out."
"I see people going through phases with dogs," he said. "There's the BK (before kids), and the phase when they become secondary because you have children. Then the children go off to college and leave their pets and they become geriatric pets. We have finally graduated to having our own pets," instead of pets connected to our children.
Jim and Ashley Ferguson of Franklin attended the event with four dogs — Sadie and Sasha, two Maltese, and Zoe and Zan, a Silkie Terrier and Yorkshire Terrier.
Sadie and Sasha were dressed up and were in a pink and blue stroller.
Both dogs were from a group of 230 Maltese pups confiscated from former Maltese dog breeder Jennifer Siliski's Franklin home last year.
"These dogs have more clothes than I do," Ashley Ferguson said.
http://www.ashlandcitytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051002/NEWS01/510020388/1006/MTCN01
By LINDA BRYANT
Staff Writer
It was a laid-back day for the dogs at the 16th annual Dog Day in the Park at Centennial Park yesterday. Some even relaxed and did a little yoga with their owners.
Others went the space-age route and had a microchip the size of a grain of uncooked rice injected under their skin.
The microchips are a high-tech form of a dog tag. A veterinarian or animal rescue worker can use an electronic scanner to get information about a lost pet from a microchip.
Lisa Reeves, spokeswoman for the Nashville Humane Association, sponsor of the event, estimated attendance between 3,500 and 4,000 people.
"This is the best year we've had, by far. We've handed out a lot of programs, " Reeves said.
Canines were coifed, clipped, leashed — and ready to compete in events such as "Best Dog Bark," "Best Frisbee Catch" and "Best Tail Wag."
Reeves said the humane association doubled the amount of grassy open space for the event this year and added quirky things such as the yoga event — called "doga."
Some at the park, part of which is slated to become Metro's third dog park by the end of the year, said dogs are more popular than ever.
"I think attitudes have changed," said Heidi Dixner, a vendor at the event and owner of five dogs, including a 15-year old golden retriever and a 17-year old toy poodle.
Dixner owns Red Rover Pet Services, an east Nashville dog day care, grooming and training business with her husband, Robert Regan.
They are expecting their first child soon.
"A lot of people aren't having children until later," Dixner said. "I think people are really enjoying their dog's companionship."
Meanwhile, Claudia and Brian Forrester of Bellevue are married, too, but don't have any children. They brought their 3-year-old cocker spaniel Missy with them and were meeting friends who own a Dalmatian.
"Missy needs the socialization,'' Brian Forrester said. "She needs to be acclimated."
Lillie and Gene Parker of Hermitage came with Molly, a 3-year-old black Labrador.
Molly is one of four dogs in the Parker family.
"Having a dog gives you a sense of purpose," Gene Parker said. "I think it makes you healthier and happier, but it costs a lot.''
The Parkers said they have five grown children.
Gene's T-shirt reads: "Agenda for the day: let dog in, let dog out, let dog in, let dog out."
"I see people going through phases with dogs," he said. "There's the BK (before kids), and the phase when they become secondary because you have children. Then the children go off to college and leave their pets and they become geriatric pets. We have finally graduated to having our own pets," instead of pets connected to our children.
Jim and Ashley Ferguson of Franklin attended the event with four dogs — Sadie and Sasha, two Maltese, and Zoe and Zan, a Silkie Terrier and Yorkshire Terrier.
Sadie and Sasha were dressed up and were in a pink and blue stroller.
Both dogs were from a group of 230 Maltese pups confiscated from former Maltese dog breeder Jennifer Siliski's Franklin home last year.
"These dogs have more clothes than I do," Ashley Ferguson said.
http://www.ashlandcitytimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051002/NEWS01/510020388/1006/MTCN01