Frick Park is Dog Park

For Locals Only: Ok, Pittsburgh people; I have been saying I was going to write this post for months, and now with all the comments in the Pittsburgh Post-gazette lately, I feel the time has come. Frick Park is a beautiful woodland environment, full of hills and valleys, interesting paths and lost hollows along with small creeks and Nine Mile Run. It is also full of something else: Frick Park is full of people with dogs.

The dogs probably outnumber the people on any given day, since many people have more than one dog. There is a leash law, but like that scene in “Pirates of the Caribbean” it is more of a suggestion than a mandate. After all, who is going to police the park at all times? Mostly, dog owners.

Now, I must say, my dog is always on a leash. This is because my lab would go on a walkabout and not be seen for a week if I let him off the leash. Many people have dogs that are perfectly well behaved; I do not. Mine is over a decade old (around 74 years old in dog years; a dog ages one year for every 52 days) yet he acts as though he is a puppy on his first visit to a park on a leash. He was a farm dog, you see, and has never adjusted to that funny thing around his neck tethered to me. He looks at me funny every time I put it on, and rolls his eyes, but acquiesces to my request.

Some people have complained recently that they would like to see the dogs on the leash, at least until they reach the OLEA (Off Leash Exercise Area-a magnificent space with barrels, tubes, and planks, as well as a large space perfect for ball and Frisbee toss), and that is fine. Others wish that people would clean up the number 2’s left by our 4 legged brothers and sisters in various locations in the park. Some wish they wouldn’t go in the creeks and streams, which they couldn’t if they were on a leash always. Here’s what I think:

Dogs are beautiful beings; they truly love unconditionally, even those who probably have not earned their love and trust. Most are gentle and fun, unless trained or abused to be otherwise. Poop is poop; it’s not fun, and it has germs, and it is messy, but it is not the end of the world. I wish all we had to worry about in the entire world was walking in the occasional pile of puppy poop. The world would be blissful if that was the only thing we needed to concern ourselves with…so here is my compromise suggestion.

People: clean up after your dog…ok, not in the 12 foot pampas grass, but elsewhere; you know what I mean. As far as the streams go, gosh, can’t a dog have a little fun? I wonder about a world where everything has to be put under glass, and we all have to stay on the path. I haven’t let my dog in the water for years, but I love watching when others do. People: stay close to your dogs, don’t let them get a quarter of a mile away, walk up to other people’s children and perhaps frighten them. I love having the dogs of everyone in the East End approach me from the woods, but many folks don’t.

People without dogs who may not like the loose four legged friends: Frick Park is Dog Park. It just is. I think it’s wonderful, even when I am there without my dog. Why? Because I feel safe, always. Dogs are very intuitive, and they sense trust. They innately protect, and that is what I love about them. Don’t like dogs? One woman commented in the editorial section of the Post-gazette to go to Schenley instead. That is not far from Frick, so maybe not walking distance for some, but still a short bike ride. No worries.

Frick Park is dog park; let’s just accept it, and for those who can, embrace it. That is one of the most wonderful urban parks in the world to me. It is full of ancient trees and hidden treasures. Check it out, with or without your dog escort.

Peace,
Falcon and Dove

Abused Dog Alex needs our help!

Hello World Family,
Falcon and Dove hope you had a great weekend. We were having a wonderful time, until we heard this sad story. This dog really needs help from everyone who can. I have obtained this information from the Washington Humane Society. Please, please...help Alexamder.

Thank you, Falcon and Dove Family! We know you are fierce friends of animals!
Peace,
Falcon and Dove

When the WAHS cruelty investigator picked up the poor dog, it was the first step in the right direction for an innocent animal who is now recovering from a history of brutality at the hands of his owner.

Named Alexander by staff, he finally felt good enough to eat some wet food from a small bowl held by manager, Lorie Schooley who received the call about the dog at 8am, August 3rd.

One of Alex's hips has been knocked out of the socket and the other hip bone has been broken from the leg. He also has open infected wounds. More examinations will reveal how much can be repaired by veterinary specialists. In the meantime, Alex is resting in the safety of the shelter while police and Humane Officers file the appropriate charges against the owner.

Surgery by specialists can run into thousands of dollars. We are asking for your help to finance this sad and unexpected financial burden which is above and beyond the basics our shelter can provide.

Please share the load for Alex by making a contribution towards his medical bills as we try to make the rest of his life a happy one.

Make your tax-deductible donation* check payable to WAHS and write “Alex” in the memo line.
*All donations in excess of what is necessary for Alex will be used for our other deserving shelter cats and dogs.

Washington Area Humane Society
1527 Route 136
Washington, PA 15330

These Black Labs Need Good Homes

Hello Everyone!
We hope everyone is doing well! Today, we are here to talk about those near and dear to Falcon and Dove's heart: the Black Labrador Retriever.

We have one that we absolutely adore, who went out on an unexpected walkabout over Memorial Day weekend, and drove us to tears. Falcon printed posters and hung them everywhere, checked into the police, fire, and animal control agencies, and of course, all the shelters. One tool that made a HUGE difference was the use of Find Toto.com. Falcon used the website and chose to have a pre-recorded phone message sent to all my neighbors. Find Toto is not subject to the Do-Not-Call List, so the calls go through to everyone that can get the message. As a result, the entire neighborhood was involved and supportive. Kids on bicycles helped me with the search, and some nice firefighters went out to search after Falcon had been up for about 30 hours. He was found by a wonderful, but anonomous individual, and safely returned. On the search, there were two other missing dogs, returned to their families quickly.

Falcon and Dove want to give massive props to everyone who helped and to www.findtoto.com.
You completely rock!

Our friends at Washington County Humane sent out a newsletter today full of Black Labs who need new homes. Here is the link:
http://www.washingtonpashelter.org/PDF/Dog_poster.pdf
If you are in Eastern Ohio, Western PA, Northern West Virginia, or Western Maryland, and interested in a beautiful, loyal, friendly dog, please check out these playful pups!

To all those of you who dedicate your time, job, and lives to bettering the quality of life for animals: kudos to you!

Peace,
Falcon and Dove