(Originally posted in the Stratford Star newspaper on October 14, 2010, in “Walsh’s Wonderings”)
The Town for All Seasons showed its furry side during the wildly successful Dog Walk & Festival held on Paradise Green this past Saturday. The fifth annual benefit for homeless animals packed the green with dogs of all breeds as they led their befuddled owners around Stratford’s largest canine meet ‘n’ greet. The free admission and fantastic weather combined to provide hundreds of happy families the opportunity to imagine life with a dog park, if only for one magical day.
We Stratford dog owners rarely get the opportunity to socialize in large numbers, instead reduced to small packs scrambling to throw on clothing for morning “constitutionals” around the yard, fumbling through pockets for baggies to pick up what remains of last night’s dinner bowls. It’s at times like these that many of us secretly yearn for the simplicity of cats, but those moments are fleeting. Festivals like this allow us to find comfort in the fraternity of dog lovers.
My wife and I packed up our pups and arrived an hour into the festivities, hoping to miss the initial wave of dogs who were shuttling out for the one-mile walk. Unlike their owners, our spaniels are incredibly social, and the sight of even one dog or child sends them into spasms of joy. Our “middle child,” ZuZu, also happens to be our “special child.” Hobbled by a myriad of mysterious ailments that reduce her to the ZuMobile (like the Pope Mobile, only without the bulletproof netting), she shudders and yelps out greetings to any form of life at eye level. Because she so desperately wants to play with anything in sight, sometimes less is more.
As soon as we entered Paradise Green, however, our dogs were on sensory overload. It was as if a dying man, lost in the desert and wearing Spock ears, crested that final mountain of solitary sand and stumbled upon a Star Trek convention. Our spaniels set their own agenda: a sniffed butt here, a quick stop to accept pats on the head there, and then onward around the ring of vendor tents. Our girls seemed disappointed in us as they saw the many outfits other dogs were wearing as they paraded through the park. By the time we saw the beagle in its tuxedo, our spaniels ignored us completely. Two of our dogs tried out the agility training with Nikki Stollman of Four Paws Pet Services in Stratford, where we got the opportunity to see how well behaved they can be with someone who actually knows what she’s doing. We saw Rescue Ink’s Nicholas “Batso” Maccharoli as he set up shop for pictures, but our dogs had already begun a new game of “How many knots can we tie in these leashes?” as they rushed after a yellow lab in a nurse’s outfit.
The North Shore Animal League brought their adoption bus, where a few confused cats looked out over the sea of dogs and wondered whether it wasn’t time to plot their escape. It was great to talk with Stratford Animal Control and the people providing the microchip clinic to get a feel for how important pet ownership is in town. I never knew how many different animal rescue groups there were that helped find homes for Stratford pets: German shepherd rescues, bulldog rescues, even blind dog rescue groups had representatives available to explain their crucial role in maintaining the special relationship with man’s best friend.
Still, the best part of the day was watching the tiny faces of children light up every time they saw a new dog. If anyone had any doubt why Stratford is finally building its new animal shelter, one need only spend a few moments wandering the grounds to see what an amazing effect our pets have on us. The sheer number of people who volunteered at this event speaks to the importance of animals in our community. For a few hours, Stratford citizens showed our best side—our furry side—on a day that could truly be enjoyed by all.
To find out more about the Stratford Animal Rescue Society and donate your time, money, or old bedding to a worthy cause, please go to: www.stratfordanimalrescue.com.
