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Ingrid Weisenbach waits for her black Great Dane, Tillie, to give up a stick as another dog, Cedar, waits patiently at the Happy Tails Dog Park in Roseburg. Weisenbach and other dog owners are trying to get a shelter put into the park to keep them out of the rain.
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ENLARGE
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Die-hard dog owners may soon get a chance to take shelter while watching and playing with their dogs at the Happy Tails Dog Park in Roseburg. Tape marks the spot where the shelter may be built.
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ENLARGE
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While J.D.'s fur keeps him warm in low temperatures, dog owners fight off the cold with heavy coats at the dog park in Roseburg. Dog owners are attempting to have a shelter built for those days when taking the dogs to the park means taking a pounding from the wet Oregon weather.
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The dogs and hounds run and gallivant around, gnawing playfully at each other’s necks, chasing in circles, boxing with limp doggy wrists.
Meanwhile, rain or shine, their humans stand watch, as the canines burn off their kibbles and bits.
The dog park was carved out of an acre of Templin Beach Park in 2004, but no shelter was ever put up to keep the dog’s owners out of the rain of winter.
A pack of dog owners hope to change all that.
“The city’s done a great job providing the benches and the poopie bags, but it’d just be nice if we could get a shelter out here in the rain,” said Ingrid Weisenbach, the proud owner of Tillie, a Great Dane.
January’s been a dry month, but after all the rain of November and December, an idea fell out of the sky like a drop of water onto the head of Tommy Smith, the owner of a dog named Meatloaf.
“First it started out rather jokingly, but then we thought, ‘We could put something together,” said Smith, guardian of the pit bull/lab mix.
They wanted just a simple structure —four posts driven into the ground, a slant roof and some benches.
Meanwhile, rain or shine, their humans stand watch, as the canines burn off their kibbles and bits.
The dog park was carved out of an acre of Templin Beach Park in 2004, but no shelter was ever put up to keep the dog’s owners out of the rain of winter.
A pack of dog owners hope to change all that.
“The city’s done a great job providing the benches and the poopie bags, but it’d just be nice if we could get a shelter out here in the rain,” said Ingrid Weisenbach, the proud owner of Tillie, a Great Dane.
January’s been a dry month, but after all the rain of November and December, an idea fell out of the sky like a drop of water onto the head of Tommy Smith, the owner of a dog named Meatloaf.
“First it started out rather jokingly, but then we thought, ‘We could put something together,” said Smith, guardian of the pit bull/lab mix.
They wanted just a simple structure —four posts driven into the ground, a slant roof and some benches.
They contacted City Hall, and the staff members said, sure, we can take care of the building permits if you pay for it.
If the Parks Commission approves the plan at its next meeting, Feb. 7, the dog lovers will be able to go ahead with their plan.
“It’s likely they could begin this next month, February,” said Barbara Taylor, the Roseburg parks planner.
The Roseburg Parks Department has outlined a spot on high ground it thinks will keep the structure up from seasonal floods.
“They’ll still be able to see the gate from that structure and see throughout the park — keep an eye on their dogs,” said Taylor, describing the build site.
Weisenbach said she has areas to take Tillie on walks, but she likes to help her dog out socially.
“All the dogs get to know each other,” Weisenbach said. “Sometimes they’re in shy moods and sometimes they’re in grumpy moods and sometimes they’re just in happy moods.”
If the Parks Commission approves the plan at its next meeting, Feb. 7, the dog lovers will be able to go ahead with their plan.
“It’s likely they could begin this next month, February,” said Barbara Taylor, the Roseburg parks planner.
The Roseburg Parks Department has outlined a spot on high ground it thinks will keep the structure up from seasonal floods.
“They’ll still be able to see the gate from that structure and see throughout the park — keep an eye on their dogs,” said Taylor, describing the build site.
Weisenbach said she has areas to take Tillie on walks, but she likes to help her dog out socially.
“All the dogs get to know each other,” Weisenbach said. “Sometimes they’re in shy moods and sometimes they’re in grumpy moods and sometimes they’re just in happy moods.”
“Just like kids,” said Smith, appending her sentence.
For the humans who come out here, it has become just as much an informal social club for them. Most of them didn’t know each other before their dogs led them to the park and only stumbled on the fenced-in area by accident.
About 12 of them were out at 4 p.m. Monday with more than that many dogs.
“For those of us who don’t hang at the bar scene, we have the dog park,” said Robin Mouser, who owns a black border collie/Labrador mutt rescued from the shelter called “J.D.” — “Just Dog.”
For the humans who come out here, it has become just as much an informal social club for them. Most of them didn’t know each other before their dogs led them to the park and only stumbled on the fenced-in area by accident.
About 12 of them were out at 4 p.m. Monday with more than that many dogs.
“For those of us who don’t hang at the bar scene, we have the dog park,” said Robin Mouser, who owns a black border collie/Labrador mutt rescued from the shelter called “J.D.” — “Just Dog.”
Mouser hopes to post ads describing shelter dogs that need new homes at the dog park’s new shelter.
Smith said the structure will be an easy build, but they might seek help from volunteers and local businesses to lend a hand and assist with the $700 in supplies.
“I think it’s a great park for the community of Roseburg,” Weisenbach said.
• You can reach reporter Chris Gray at 957-4218 or by e-mail at cgray@newsreview.info.
Smith said the structure will be an easy build, but they might seek help from volunteers and local businesses to lend a hand and assist with the $700 in supplies.
“I think it’s a great park for the community of Roseburg,” Weisenbach said.
• You can reach reporter Chris Gray at 957-4218 or by e-mail at cgray@newsreview.info.
Dog Park Facts ...
The Happy Tails Dog Park, created in 2004, is located in Templin Beach Park, where Miller Avenue meets the South Umpqua River, across the tracks from the Mill-Pine District. Get there by turning right on Mosher Avenue from Pine Street and follow the signs.
If you want to help the dog lovers with their shelter project, contact Tommy Smith at 672-4399. |
