Rose Garden Resident
News
Photograph courtesy of Lincoln Hound Society
By Mary Gottschalk
Lincoln High School is going to the dogs--again. The second annual Dog Days at Lincoln takes place on July 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the athletic fields of Lincoln, 555 Dana Ave. The event caters to dogs and their owners.
The first Dog Days attracted more than 200 dogs and 500 people. Members of the organizing Lincoln Hound Society are hoping to do as well or better this year.
"It was a really terrific event," says Beth Strickland, a Newhall resident who attended the 2005 Dog Days with her husband, Andy, and their rescue dogs Bridget and Rio.
"I was surprised at how much interest it generated throughout the community," Strickland says. "There were probably 25 to 30 booths, and we got information on dog grooming and dog care. It was a lot of information in one little place."
One of the most popular events last year was the dog parade. Some owners dressed their dogs in costumes, while others just walked their pets around.
The parade is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. this year, but organizers don't adhere to a rigid schedule, so it could start later.
Other activities include silly dog tricks; an agility course for dogs to test their skills; and information on pet health, including acupuncture, chiropractic and first aid for dogs.
There will also be vendor booths as well as dogs rescue and adoption groups.
The event is free, but donations are welcome.
"Our goal is to promote dog play and dog exercise activities," says Bob Walker, co-chair of the Lincoln Hound Society event.
The group was founded several years ago by John Halseth to promote the socialization of dogs and to encourage owners to be responsible when they visit the high school.
Strickland and her husband joined the group two years ago.
"One of the reasons we started going was for Bridget. We're pretty sure she was abused and possibly beaten when she was small," Strickland says.
Bridget was, and still is, somewhat fearful of people, but her visits to Lincoln are helping.
"She's everyone's project dog," Strickland says, telling of people who are pleased when Bridget accepts a dog biscuit.
"It has made a big difference to her," Strickland says.
The society has had a cordial, informal relationship with Lincoln High for many years.
Dog owners are expected to pick up after themselves, and many make an extra effort to pick up litter along with dog poop. They are also asked to restrict dog visits to early morning hours before classes start or after 5 p.m. on weekdays during the school year.
The society installed a box with poop bags on a campus fence and it has donated money to Lincoln's athletic fund as a goodwill gesture.
In early 2004, principal Chris Funk proposed setting aside a field on campus at the corner of Dana and Hester avenues for a dog park.
Most of Lincoln's open fields are scheduled to be fenced off starting in the spring of 2007, when funds from Measure F will be used to resurface, regrade and replant playing fields, as well as install new irrigation.
Funk wanted to offer dog owners a place to go during the closure, which is expected to take at least six months.
When it is complete and fences come down, dogs will no longer be welcome on most of the fields because, Funk says, taxpayer investments need to be protected.
A public hearing to discuss the offer was held in October 2004, and it turned out to be a very contentious meeting with strong feelings on both sides.
While Funk had permission from San Jose Unified School District to make the offer, he told supporters they would have to fund all costs for construction and maintenance.
Steve Roemer, parks manager of the city's Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services, estimated it would cost about $100,000 to build a "bare bones" park that could handle only 15 to 20 dogs at a time.
Proponents complained the 15,000 to 20,000 square feet offered wasn't large enough and demanded more space.
The acrimonious meeting ended with no resolution.
When proponents were unable to come up with funds by mid-2005, Funk withdrew the offer and now says a dog park at Lincoln is a dead issue.
However, Funk says he has no problem with allowing the society to hold Dog Days on campus because society members are careful to clean up after themselves.
Walker says monies raised at this year's Dog Days will go toward the creation of dog parks in San Jose.
For additional information and last-minute updates on activities scheduled, visit www.nonprofitpages.com/lincolnhoundsociety or call 408.244.2535.
