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Not such a ruff life
Bark in the Park helps man's best friend help animals
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photos by SARA K. TAYLOR
Cassie Hensley, 12, of La Plata and her dog, Daisy, who was adopted through the Charles County Humane Society.
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The Indian summer weather was a boon for Bark in the Park, the Humane Society of Charles County's fundraiser held each year at Turkey Hill Dog Park in La Plata.
Even late in the afternoon, while raffle prizes were given away and award winners announced, plenty of dogs still roamed the grassy park, while others took it easy, napping or sprawled out in a patch of sun.
Peanut, a 3-year-old beagle, bloodhound mix, was adopted through the shelter about three years ago when he was just a 6-month-old puppy.
Patrick Lafontant of White Plains said he and his wife were looking for just the right dog for their family, which includes daughter, Anjanique, 8, and Christian, 6.
"We would go to the humane society once every couple of months," Lafontant said, adding that the family didn't want to rush and liked that, at the shelter, the kids could play with potential pets before deciding which dog to adopt.
With Peanut, "they just clicked," Lafontant said. It was a plus that the dog was extremely even-tempered and "very, very patient."
Christian was just 3 at the time and played with his new dog by tugging on his ears or tail or trying to ride him like a horse. Peanut took it all in stride and now the two are "buddies," Lafontant said.
Peanut also sparked an interest in Anjanique, a Southern Maryland Christian Academy student, to look into being a veterinarian when she's older. And she adores her dog.
"It feels fun to have a really good friend," she said of Peanut.
Samantha Talbert, originally from England, now a Nanjemoy resident, brought one of her boxers — Kato — to Bark in the Park. Her husband, Charles, was at home with the couple's other boxer, Loki.
For Talbert, boxers are the best, or at least most lovable breed that she'd come across.
"They are just so much fun," she said. "They're all wiggly and happy all the time. You can be having the crappiest day but when you come home and see them, you're happy."
Steve Mitchell of Waldorf always had "no work" pets — a cat, which was independent, and a parrot.
But an ex-girlfriend talked him into adopting Lucy, a schnauzer, Labrador mix.
Then the cat died and then the parrot and Lucy needed a friend.
Yuri, a 14-month-old Siberian husky, was recently adopted and is "Lucy's dog," Mitchell said. "I got her a puppy," he laughed. "They play all the time."
Mike Secrest's dogs, which he shares with wife, Kelly — Schatzi, a German shepherd, Bear, a chow mix and Siku, a husky — have each other to play with if Secrest isn't too busy taking up their time.
Secrest loves the big dogs.
"They're just fun to have around, you can get down and wrestle with them," he said, adding that the dogs are good practice for prospective parents. "They are a good stepping stone to having kids."
Bark in the Park raised about $20,000 for the humane society. Money was collected through sponsorships, pledges and other means.
The shelter will use the money to fund its operations, including its spay/neuter program and care of the animals.
For more information about the Charles County Humane Society, go to www.humanesocietycc.org or call 301-645-8181. The humane society is at 71 Industrial Park Drive in Waldorf.
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