A dog’s life in Pickerington befits the animal known as man’s best friend.

 

At first glance, visitors to Pickerington might not think there are many dogs around. Few yards sport doghouses or outdoor kennels. However, there are plenty of canines in Picktown.  Rather than relegating them to outdoor shelters, most local dog owners keep their furry friends inside with the rest of the family. These dogs lounge in easy chairs, sleep on owners’ beds and ride around in the family car.   

 

Veterinarian Jennifer Schoenfeld has been caring for Pickerington’s pets for 30 years. At Allpets, Schoenfeld’s animal care practice located off Hill Road, patients are mostly family pets rather than working animals. Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers are the most popular breeds locally. Although both of these dogs are bred to be hunters, Schoenfeld says with a smile, “The job of these dogs is to love their owners and look up at them with big, adoring eyes. These are great family dogs.” 

 

Most empty nesters in Pickerington prefer smaller dogs. According to Schoenfeld, older couples tend to select small breeds such as Shih Tzus and Lhasa Apsos. The pint-sized pets are doted upon, leading lives of luxury. Any drive through Pickerington will reveal plenty of dogs peering happily out from car windows, as pets are likely to go along as their owners drive about on errands. Bob and Pam Hardin are just such dog owners.  Their chocolate brown toy poodle, Gracie, sleeps on the couple’s bed and goes for frequent car rides.

 

“Gracie doesn’t just go for rides,” Pam says. “Sometimes we take her to Dairy Queen and treat her to a little ice cream cone.”

 

Although the national trend for older pet owners is a preference for lower-maintenance cats, Schoenfeld says Pickerington residents of all age groups prefer dogs to cats at about 60 to 40 percent.

 

Pickerington pet lovers are also keen on adopting dogs from rescue organizations. Jonathan and Julie Layman adopted Dillon, a large St. Bernard/Australian shepherd mixed breed, from the Columbus Area Humane Society.

 

“When Julie first saw Dillon, she said he was the cutest puppy she’d ever seen,” Jonathan says.

 

Since Dillon had just been admitted to the shelter, the Laymans had to wait a few days in order to adopt him. “He was worth the wait,” Julie says. “When I saw that intelligent face and those beautiful, expressive eyes, I just knew he was the one.”

 

Shelter dogs are often mixed breeds, or older animals that need new, loving homes. Some people are sold on a particular pure bred variety because of temperament and behaviors associated with the breed. They can find rescue organizations, such as Ohio Lab Rescue, that specialize in specific breeds. Other people are just looking for those special dogs that capture their hearts, whatever the lineage. When they see those expressive doggy faces and wagging tails, these dog lovers know they’ve found the right companions. 

 

Schoenfeld describes Pickerington dogs as members of the family. As such, the animals receive regular grooming and medical care. Fleas and ticks can be a problem when dogs carry the pests inside, but excellent treatments available for pets keep homes parasite-free.

 

Dog owners occasionally have the chance to show off their pampered pups when pet parades are held during local festivals. Jennifer Newell is the organizer of Bark for Life, a fundraiser to support Relay for Life, which raises money for the American Cancer Society. This year’s Bark for Life event was May 2 at Sycamore Creek Park. The dogs and owners did not run as far as the Relay for Life volunteers, but they walked a little more than a mile.   

 

“Even in the rain, with a threat of storms, we had a great turnout,” Newell says. “The Dynamic Dogs 4-H Club helped organize everything. In fact, the kids did most of the work. We had a live DJ, food vendors with treats for dogs and people, a canine massage therapist, a pet services professional and lots of contests. We had prizes for the best dog dance, the largest and smallest dogs and the dog and owner who looked most alike. It was a full canine companion event.” 

 

Early morning and evening hours are prime dog-walking times in Pickerington, as residents take their pets out for some exercise before and after work. However, area dogs and their owners will soon have an even better place to play and socialize: the Violet Township Dog Park is well on its way to becoming a reality.

 

Carolyn Adams, president of Friends of Violet Township Dog Park, says the park may be open as soon as Fall of 2010. “Friends” is a non-profit organization formed to help raise funds to build the park, which will be the first public dog park in Fairfield County. It will be located at the corner of Stemen and Pickerington roads, where construction is already underway.

 

When completed, the park will feature a large, fenced, grassy area where dogs can run and play off their leashes. Trees, benches and water will be available to provide shade and comfort for visitors. Dog owners realize the importance of regular exercise and socialization opportunities for their pets, but Adams adds an unexpected bonus may be the chance for owners to meet and socialize with other dog lovers.

 

Violet Township supplied the land for the park and agreed to supply one half of construction costs. Remaining costs will be paid with money raised from the community.

 

All in all, a dog’s life in Pickerington is a fine one. With devoted owners, loving veterinary care and soon a spacious, beautiful park for pets to call their own, it’s easy to see that Pickerington loves its pooches. 

 

Brenda Layman is a contributing writer for Pickerington Magazine.

Donations are still needed to complete The Violet Township Dog Park. Contributions can be sent to Friends of Violet Township Dog Park, P.O. Box 565, Pickerington, Ohio 43147.