Canine Column


Big Sniffing Thrills on Dog Hill

The crowd was friendly and congenial as I’ve grown to expect from folks after living in or around the Highlands (and the park) for more than twenty years. Just down the hill in Triangle Park, the Sunday night music gig was firing up in the gazebo (and traffic was just plain stupid at Willow and Cherokee Parkway) but the gang on Dog Hill were only interested in the four-legged entertainment they brought with them.

It was peaceful scene as my two kids and I approached with our Jack Russell, Piper. My kids wanted to let her off the lead in the worst way but I could not guarantee she would be as sweet or amiable as the other participants in this canine sniff-o-rama. Piper, age two and a half, is first of all a Jack, who are always just a heartbeat away from a frenzied state and second, she spends a lot of time with her un-socialized big sister, Kayla, barking in my front window at other dogs, dangerous elderly people, evil leaves and aliens. Armed with this knowledge, I was afraid she’d be making trouble in a “New York minute."

There were marvelous mutts and pretty purebreds accompanied by an equally diverse representation of humans congregating on the recently renovated Dog Hill. Several people brought multiple dogs and others brought their two legged kids as I did. My children fell in love with another JRT, named Jack! He is only thirteen weeks old and stole everyone’s heart. Jack’s heart belonged to a lovely female, also thirteen weeks, named Layla. I tried to take picture after picture of them playing but as you can see the result was a blur of fur, tails and baby teeth! He did share his attention with Piper which I caught some of on video. She’d never seen somebody more obnoxiously bouncier than herself!

The new structure of the park facility made this a safe arena for the evening’s activities. In the past, the road at the very edge of the hill was accessible by car. Now it is blocked, giving pedestrians, runners and dog lovers a car free space to hang out or just pass on through. Dog owners sat on the steps or stood on the asphalt, leashes in hand, eyes ever scanning for their babies, conversing with each other about their favorite topic, dogs. Stories about adoptions from shelters or trips to breeders were easily shared. Lots of people were, like their dogs, making new friends while others obviously knew each other from the neighborhood or the hill. Every conversation was filled with pride and love as names were explained, ailments, surgeries and vets compared while dogs romped with kids chasing them.

Piper, the kids and I didn’t stay long ourselves, just long enough to take some pictures, make a couple new friends and tell folks about louisvillepetpals.com. Piper, although I never caved to my kids request every two minutes to let her off leash, did really well. Only once did she find herself getting growled at and doggie moms and dads rushed to rein their “kids” away from the situation. I have no idea what Piper said to get herself in that mess but at least she didn’t become a Scooby Snack!

And so to the Dog Hill gang, thanks for a pleasant experience and Louisville Pet Pals. Com will return again for more fun and games in Cherokee Park!

Video, photos, and story by
Janet Warner
Janet@louisvillepetpals.com