Vancouver, WA Ross Dog Park: Hills, Friends, Woods and Moles

Here I am making new friends at the Ross Dog Park in Vancouver, WA

When I moved to Vancouver, WA I thought I was in dog heaven. It was green, there was sweet grass and plenty of trees. In fact, I was really excited about the Dakota Dog Park. There were nice people there, lots of dogs and a wooded area I called my glen.

But recently I yearned for more. Maybe it is because I was going through withdrawal from playing on the beaches of Sandspit, BC. Tidepooling there was pretty durn good. But, between you and me, I got frustrated there because I couldn't be off the leash.

Some crafty dog lover painted this garbage can area

So I was really interested when I found a new dog park on the Internet... Ross Off-Leash area. I was excited when I found out that it was not all that far from my house. I showed the information to my owner and we headed over there. We went yesterday and we went today. And, I just LOVE IT THERE!

Here's a new friend coming to greet me. Hi Buddy!

The dogs are friendly and come to greet me as I trot around the park. I even run up and down the hills. There's plenty of shade under big trees for resting.

Here's one of the hilly trails. Sometimes I run up and down them. I'm so cool!

First of all, it's bigger than the Dakota Park and there is more room for dogs. There are hills to climb and lots of trails with trees. The paths are bark chips and dirt. They let the grass grow a little so I can hop around in it and hunt for things like moles. And, today, I found one!

Here I am mole hunting! (I didn't catch it though)

Yesterday there were about eight Great Danes at the Ross Dog Park. I watched them romp and play but kept my distance because big dogs scare me. They were having so much fun with dogs their own size. Today there were two Weimaraner mix dogs that just were hounds to me! One was older but one was a puppy. We had a great time playing and RUNNING! Imagine, me, Cinnamon, RUNNING! I haven't done that for awhile.

Here's me running. I'm winning the race!

Sometimes I forget that there is a fence around this park because I feel so free. I follow the path but sometimes I just run through the grass or stop and sniff an area. I think this dog park smells better to humans than the other one because it is bigger and the dogs have more room for playing and pottying.

Here's one of the big trees where you can rest in the shade.

The main drawback to the Ross park is that there is no water available. Owners have to bring bottled water and bowls but then dogs like me go over and drink some, even if we aren't invited. Even my dog park in Santa Fe had a pump and a big bowl for water. I guess it is expensive to put in water lines. I know Dog Paw would do it if they could.

Here I am visiting some dogs. I'm really social!

I think Ross is a great place for people too. I see them sitting under trees reading and talking while the dogs have fun. I'm all for dogs having fun without interference from their owners!

Here's one place where owners can sit and LEAVE US DOGS ALONE!

Except for the water issue, I just LOVE the Ross dog park here in Vancouver. I SO APPRECIATE everything Dog Paw and the City of Vancouver does for us dogs. It makes me feel welcome and appreciated.

Photography copyright: Elizabeth Rose Photography

Dog Blog: Davie the Dog

Here's a picture of Ellie when they went camping. She's cool!

I found another blog. This one features a dog name Davie and is called, Davie the Dog. Now Davie is cute but the dog I really enjoy in the blog is named Ellie. Ellie is a really big hound and, like me, has a sense of humor.

According to the blog, Davie's Bluetick Coonhound sisiter is PR Davis Branch Bayou Emmi Bleu. Emmi arrived in April 2012 after a trip to Shelbyville, TN. She is from Davis Branch Blueticks, home of the University of Tennessee's Smokey X.

This is a Bluetick with credentials! Wow! I was impressed.

Look at this movie of Ellie. She's a hoot! Ellie should be the star of this blog, IMHO. Maybe they could change the blog name to Ellie the Dog?

Cinnamon survived the 4th of July

Free at last! I think I'll go to the beach!

Hi, it's me, Cinnamon... and I survived. Last night it all started around 4pm. The Pop! Boom! Crackle! I thought I had it made because it has been almost a week of Pop! Boom! Crackle! and certainly the people in Vancouver, WA had run out of fireworks... WRONG!

Last night was a dog's nightmare. They had more Pop! Boom! Crackle! than I could ever imagine. It sounded like a war zone at my house. My owner closed all the windows and set the radio to my favorite classical music station. But that wasn't enough.

The Boom! echoed in the woods. The Crackle! never stopped and the Pop! got louder and louder. Why do people do this? I heard it was to celebrate independence. But for us dogs, it was all about IMPRISONMENT! The only place I felt safe was in my crate.

I did hear about some pretty caring things humans did for dogs during this difficult time. One man packed up his dog and headed for the Wallowa Mountains in eastern Oregon. In my old home, Santa Fe, New Mexico volunteers gathered at the animal shelter during fireworks time to calm the dogs and help them through the evening. HOWEVER... some uncaring humans decided to have the big fireworks celebration at the park right next to the shelter. IMAGINE!

But for all my ranting, the Fourth of July will go on. I just have to figure out some nice place to go next year where they don't like all the Pop! Boom! Crackle! either.

Here's a cartoon that dogs will appreciate. I know I do! Grrrrrrrrrr

Cinnamon Says... Take care of your pet on the Fourth of July... please!

Cinnamon gets the scoop on Fireworks

Here's the fireworks sales tent where they sell those noisy things.

Today I took my "Dogs Against Fireworks (DAF) campaign to the streets. I decided to confront the enemy face to face. We pulled up to a brightly decorated white tent on a Vancouver street. Now, this was just one of many. It seems the these sales tents are on every commercial corner. It's hard to avoid them!

So I wanted to see WHY ON EARTH people buy these things that go Pop! Boom! Crackle! and keep me awake and scared every DURN night. I walked in and there were some teenagers and nice ladies selling the fireworks. When they found out what I was up to, they actually AGREED WITH ME that fireworks were a noise issue. And they had dogs that got scared too.

I didn't ask why they sold them but figured it was a fund raiser for a high school team or band. Kids need to earn money for these things.

I snooped around the brightly colored packages. Some were rather scary... and their names were REALLY scary. Why do people buy these things? I just don't get it.

Here's the scary packaging.

However, my investigative reporting paid off. I found out that In October of 2012 the Vancouver City Council approved an ordinance that will go into effect in 2014. Legal sales dates in the City limits of Vancouver will be 3 days long - July 2, 3 & 4. Fireworks may only be used on July 4 in 2014 within the Vancouver City limits. JUST ON JULY 4th! Yay! 

Now I live in the city limits because I am an urban coonhound so this suits me just fine. Those rural coonhounds are probably used to gunfire anyway.

So after visiting with the nice ladies and realizing that my work is done in Vancouver, I went to the dog park to run a victory lap and blow some steam off.

I think I'll close the DAF National Headquarters and take a nap. After all, it will probably be really noisy tonight and definitely noisy tomorrow!

Happy Fourth of July,

Cinnamon

Helping Your Dog Cope with Fireworks
Washington State Fireworks Laws

Dogs Against Fireworks National Headquarters - Ready for Action!

National Headquarters - Dogs Against Fireworks

Well, it's me Cinnamon, all hunkered down in my National Headquarters. You see, I am probably the only dog-advocate advocating for the elimination of Pop! Boom! Crackle! I've had a hard time adjusting to all the fireworks.

Last night the Pop! Boom! Crackle! began around 5pm and lasted to well past 11 pm. And about 3am I was serenaded by some coyotes. And they were scary coyotes... unlike the coyotes in New Mexico that sing Mariachi songs in harmony.

And today, I was ever so tired. My owner took pity on me and got me over to wade in the Columbia River before it all started again.

I also did a bit of sleuthing and found out why there are so many Pop! Boom! Crackle! explosions here in Vancouver, WA. I was surprised (as a newcomer.) Just wait until my Expose' article on that!

So I'm getting used to this. By 5pm I found myself hunkered down in the National Headquarters for Dogs Against Fireworks (DAF HQ). Our hours are 5pm - 11pm (and all day on the Fourth of July until Midnight) because that is when all the Pop! Boom! Crackle! happens.

The National Headquarters is conveniently located in my crate which is where I go when I'm scared. If you have a choice, DO NOT BUY FIREWORKS! Take pity on the dogs, please!

Dogs Against Fireworks: Is it 4th of July yet?

Pop! Boom! Crackle! What the heck is this? I HATE 4th of July. I can't stand the sounds. I want this TO STOP NOW!

Cinnamon HATES Fireworks!

This is my first 4th of July in a place that doesn't care about dogs. I am in Vancouver, WA and here it is the end of June and every night they set off fireworks. Now, I don't want to be scared, but I am. My owner closes windows, has moved my crate downstairs to a place far from windows but I still get scared.

Each evening it happens... Pop! Boom! Crackle! I find a new place to hide each night. One night it was under my desk, here. Another night it was in the hall under the hall table... you know, the one with Kachinas on it. (Their magic didn't help me!).

Zozobra was scary but it was only for one night.

I'm 5 and you'd think I would be used to it but.... in Santa Fe, where I grew up there just weren't that many private fireworks. I guess people were afraid of forest fires. 

And, in September during Fiesta they burned Zozobra and had tons of fireworks. But that was only ONE NIGHT!

Now if you, hounds and friends of hounds, agree with me, take this "Dogs Against Fireworks" graphic and put it on YOUR Facebook page or blog.

I think Clark County, here has gone crazy. They allow fireworks to be sold and fireworks to be set off.

Clearly they don't care about hounds like ME!

Love, Cinnamon, the sleepless hound.

More Information
Helping Your Dog Cope with Fireworks
Washington State Fireworks Laws