My Dog Parks Deserve a Little Support

Here I am greeting a friend at the Brush Prairie Dog Park

This morning I went to my favorite dog park, the Brush Prairie Park. It is run by Clark Dog Paw in conduction with Clark County Parks. DOGPAW is an all-volunteer non-profit (501c3) organization registered in the State of Washington and it is because of them that I have so many beautiful dog parks to choose from in my town of Vancouver, WA.

Isn't my park beautiful?

Today, the lawn was freshly mowed, bright new informational signs were posted, and the doggie clean-up bag containers were filled. With a view of Mt. Hood and nice dogs and owners walking around the park, it made for a wonderful morning. I was so happy. I ran up to my friends, got petted and sniffed some new dogs. 

I even ran like the wind and played on the mound with the pipe I can run through. I even got water from the spigot with the other dogs. It was like a big party.

Here's the people and dogs having a great time.

So it was a bit of a downer when one of the owners said that Clark Dog Paw needs more money. You see, the membership drive is still on. If everyone who went to the dog park paid their $25 annual membership all would be well. But that, evidently isn't the case. Here is how you can become a member like me!

So, if you live in Vancouver, please join Clark Dog Paw. I'd really appreciate it! And if you love dogs and live anywhere else, you can donate on behalf of our parks. If you donate, please tell them Cinnamon sent you!

Please help my beautiful dog parks. I would really, really appreciate it.

Love, Cinnamon

Cinnamon's New Warning Leash

I've had it! When I am on my leash I feel vulnerable. When other dogs come up to me and get in my face, I get scared and need to protect myself. So what do I do? I snap. Grrrr.... Snap! GO AWAY!

My owner was getting tired of explaining to everyone that I don't like dogs coming up to me when I'm on the leash. She had to explain that I was fine at the dog park where I was off my leash and I was a very nice dog. BUT DON'T GET IN MY FACE!

So I was really excited when I read about warning leashes and harnesses. Assuming dogs and/or people can read simple words, these leashes should make things easier on all of us. Here is what they look like:

I think I would be embarrassed to wear a leash or harness that said "nervous!"

I think if people read the leashes, they will understand. If a leash says, "Caution," wouldn't you back off? I sure would! But I am friendly with people so I got the "No Dogs" leash instead.

This is the leash I got. It means... "Dogs, get outta my face when I'm on my leash!"

Game of Thrones Helping Shelter Dogs in My Home Town!

You probably all know I came from Santa Fe New Mexico. I was a shelter dog, after being a street dog. In fact, in this video you will see some of the same streets where I roamed. I was hungry and skinny, yet still cute. I was picked up by Animal Control and put in the shelter. Fortunately I got adopted and eventually moved to my evergreen home here in Washington State.

But I enjoyed seeing my old home town and my old shelter program in this funny video:


They'll do anything to raise money there. But I can tell you, dogs like me are well worth it!

Wordless Wednesday: What Does Cinnamon Want?

This is my "I want something" look.
What do you think I want?

Long Weekend: Dog Park Adventures and the Dreaded B A T H

Like I said on Facebook, two days of spending hours in the garage was more than this girl could endure. I demanded that the next day I be rewarded with a trip to the Brush Prairie Dog Park and I WAS!

It was a great morning. No scurrying around. No early breakfast. Just a leisurely morning topped off by a chauffeured drive to the Dog Park. That's the way things should be. I was so excited I sat up and watched during the whole trip.

The park was filled with dogs and people. What a great sight!

Even though I like to see the other people and dogs
I always find some alone time. I like the grassy hill.
It is my Happy Place!

When we got there, it was really crowded with people, dogs and even little kids. I was so happy to be there. I sniffed as much as I wanted to, met some new dogs and visited with some people I knew from the park. I even went up to some little kids and gave them a slurpy kiss. I rolled in some great smelling stuff.

Oh how I love rolling in smelly stuff I find in the grass!

Everyone was nice to me and I spent over an hour there.

I was a bit tired when we left so slept in the car when we stopped at Chapman Gardens Nursery. And then it was time to head home. Visions of sleeping in my cushy bed filled my head. I was ready for a nap.

Oh oh.... that's when things took a turn for the worse. I was called inside and knew something bad was going to happen. The water was running in the bathtub and it was too late for my owner to be taking a bath. That meant only one thing. IT WAS BATH TIME FOR ME!

I pretended to put up a fight but knew it wouldn't do any good. I walked into the bathroom and obediently hopped into the lukewarm water. Next it was time for a good soaking with the hand-held shower and some sweet smelling Wen Shampoo for Dogs. I don't like the smell but my owner does.

I had a good scrubbing and then came my favorite part... lots of toweling off and rubbing. It feels really good (but I don't often admit it). Once I was a little bit dry I went outside and WENT WILD! I was so happy to have my bath over, I ran like the wind in circles in the yard and even played ball. It didn't take long for me to get tired. After all, I was tired when I got home from the Dog Park.

My owner put a dry towel down on the rug and I crashed right there. I didn't even get upset when she took a picture of me in the turquoise towel. Usually that would annoy me.

Here I am all bundled up to dry after my bath.
Don't I look abused? Would someone please
call the Humane Society on my behalf?

So finally, I was dry and ready for my long-awaited nap.

What a day!

Love, Cinnamon

Wordless Wednesday: Stalking

Here I am behind the shed stalking a crow. I don't like crows.

On Gardening

I can't figure out why I get in trouble for doing the same things in the garden my owner does. I get in trouble for knocking over plants, for digging and for thinking about eating certain plants. I am happier when she leaves me alone in the garden to lounge on my little deck and do as I please.

Here I am lounging and staying out of trouble.

So please explain this to me:

I got in trouble for digging here. I left a nice hole against the front fence.
But I don't understand why it's such a big deal.

She can dig and even uses a garden tool:

Here she is making another hole. Don't ask me why she is allowed to do it and I am not!

And then she rips plants apart:

She cut all these branches off my shade Rhody.
All of them!

Then she ripped a bunch of these leaves out of the ground.

I just don't get it. I can't uproot a plant. I can't knock a plant over. I can't eat a plant. And I can't rip a plant apart. I get in trouble but she doesn't.

So that's my life in the garden. It's "No, Cinnamon... no, no Cinnamon!" more often than not.

I'll just go lay on my rugs and stay out of trouble.

Love, Cinnamon