Frolic In the Off-Leash Dog Park
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Dogs playing in off-leash dog park
With a wag of tail and tongue bedraggled
dogs drag their owners to frolic off-leash
in parks devoted to dog meets dog dalliance and play.
Despite their authority, the owners know each
not by the owner’s names, but by the names of the dogs.
“Where’s George today, and Horris the beagle?”
The humans are the referees, the comforters and lapdogs to canine confrontations.
They are the come-between that sort out dogs that fight, can’t mix or can’t cope.
Dogs get banned or ostracised to fenced-off remote areas for fighting or misbehaving.
Mostly the dogs themselves know how to cope with friends and foes
and carefully choose which other dogs to play with.
Owners get shepherded into groups with mutual interests and similar dogs.
The humans are classified by their dogs, as if they were their biological parents
They are also tagged by their dog’s behavior and breed.
“You know Debbie, she owns the poodle pup”
People look first at a new dog that arrives in the park,
and the breed and how the dog behaves instantly categorise their owners.
The park is all about dogs, but the humans share socially,
The dog park as the catalyst for people and dogs to meet and greet offleash.
The dog parks change many lives, especially for many lonely people who
get dogs after break-ups, boredom bouts and divorces.
For many owners it is a unique way for people to engaged socially
in ways they would not other wise never do.
The people that come to the park have varied backgrounds
Lawyer, meets nurse, public servant meets surgeon, returned soldier meets shop keeper.
Their dogs the great leveler, the starter and binder for friendships.
It is often more about the dog friendships with the owners tagging along
The dogs provide the spark for conversations that begin with chats about dogs.
Many great and lasting friendships have begun and fostered at the dog parks.
Dog owners are a unique breed, and their special needs
are provided by time spent at the dog parks with other dog owners.
The dog parks have their special etiquette and unspoken rules.
Every owner knows that their dog is the best dog in the park.
No dog should be criticised or belittled.
Balls are not meant to be shared or thrown by anyone than their owners.
Misbehaving dogs should be controlled by their owners, except in an emergency.
No dog is shunned no matter how ugly of silly they look.
Men and women are dogs best friends.
Copyright © John Anderson | Year Posted 2017
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