~*Memorial Day Weekend Gathering SUNDAY ~*May 29th, 2011~*

[shais_mom]

I won't have the knack Phred did so I am going to c/p some of his previous.

yup we are doing it again - and we are giving our Phriend Phred an official Pet Talk Send-off. Anyone with any ideas or suggestions for that - please shoot me a PM.
anyhooooo

We're Doin it Again! ~
Anudder *BIG* Pet Talk Gathurin!

Where? ~ Da Bark Park at FINDLAY, OHIO

When? ~ Memorial Day Weekend ~ ** SUNDAY **
The LAST SUNDAY in May ~
SUNDAY ~ May 29, 2011

Note: This is a 3-Day weekend - Saturday, Sunday,
and the Holiday is celebrated on Monday.

Time? First Arrivals can be 10AM or even earlier...
the Real Crowd starts forming between
11AM and Noon...
The DieHards stay till almost Dark.

What Goes On? ~ A REEL GUD TYME!!!!

Dawgs ~ Playin, Chasin, Rasslin, Runnin,
Jumpin, Eatin TREETS!!

Hoomins ~ Talkin, Socializin, Jabberin, Yappin,
Swappin Dawg Tails, EATIN GUD Food,
takin Photos, an Havin a GREAT Tyme!!

Who Should Come? **Ebberbuddie**
Grab yur Dawgs (some folks even bring da KAT! ),
load up some Treets & Grub, and motor on over!

We'll post some maps & directions later...
for now all ya need to know is we meet in Findlay, Ohio -
which is on InterState 75, South of Toledo, Ohio ~
in the North West corner of Ohio.

Y'all BEE THERE!! ~ SUNDAY ~ MAY 29thth

We're gonna have sum *Phunn*!!

PS:
No Dawg?? ~ NO Problem - we alluz have "Extra Dawgs"!
We can "loan" ya a Dawg fur the Day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm not sure if we are going to do day 2 or not will have to get back on that.

[shais_mom]

What's a "Gathurin"?? ... What's this all about ??


For the Newer Pet Talkers, and anyone else who hasn't seen the
sometimes "lengthy" posts devoted to Planning these Events,
and the always enjoyable "Reports" (complete with extensive
Photo Coverage) of the Events ~

Here's a capsule summary of What Goes On:

We "Gather" at the very nice Hancock County Park District "Dog Park" in the
north-western corner of OHIO.
Facilities include:

* A 2-acre fully fenced OFF-leash Dog Park - with picnic tables, running water,
a few shade trees, grass, a lil mud, a collection of toys & balls -
a fine place to let a Friendly Pooch *romp* with other dogs.

* And 100 feet away ~ An enclosed (on two sides) Covered Picnic Pavilion
with concrete floor, picnic tables to seat 90 or so, electrical outlets,
2 charcoal grills - and enough Food & Covered Dishes to feed a mid-sized army!
(We NEVER go away hungry!!)
We Reserve and Rent the Pavilion - so there's no risk of it being "occupied"
by anyone except our Pet Talk Gang.

* Within 500 feet - there are two CLEAN Rest Rooms ~ OK, they don't *flush* -
but they ARE "clean", have concrete floors, and locking doors!

* A large, paved parking lot is within sight of the Dog Park and Pavilion.

* Many wooded Trails through the beautiful Park are available, but most
Folks hang with the Gang in the Dog Park or at the Pavilion.

* Food is casual / picnic stuff - everyone brings a lil extra to share - and as
said before - ya won't be hungry when you leave!

We can't stress enough that EVERYone is More than Welcome!!
We were all "strangers" when we came to our "first one" -
and most everyone who has been to one keeps coming back!

NEW This Year ~~~
The Hancock Park District has DROPPED the requirement that the DOGS have to be "Registered"
to enter the Dog Park area, and NO Fees will be charged.
BUTT ~~~ PLEASE NOTE:
The Rules REQUIRING that ALL Doge have the following are STILL IN EFFECT:

1) COPY (originals won't be returned) of the Dog's
. . Annual Vaccination Record (including distemper) from the VET...
. . (A Copy of the Office Visit Receipt is fine if the SHOTS
. . are noted & has Vet's Name on it).
. . DATE of Shots needs to be within ONE Year of now.

2) COPY of RABIES Vaccination Receipt ...
. . DATE within 1 or 3 years - depending on the vaccine used;
. . Most Rabies Receipts show an EXPIRATION date for the shot -
. . Rabies Vacc must be "current" (not expired).
. . (Fido should be *wearing* the Rabies "Tag".)

3) All Dogs must also be "Licensed" by the City, Town, County,
or State where you LIVE. Fido should be *wearing* his/her License Tag.

You should make and carry COPIES of all these documents with you every time
you visit the Dog Park. If there's an "incident" (Fido is accused of *biting* someone) -
you'll be required to PROVE the above requirements have been met by Fido.

If you're still "not sure" about attending -
take a look at some of out Past Gathurins in these threads >>>

Last Year's Memorial Day Gathurin - May 24, 2009 >>>
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=151867

2008's Spring Memorial Day Gathurin >>>
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=138621

2007's Spring Memorial Day Gathurin - May 27, 2007 >>>
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=124178

Spring Memorial Day Gathurin - May 28, 2006 >>>
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=98411

How to Get MapQuest Directions TO the Findlay Bark Park
OK - Here's how to get your MapQuest "Directions" with Turn-by-Turn Instructions ...

Use the Click-Link (below) to get to the From and To page for MapQuest.
**WAIT** till the page fully loads - or you'll goof up the pre-filled data!!

When the page finishes loading - you'll have TWO big data blocks -
the one on the LEFT asking for your STARTING Location;
the one on the RIGHT >> Already FILLED IN < with the Dog Park Address.

If you have it - do NOT use Microsoft's "AutoFill" - it will put your home address
in BOTH blocks - erasing the pre-filled Dog Park Address!

JUST fill in your Home or "Starting" address in the LEFT (STARTING Location) Blocks. OverWrite any address that appears there.

Here's the "Revised for 2010" *Link* to MapQuest >>>
(The MapQuest directions are "usable" just as they print out from MapQuest.
They MAY NOT "match" landmarks I've posted in the past.

MapQuest Directions To: Findlay, OH ~ DOG PARK

-------------------------------------------------------------------

IF you want to use a GPS or another Mapping Service - here's the Dog Park Address:

16500 Township Road 208
-OR-
Township Road 207 AND Township Road 208
Findlay, OH 45840

GPS Coordinates: (WGS 84)
N. 41* 01.941'
W 083* 33.691'

The Dog Park is INside the Hancock Park District's "Riverbend Recreation Area";
about a half mile south of Ohio Route 568;
and just north of the North-East Corner of the big Findlay Reservoir.
The Reservoir is on most maps - and stands out because it is drawn as a
Big SQUARE Blue Lake; south-east of downtown Findlay.
If ANYONE has trouble with the Route to the Dog Park - PM "Cinder & Smoke"
with your E-mail and Home/Starting Address.
-------------------------------------------------------

OK - so what changed?

* BE PREPARED: No matter where you're coming from, Map Quest will probably
show a different route for the last 10 - 15 miles - different from last year's route.
Use whatever you're comfortable with or remember ... there aren't ANY roads or bridges
that are closed ... and I've driven ALL the various routes that MapQuest can suggest.
NO route is really much better than another --- miles are about the same
and drive time isn't drastically altered.

If you think your mapping program or GPS is really sending you around Robinhood's Barn -
send me a copy of the route and I'll look it over.

As always, the PT Travel Bureau will be open all day on Sunday & Monday -
Just a cell phone away! We WILL get you to the Park!

[k9krazee]

I'll be there

[Karen]

We do not know yet whether we will be able to make it, but I promise we'll let you know when we know! And Staci, I'll PM you ideas for a Phred "memorial service" of sorts.

[shais_mom]

thanks Karen and yay Ash!

[ramanth]

I'm planning on it! John may tag along this time. We'll see.

[Bibette & Lulu]

Hi, all - must have been reading my mind. I was wondering when the event was going to happen. I have been working on plans to travel to Pgh/Ohio for that weekend.

Part of my trip will be to have some of Phred's ashes (Brother John as I refer to him) buried in Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh in our family plot. That I am making plans for Friday, 5/27 (no time yet) if anyone in the Pgh area is interested in attending. I know that John had also wanted to have a spot in the cemetery in Berlin Center - but I'm not sure if Pat and Joan have worked anything out yet. And he also wanted some of his ashes in Findlay at the Dog Park.

I was wondering if anyone had come up with something that the Dog Park "needs" to have done as a memorial to Phred. I was also wondering about a stone with an inscription in his honor and his ashes buried under it. Maybe a tree planted along side. I am interested in helping with the costs if someone in the Findlay area can check into where it can be done - and if the stone could be ready by the weekend of the gathering. You can send me links to complete the deal.

I do plan to attend, barring any unforseen glitches. I'll fly into Pgh, spend a few days with friends there, and then drive to Ohio on Saturday. Get to Findlay on Sunday and head back to Pgh on Monday. Lots of traveling in a short period of time, but I kind of shot a big hole in my leave time at work with the events of the winter.

I want to thank everyone who was part of John's funeral gathering - I haven't been a very gracious sister and made individual acknowledgements (my mother is tsking me, I'm sure ) - but I have thought often about that get together and have enjoyed getting to know some of Phred's other family. I'm looking foward to meeting more of you. And I'm going to be one who will need to "borrow" a dawg!!! Unless Joan and Pat come with their charges.

See you later in the spring (is it finally here?!?) Nancy (Phred's sister).

[Cincy'sMom]

We'll be there!

[MonicanHonda]

If it lasted later into the evening, I may be able to attend. I really want to because of the memorial for Phred, but there is a puppy match for the Dal club I am in that day. I'm hoping time will allow me to travel to Findlay... I dunno yet. *sigh*

[Grace]

As it stands now, we will be there, and we will be bringing Pat (Phesina) with us

[Karen]

Staci, I PM'd you ideas.

[cyber-sibes]

I won't be able to attend, but I will be there in spirit with you all. I would like to contribute to whatever project you come up with as a Memorial for Phred. I'll try to keep an eye on this thread, but would appreciate if someone would also pm me or send me a message on fb so I can participate.

We planted a Kousa Dogwood in our front yard a couple weeks ago, and under it are ashes from Star, Sherman, Rosie, & Chow-Chow, plus a tasty dog treat. I think of Phred often, still admire the silk flowers he sent when Star crossed over.

[wolf_Q]

We're coming...my dogs won't be there but my friends dogs Cisco and Freyja will.

[shais_mom]

That's awesome Amy!
Keegan won't be there either she had too many injuries lately - I won't risk it. But I will be bringing my "step-dog" Annie

[Suki Wingy]

I've been wanting to make it to one of these for years but it looks like I won't be able to get off of work for it this year.