Canines hunt up Easter fun Downtown

By BARBARA ANN HORTON

Staff Writer

Nearly six dozen dogs sniffed their way through the Downtown Dog Park to retrieve plastic eggs filled with treats during a recent Doggy Easter Egg Hunt.

“We had about 70 dogs show up within seven different time slots with over 130 humans,” said Kennedy Thayer, Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation program coordinator. “We thought the event was well received within the community and the day of the event proved it was a fun and innovative program that will make another appearance.”

The free hunt was divided into 15-minute time periods running from 5:30-7 p.m.

Some of the canines like Apollo, 3, and Frankie, 11 months, were eager to get the event started and others like 9-year-old Buddy and Xander, 2, liked sniffing the ground to get everyone’s attention.

PeeWee, a 4-year-old chihuahua, was enjoying the time with his human Holly Lewis of Poplar Bluff until a train’s whistle began to blow and the train stopped on the tracks. PeeWee, who was a Hearts for Rescue dog, found his forever home early when Lewis and her housemate raised his abandon litter. PeeWee charmed the family, while his litter mates were adopted by other families.

Thayer said, “We are so grateful the weather was able to cooperate to allow even more dogs and their humans to enjoy this fun event.”

Some dog parents who preregistered were concerned about the small breeds participating with the larger dogs so Thayer scheduled a special session for the smaller members of the pack.

Each session was limited to 10 dogs who had to be on a leash

“We require all dogs to have their rabies vaccine to participate,” Thayer said.

The next Downtown Dog Park program is the Poplar Bluff Dog Show from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 7.

According to Thayer, “It is a fun twist on a classic dog show that includes categories such as best cheer section, best costume, best tricks and much more,” Thayer said. “It is $5 per category — which means your dog could compete in as many categories you’d like.”

For more information or to sign up, call PB Parks and Recreation at 573-686-8645 or email kthayer@pbparks.org.