Central Bark

My dogs may have put on some weight in recent months. Okay fine. They are fat. I am not quite sure when it happened. After we had the twins, Toby, who has always had a propensity for girth, actually lost quite a bit of weight and was looking rather svelte.  Raley has always looked like nothing but muscle and fur. But now, my poor exercise deprived dogs are showing the result of no walks and too many handouts from the kids all over their midsections. Yes, I feel guilty. These dogs used to go everywhere with us and now they are stuck at home. I just can't handle the twins and the dogs on my own yet. Since I can't leave the kids home while I take the dogs for a walk (though the thought has crossed my mind on more than one scream filled afternoon) the poor puppies get the shaft.  Well no more! Paul and I have renewed our commitment to get these dogs out more often. Sure, it won't be much at first since it is dark by the time Paul's gets off work and I am not willing to attempt a full fledged disaster with my 4 unruly monsters. If we are both home I see no reason why we can't take the dogs out for a couple hours at the park.

Yesterday, since our guilt levels were particularly high, we decided to take our dogs to a dog park. We have been to a few back in Sacramento and our dogs always liked it so I looked up dog parks and found one called Central Bark in Irvine.  We packed up two kids and two dogs who looked as though they were going to have aneurysms from all the excitement and drove towards Central Bark (in the mass chaos to get out the door I forgot my camera so we will have to resort to file footage)

Holy cow! That place was packed! Dogs, dogs, everywhere. Airedale here, Weimeranar there. Boxers, Boxers everywhere. And that was just in the large dog section. There was even a fenced in section where Miss Foo Foo Teacup could frolic freely without Bruiser the 150lb Rottweiler trampling her  and her perfectly coifed coat. The kids were giddy with excitement.  The dogs were over the moon. All were in their happy place until  we unleashed the hounds. Evidently Raley oozes sex to other dogs (and yes she is fixed). A pack began to follow her and the race to see who could mount her first began. Things got rowdy. Paul was calling for people to peel their dogs of my innocent sweet girl while I was consoling Mari who thought her "dog dog was ow". Meanwhile Ben was acting like he had just won the tennis ball lottery and throwing as many balls as he could get his little hands on. One owner who was slow to pry his dog off my dog's neck explained that it was just how his dog played. Okay buddy well your dog is a pit bull and their jaws can lock so I would prefer it not be around my dog's neck.  Finally we restored Raley's good name and found a quiet corner of the park where the dogs weren't quite as horny.  We played ball with the dogs and had a great time.

Then as we were getting ready to leave, shit hit the fan. Mari had decided to walk away from me since she heard us talking about leaving and felt like hiding would keep her from leaving the doggy wonderland. I followed her to a corner of the park and told her it was time to go. Suddenly a dog lunged at Mari, barking and showing its teeth. She screamed, I grabbed her, and the dogs owner just smiled at me. Okay...... So I started walking back towards the exit with Mari in my arms and took about three steps before the dog came after me, barking and giving me the death stare. I tried to walk again, same thing. This happened three more times, all  while the owner just watched and did nothing. Finally I asked her to please get her dog so I could get away. She told me her dog didn't like kids and I shouldn't bring kids there. What? Your dog is barking viciously at someone and your response is I shouldn't have my kids at the park? Nevermind the fact that there were plenty of other kids there of all different ages. I tore into her and told her my kids should be able to come to park if they want. She told me she has seen "many" toddlers get their arms and legs broken there. Really. Many. I highly doubt that. But whatever. Just get your damn dog away from me and my daughter you crazy loon! I was ready to start World War III right then and there but I had to get my poor scared child out of there. When I got to the car and told Paul about what had just transpired and how I was going back in to tear that lady a new one, he reminded me that my anger will not do a thing to change someone so ridiculous. Sad thing is, she was right. I shouldn't have had my kids there because people like her exist. Now my kids won't be going back to that park because I can't risk their safety. Its sad. It takes one person with a bad attitude to spoil the entire outing. We will have to just take turns bringing the dogs there. Or perhaps find a different park. I swear though if I ever see that woman again I will have to introduce to my dog that doesn't like crazy people...