I Really Miss You, Uncle Jake!

It's probably no surprise that I'm still on the list of dog activists in Santa Cruz.  They're still trying to convince the city that they need an off-leash dog park within the city limits (and a beach!) for their dogs to have off-leash recreation.

As all of you who are regular readers of this blog know, I couldn't agree more.  I worked tirelessly to ensure that we'd have off-leash access for our dogs in Santa Cruz, but it was a losing battle.  And now, well, Buddha and Stella and I live in Salt Lake City where we do have some very amazing and beautiful parks for off-leash access.  The dogs and I run and hike together for over five miles every single day.

i am curious if there is another spot those regulars who used to visit dog beach / it's beach ~
now go to.  I ran into Jake's master today, we were both lamenting how the community just
does not exist now... and how sad our dogs are when we risk it and opt to get caught and
pay the fine. 
what would be an appropriate alternative ~ if there has not been one suggested ~ to meet on
a regular basis, like we used to at the now defunct dog beach? 
thanks in advance...

Today, I received this email.  And I have to say it brought real tears to my eyes.  Jake's master is one of my very closest and best friends from the dog park.  He befriended me the very day I arrived with Buddha and Stella.  Jake quickly became Uncle Jake to the puppies and Mike, Jake's owner, quickly became my old curmudgeon friend who even protected me from the crazy man with the knife!  Mike never believed that I was actually married to DearSweetDave and it was our own inside joke that David was just an actor whom I had hired to come to the dog park occasionally and "pretend" that he was my husband. 

When Mike and Jake lost their housing, I took pictures of Jake and created an advertisement for them on Craig's List saying that Jake needed a dog friendly home in Santa Cruz.  It worked and they found a really nice place to live.  I don't think anyone was quite as sad to see me leave Santa Cruz as Mike and Jake.  I do miss them quite a lot.

I'll say this again.  Dog parks are more than dogs running around barking and playing.  They're about the larger community of dog owners.  They're about exercise for both the dogs and their humans that help break down walls and truly create COMMUNITY.  They're about bonds between humans and their dogs, dogs and other dogs, and neighbors with each other. 

What's so wrong with that?  Santa Cruz touts itself as a peace loving and promoting COMMUNITY.  It is, unless you own a dog.

Comments

[ronfortoby]

Ah Ha, The Activist NakedJen is back. For a long time there we just had 'Jen'. you know that person without a cause.
Isn't it 'mazing what love can do.

[Suz]

Darby misses Jake, too! Seriously, if you DO hear of where people are hanging out, we want to reconnect. We are bereft. It breaks my heart to walk by the stairs to that EMPTY beach. Those who railed against our dogs are not even using the beach. Instead of 20-30 enlightened humans and their companions? Maybe 3 body surfers, or more typically: no one.

I cannot underestimate the importance of our mornings on the beach. I feel it in profound ways, and I know my dog is a different animal without her canine playmates.

Tragic.