CLEARFIELD – At a recent club meeting, members of Mountain Laurel Kennel Club (MLKC) planned a series of outings designed to provide opportunities for dogs and their owners to have fun together outdoors. The public is invited to join any or all of the outings. The first in the series of hikes will convene at Elliott State Park on June 21 at 4:00 p.m.
Club members will lead participants on their choice of easy, medium or challenging trails. After the hike is over, the group will reconvene for a short lesson on tick prevention, how to check humans and dogs for ticks and remove them safely, signs and symptoms of tick bites and Lyme disease. Each person attending will get a packet of information on the topic. Participants should bring their own dog and human food as well as liquids.
On July 19, a similar short hiking trek is planned for Curwensville Dam, with the information nugget focusing on basic K-9 behavior and obedience issues like walking nicely on a leash, behaving in a group of humans and dogs, practicing ‘sit’ and ‘down’ for rest, and allowing a person other than their master to hold them on leash or touch them.
For the Sept. 20 gathering, the club will convene at Irwin Park, also in Curwensville, for some easy dog games. The educational moment will provide some basic first aid, such as examining paws for cuts and stones after being outdoors, signs of distress, treating bites and stings, and dealing with other outdoor safety issues. Three MLKC members are certified to teach Pet First Aid and will be available for consultation.
The last 4-Legged Field Trip will be on Oct. 18 at Parker Dam State Park at the height of the fall leaf display. The park has some of the nicest groomed trails in the state, which will be ideal for the last venture out as a group. As this expedition comes to a close, each participant will be given a booklet featuring ideas for indoor tricks and games to challenge their dog during the winter months when being outdoors is less enjoyable.
MLKC President, Denise Long, urges everyone to save these dates now and to check the calendar page of the kennel club Web site for updated information on the field trips as each date gets closer. “Don’t miss these wonderful opportunities for high-quality time with your dogs and a little education about living with canines,” she said. “There is no fee to join us, except the park entrance fee in some cases, so this can be affordable family fun for everyone.”
Mountain Laurel Kennel Club is a 501 (c) 3 organization comprised of dog owners and fanciers who are dedicated to teaching and modeling responsible dog ownership.