On Saturday, September 17, 2011 with many thanks to Marcia Perry Rhoades and Lenny Rhoades, Coonhound Companions was the beneficiary of a fundraiser by Bark Park (www.barkpark.org)
 
This is difficult to write because I was moved in so many ways. Coonhound Companions is my pet project and I'm happy, overwhelmed and grateful to see this fundraising success on its behalf.
 
 "Thank you" is too simple and understated for the incredible generosity of the participants who paid gate fees, had their dogs bathed, nails trimmed, bought raffle tickets, donated raffle items, who baked and donated desserts, who bought food, buttons, notepads, t-shirts and other items, who baked and donated gluten free homemade dog biscuits and more.
 

Bark Park is held on a slice of doggie heaven, a completely fenced property with dual gates for safety including open areas and wooded areas and a lovely pond for swimming. 
Spayed or neutered, vaccinated dogs that are friendly with people and other dogs are welcome to join in the fun for a great play date.  Bark Park is the one event where dozens of people cater to my hound's love of chasing balls and are humored by his loud vocalizations demanding that someone throw a ball for him. 

Blaze literally ran and swam and bayed for three hours, at which point he flopped at my feet to take a well deserved nap amidst the fun and games.   I do not think my Blaze was the coonhound star of the day. He was just one of the clowns, joined by Melody and Arthur(two hounds up for adoption from Madison County Humane Society). 

This is one of the Madison County Humane Societies coonhounds, having the time of his life and looking forward to his forever home.

The true star was the hound with all the grace and dignity in the world.  The Grand Hostess of the event. Miss Scarlett, the newest addition to the Rhoades' family, spent the day near the gate so she could greet and welcome every new arrival.  What a gal!  It was moving to watch hundreds of dogs constantly rotating through the park, playing and enjoying the glorious autumn weather that Ohio provided.



Some dogs ran, some dogs swam; some dogs lounged under the trees and watched the action.  Some dogs played with their best buddies, some played solo.  Some dogs begged and melted against any human who would pet them.

So,the most moving part of the Bark Park day for me?  The volunteers!  The Humane Society of Madison County sent at least a dozen volunteers to help and to bring a couple hounds and a retriever mix to play for the day.  Mind you, Madison is undergoing the remodeling of a building that will be their new shelter right now so they've got no shortage of need for volunteers on their own home front! They ran the concession stand, sold raffles and ran the sales table, manned the gate, you name it they did it.

Then, Bark Park had-more than 16 volunteers show up to work their tails off for the day setting up chairs, poop bag stations, tables, tents, and so much more.   I can't even begin to thank everyone.  I just don't know how.

Perhaps you are saying, why is this so important? People volunteer everyday so that's not so remarkable.  But it was.  The entire day was perfect.  It went off without a hitch.  Not a single grumpy word, not a single problem, not even a grumbly dog.  With eagerness, enthusiasm, and a willingness to do anything that was needed, so many volunteers cheerfully gave up their beautiful weekend day to commit to a cause very important to me. 


Many of these volunteers I hadn't met before, but I'd certainly be proud to call them "friend" after seeing their character in action.  I didn't beg them, badger them, push them, and order them to help. They simply showed up and made the day a success.  It was like someone waved a magic wand.  I think I've learned a new life lesson, magic wands exist and they are made up of good people.  Thank you, my friends, thank you.
 
Mary Beth Hall
CoonhoundCompanions.com

CoonhoundCompanions.com is releasing a new poster, "Long Ears = Social Networking." The poster is available on our Posters & More page (above). The public should feel free to print out copies of the new and older posters and put them up wherever coonhounds may be awaiting adoption, or wherever else hounds' sterling qualities as pets could use some favorable publicity.

These days, when impromptu social gatherings are so easily fostered by electronic networking, a dog that plays well with others is especially desirable. Coonhounds and foxhounds fit the bill admirably. No breed is better at getting along with strangers, whether human, canine or other species.

Hounds do unusually well at dog parks and other places where various dog breeds gather together. Mine are incredibly popular with other dogs on the sidewalks of Brooklyn, NY. Their loud invitations to play may put off some other breeds, but don't provoke fights. Unlike some other breeds, they are rarely confrontational. In general, coonhounds and foxhounds are curious and playful, although they may prefer sniffing out the perimeters to playing fetch with retrievers. It’s in their breeding: hunting hounds are turned out to hunt with unfamiliar hounds, and must get along even in competition. Their personalities are bred to vary from mellow to gregarious. Disagreeable hounds don't get bred.

While coonhounds and foxhounds have a significant prey drive--they are bred to hunt, after all--that prey drive can be guided to focus on a single prey species or get diverted to another task, like tracking. Unlike herding dogs, hounds are not inclined to harass farm animals. On first encounter, most hounds express cautious curiosity about other species.
Coonhounds and foxhounds are readily trained to ignore livestock, deer and possum; hunt alongside and amicably together with horses, mules, and visiting dogs; and to accept other household pets. Think of how many foxhounds may be gathered into a single pack surrounded by horses.

Because raccoon and fox hunting is done in rural settings, where the hounds may encounter cows, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens and who knows what else, they are taught to focus their attention on the sought after prey--fox, coyote, raccoon, bobcat, bear or mountain lion--depending on location and the desires of their hunter-handlers. Training will refocus the attention of most hounds away from undesirable game (that pair of lovebirds or hamsters in the cage).

However, new hound adopters should take special care while introducing them to the family cat. Many hounds will chase cats until taught not to. (So will most other breeds of dog.) Running, outdoor cats pose more of a challenge than indoor cats. Any cat owner thinking of adopting a hound should ask about their prospective adoptee's history with cats. But as the picture on the poster shows, many hounds learn to get along brilliantly with their family's cat. Even better, hound rescues check out the personalities of the hounds they foster, so those few hounds that are inveterate chicken-killers or cat hunters, won't end up at egg farms or in homes with beloved kitties.

And while hounds can be large dogs, they instinctively know how to moderate how energetically they play with smaller, more delicate dogs, pups, and humans, but also willingly play rowdily with their more vigorous acquaintances. Boxer or papillion, a hound will enjoy a canine playmate and a child (or forever young adult) to wrestle with.

Long-eared dogs are extremely affectionate with their humans, their guests, relatives, and children. Please check out "Long Ears = Social Networking" as well as our earlier posters, "Long Ears & You = Soulmates," "Long Ears = Lotsa Cute," "Long Ears = Lotsa Fun," and "Long Ears = Lotsa Talent."

By Emily Plishner