KILAUEA — Horatio doesn’t always get to run around freely outside. But at the North Shore Dog Park, he can. “I have to keep him on a leash because of the rules,” said Cathi Robbins, who owns the six-pound white
KILAUEA — Horatio doesn’t always get to run around freely outside.
But at the North Shore Dog Park, he can.
“I have to keep him on a leash because of the rules,” said Cathi Robbins, who owns the six-pound white dog. “We live in Princeville and there’s just not a lot of places for dogs to socialize and run.”
Which is why she and her pet love the three-acre park and its open space.
“He runs as fast as a greyhound and has so much fun that it makes everything — all of that hard work — worth it,” Robbins said.
The park is under the umbrella of the Kauai North Shore Community Foundation. Donations fund things like mowing the grass, providing filtered water, supplying bags for picking up droppings, and maintenance tasks. Even the portable toilet are funded through donations.
And on Saturday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., there’s a chance to support the dog park at the second, “Paws Around the Park.”
It’s also a chance for Horatio and his island canine friends to strut their stuff in a tricks contest, costume contest, and the Strut Your Mutt Charity Dog Walk.
“Right now all of our doggies are out there asking for sponsorship for the charity walk,” Robbins said. “Then we’ll get everybody together and line up all the dogs up and they’ll walk the Waikoa Trail with the owners.”
Badges for owner and pooch are available for everyone that enters the charity walk and the team that raises the most money gets the Top Dog Award.
There will also be a Pooch Portrait Booth, an agility course, and a silent auction.
“We’ve got food for the humans and treats for the doggies,” Robbins said. “Everyone’s invited, whether you’ve got a dog or not.”
Scott Pisani, executive director of Kauai Humane Society, said KHS will be participating in Paws Around the Park.
“The residents of Kauai are proud to have such a beautiful location on the North Shore to celebrate the joy of dog ownership,” he said.
North Shore Dog Park memberships start at $50 a year.
People and their dogs don’t have to be members of the North Shore Dog Park to use the facility, but it’s a way to support the park.
“We do this out of love for our dogs and our community to make sure that we have somewhere beautiful for the dogs to run and play,” Robbins said.
Info: april@pcaonline.org or 977-8716.
