Dan's Papers - March 28, 2008

The North Fork Animal Welfare League
And Their Amazing Contribution To North Fork Pets

Let's take an old-fashioned walk. Like so many other folks right here on the North Fork. Moms walk with a couple of little kids close by. Three or four teens walk, heading for an adventure. An older couple strolls by, out for a bit of sun and fresh air. All these walkers putting one foot in front of another and moving on. That's how it should be.

Wait. I left out another group of walkers. Mostly I see 'em in Peconic as I drive along Main Road and always I think the same thoughts. How good it is to see them and how rewarding their walks must be.

I'm talking about volunteer dog-walkers for the North Fork Animal Welfare League which operates Southold Town Animal Shelter on Peconic Lane in Peconic. Executive Director of the shelter is Gillian Pultz and how she does love those dogs, cats, rabbits, snakes, and you name them. At the moment, Gillian is looking for additional dog-walkers. I guess dogs, like people, want to get out and go places, do things, now that milder days are here.

Gillian assured me volunteers are matched with an appropriate pooch. And the walkers can go for a stroll between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays. Oh, yes, to walk alone with a dog, a volunteer must be at least 16 years old. That's not been a problem for me for many years. But if I were 12 or 13, I'd have to walk with an older person. Maybe someone as old as 20.

Now, our family has never had a dog. Several beloved cats but they don't count right now. So I thought I'd ask some North Fork dog-walkers about the pleasures of escorting man's best friend on North Fork sidewalks and lanes. Maybe when we all know the rewards, Gillian will have a host of new volunteers.

We'll start out east in Orient where Cleo Tabor walks her nine-month-old poodle, Ginger. As far as I'm concerned, Ginger's a real lucky lady. All the chow she needs, a cozy-kitchen bed, a fenced-in garden, and walks providing views that are North Fork special. Cleo and Ginger walk past Latham's farm right to Peconic Bay. All year long - except on the windiest days. Then Ginger's walks are confined to the garden.

Ginger's along-the-shore walks usually consume an hour or so. Lots of time for Ginger to investigate everything and for Cleo to think about everything - or nothing. Cleo says the walks make her happy because Ginger is happy. That's love, I think. And something for prospective dog-walkers to ponder.

A bit west, in Cutchogue, live Jane and Jack Gibbons. They walk two dogs - Mugsy who's 14 and Cody who's four. Here's what Jane and Jack have learned. Mugsy moves along at a much slower pace than that youngster Cody. And dog-walkers must respond accordingly. Cody, said Jane, is a "very smart" dog, having spent time at Columbia University Law School with the Gibbons's daughter, Theryn.

Jane and Jack find dog-walking time a good time to discuss household dilemmas - like what do you want for supper or what color geraniums should we plant. They talk baseball, too. They're Met fans.

There's a considerably younger dog-walker in Southold. He's Shayne Johnson, a fifth-grader who'd need an older companion if he were to volunteer at the shelter. Shayne has plenty of experience walking his dog, two-year-old Zoey. Matter of fact, Shayne's pestering his mom, Jill, for a second dog. Jill hasn't said yes - yet.

Shayne and his folks have rigged up a bell to the sliding glass doors opening to their backyard. And they've trained Zoey to ring that bell whenever the need for a walk arises.

Jill walks Zoey when Shayne can't and says she enjoys to chance to get "out of the house" and maybe meet some neighbors. Something for volunteers to keep in mind.

Just a minute. I've an idea. Perhaps Shayne could volunteer at the shelter and bring Mom Jill along as his older companion. And that way maybe Jill could diffuse the second-dog-at-home issue.

Convinced? Dog-walking sounds like the way to go. Fresh air, time to think, exercise, and doing something really worthwhile. Call Gillian at 765-1881. Then grab your coat and get your hat, leave your worries on the doorstep. Just direct your feet to the canine side of the street.