For The Love of Dogs - Let's Build It

WHEELING, WV, June 26, 2013

On November 4, 2000 I stumbled upon the best gift I would ever receive. I had stopped by the local Petsmart in Charleston, West Virginia because I had heard one of the local animal shelters had pups there for adoption, including a golden retriever. I did not find the golden retriever pup but, instead, was greeted by a 3 pound white and black fur ball that captured my heart and forever changed my life.

My dog Cassie has taught me what unconditional love is all about. She has helped me through many of my bad times and made the good times even better. She greets everyone she sees with a smiling face and a wagging tail and simply does not understand when someone does not want to be her friend. She knows when someone is sad or simply needs a friendly nuzzle and seeks them out. I believe dogs are one of the greatest gifts ever given to man, but we, as dog owners, have a responsibility and a duty to insure our dogs are well socialized and have room to romp and play and simply be happy.

When Cassie was a pup, she was, in a word, wild. She wanted and needed a chance to run free and would run every time she could escape a leash. When she was about two years old, I had the opportunity to allow her to run free on about five acres of land for several days. Suddenly, Cassie didn't need a leash. She stayed near and came if I just made a noise. The same thing happened with her "uncle" Tripp, a little black dog my mother adopted four years ago. Given the opportunity to run off leash in a safe environment, the pups learned they didn't have to escape and if they listened, they didn't need to be continually confined by a leash.

I recently learned of a movement in Wheeling to establish Wheeling's first ever dog park. A group of dedicated volunteers who know the importance of dogs in our lives have come together to provide our four-legged friends with a safe and secure area where they can romp and play. This group of dedicated pet parents has already secured land in the Elm Grove section of Wheeling where the park will be built. We are working to raise the funds to complete the park. The intent is to have separate sections for large and small breed dogs. The park, when it becomes a reality, will have double gated secure entrances, seating areas for pet parents to socialize, hydration stations for pets and pet parents, and other necessities.

To read more about how the dog park was established, visit https://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/559949/Pursue ... ml?nav=511.

To learn more about this volunteer organization and its goal to provide our furry children a safe place to play and socialize, go to "Wheeling Needs a Dog Park" on Facebook. [https://www.facebook.com/WheelingDogPark] You can support the cause by becoming actively involved or simply attending fund raising events such as the "Yappy Hour" which was recently held on May 18 at Quaker Steak & Lube where our four legged friends were treated to a night out with their parents. Future fundraising events are in the works and will be posted on the Wheeling Needs a Dog Park Facebook page.

My baby girl is nearly thirteen years old now. She has made my life and the lives of many others immeasurably happier. She is a survivor. She has escaped death on more than one occasion. She has survived being attacked by a pit bull while we were on an evening walk. She has beat cancer. Twice. I want her to have the opportunity to romp and play in Wheeling's first dog park and will do whatever I can to make that happen. She deserves that opportunity before her time on earth is over. If you love your four-legged furry children as much as we at Bordas & Bordas love ours, please join me in the effort to provide them with a safe and secure place to play. I intend to do my part to insure Cassie gets to romp and play in Wheeling's first dog park.

To learn more about dog parks, visit: http://www.wtrf.com/story/7069066/in-praise-of-dog-parks