Trout Lake Picnic

A couple of weekends ago (it has been a while since I was last here!), my parents popped in for a visit with Molly. We tossed Molly in the stroller, trotted down to scope out the future home, met the cycling Sarah, and wandered over to a Trout Lake parkbench for a Molly-feeding. We set up the feeding facility on the northwest corner of the pond, where the official dog park is located. With the exception of a small pod of pugs, potato dogs and the occasional Jack Russell terrier and poodle, it appeared to be Big Dog day and John Hendry Park. There were a couple of border collies, a bull mastiff, a Staffordshire bull terrier, rottweilers, labs, retrievers, boxers, lovely big white and grey dogs (these two are always there), and various mutts of all shapes.

We were highly amused by the antics of this communal dog action. One of the border collies was playing fetch off of the pier, which involved racing after the ball for about 15 m before leaping off the pier and belly flopping into the murky water. Fargo the boxer was playing fetch in the water (who knew boxers were capable of such things?). The hyperactive bull terrier and the dopey bull mastiff were unleashed, and had a stretch of beach to themselves and their irresponsible owners. A long-haired white dog popped in for a sniff, causing the bull terrier to bark madly, which incited the bull mastiff to attack the white dog. The various owners all insulted the others appearance, intelligence and parentage before the white dog's owner sped off with the limping white dog in tow. The rottie checked them out next, and was barked off. Other than that group, the park was a pretty picture of poochie peace, with dogs playing happily with each other and owners chatting.

Molly enjoyed her outdoor feeding (though Sarah eventually required some protection from the sun). We then walked home up Grandview to Victoria and through McSpadden Park, and my parents' bought us Italian thin-crust pizza (Molly abstained from the meal).