Some used walkers, others rode in wheel chairs, with more than two dozen dogs on leashes interspersed among them. And yes, we literally stopped traffic.
It was the third Dog Walk-a-thon at the Country Inn in Downey, an idea that is quickly picking up popularity and participants.
It all began last summer when Manuel Guavara, the assisted living facility's activities director and a Lakewood YMCA aerobics instructor, noticed how eager residents were to accompany him when he took his dogs, Peanut and Dynamite, out on walks during the work day.
So Manuel invited members from the community along with friends and relatives of residents who had dogs to join them for three annual dog walks (spring, summer and fall) through the neighborhood.
Several of the dogs from that walk returned for the spring walk today -- Cookie, Moose, and Truman, among others -- along with many new faces. Some of the best moments come when the residents have a chance to interact with the dogs.
Several of them were moved to tell me all about the dogs they'd had in their lives and how much joy they'd brought them. Having the opportunity to pet and play with the visiting dogs seems to really lift their spirits.
But the residents aren't the only ones who benefit.
The dogs? Well, they just eat up all that extra attention.
Here's Cowboy, at the right, loving the gentle touch and attention one resident lavished on him.
And Tess, left, made a very special friend as well. She sat there for the longest time at this resident's feet as he softly stroked her head.
(More pictures on the jump.)
Upon arrival, all the dogs have to sniff each other out, of course.
That's Murphy on the left, he and his owner live in the South Bay and Murphy was once featured in the Beach Reporter, I'm told.
So now he can add this to his growing press clippings.
This little dog lucked out and got a snuggly ride for most of the Dog Walk-a-thon route that wound around several blocks through the downtown district of Downey.
Afterward, many of the dogs seemed pretty pooped!
But the scent of hot dogs on the grill soon got Cowboy's attention.
That's our host, Manuel, at the right serving up lunch after the walk.
("You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog" was playing in the background, prompting a few residents to begin bouncing and swaying in their wheel chairs to the beat.)
And this resourceful little guy managed to slip into the forbidden zone in search of scraps.
Kudos to Manuel and all the residents, dogs and guest participants who make this such a fun and worthwhile event. Several volunteers, including young people from a local church, also pitched in to help. It's one of those truly grassroots events that deserves to be replicated.
As for Cowboy, Tess and me, we'll plan to be there for the next one this summer.
Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(Video: Rocket the Dog) and is the least popular person on his block. He spends his free time in dog parks, pet shops and always has an extra plastic bag in his pocket just in case. He also has a cat.
I loved this story. Dogs can provide so much comfort and healing that modern medicine cannot match. I especially like the loving look in Cowboy's eyes as he is being shown affection and Tess soaking up her affection too with her head thrown back as she thinking "this is the life"!