Recently in Country Inn Downey Dog Walk-a-thon Category
Now in its second year, the seasonal dog walks held at Country Inn in Downey are becoming a well-loved tradition. The assisted living facility's activities director Manuel Guevara, a YMCA aerobics and exercise instructor in Lakewood, came up with the idea as a way to get residents out to walk more. It became an immediate hit.
Saturday's 2009 fall/Halloween walk included between 20 and 30 dogs, with many friends and families of residents -- along with community members -- taking part as well. Cowboy and Tess loved participating as usual.
The walk winds its way through the downtown streets of Downey. Some residents take part in wheel chairs or walkers, some wear costumes.
The dogs sometimes sport costumes as well. This good looking dog at the right was dressed as a bumble bee.
That's "Moose," above. He's been a regular at all of the walks so far.
Below, Cowboy gets sniffed by the Bumble Bee.
Read previous posts and see photos from past Country Inn dog walks.
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.
Cowboy, Tess and I took part in the fall walk, held around Halloween time, and I posted about it back then.
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.)
Continue reading Good dogs, good exercise, & VERY good therapy for all.
Cowboy & Tess are beat after a full morning participating in a special dog walk with the residents and friends of Country Inn of Downey, an assisted living residence where Carol, a friend of mine, has been staying since June.Organized by activities director Manuel Guevara, the walk through the neighborhood with assorted dogs was designed to get people up, out and moving. And, boy, did it work.
The whole idea of having the walks came about during the summer. Manuel, who also is an aerobics instructor at the Lakewood YMCA, frequently brought his dogs, Peanut and Dynamite, with him while making his rounds at the Country Inn.
Along with the facility director's dog, Little Bit, the canines soon became a big hit with the residents. When they'd walk them outside, a number of residents began to ask if they could come with them.
"The people who wanted to go on the walk were people who didn't like to walk," he said. He realized that he'd hit on the perfect all-around therapy. What better motivation than the dogs to get residents outdoors and walking?
So this summer, Manuel organized the first official Country Inn Dog Walk-athon.
Saturday's event was only the second dog walkathon (they'll be held three times a year, summer/fall/spring). Manuel put the word out to his fellow YMCA instructors and students. Along with other assorted family members and friends, I'd say there were some 15-20 dogs, though I didn't actually count them.
The walk wasn't short -- we probably went nearly a mile. And it must have been quite sight, seeing all the folks in wheel chairs and walkers, along with all the dogs, snaking along the sidewalks through town.
Here are some of the photos I took (most will be on the jump).
Cowboy arrives.
Why does he always look like he's just been beaten?
.
He warmed up enough, however, to greet all the new arrivals as the crowd gathered at about 10 a.m. Among the guests were two giant schnauzers. Here's #1. Manuel, right, checked everyone in as they arrived.
This was actually Cowboy's second visit to the Country Inn. He seemed nervous the first time, but was a little more relaxed for this weekend's dog walk.
I think part of it is he hates having his picture taken!
Some people & dogs came in costume, but not us (unless you count Tess's cast for her broken toe).
This is Truman, the other giant schnauzer, with his owner, a pirate. Truman sported a coordinating pirate scarf.
(Lots of canine butt sniffing took place, as befitting any worthy dog gathering.)
At right is Mike, who knows Manuel through the Y, along with his dog Cookie, a border collie mix who is .... yeah, you got it, sniffing Cowboy's butt while he's sniffing hers.
What did I tell you?
Here's Tess getting a pat from one of the residents. (She just got her new pink-and-white cast the night before.)
The dogs all loved the attention and got along with each other famously.
(Well, for the most part. There was a brief vocal skirmish when Tess, who had already eaten 2 treats, got a little too pushy wanting a 3rd; a blind Samoyed named Bob -- is that a great name? -- let her know it was HIS turn, thank you very much.
Tess wisely surrendered and retreated in all meekness beneath my friend Carol's walker.)
More photos on the jump .....Click below
Continue reading Butt sniffing, a long walk, and romance -- what more could a dog want.
About the Bloggers
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.
E-mail Donna at donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com.
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.
E-mail Josh at josh.grossberg@dailybreeze.com.