Friday, February 15, 2019
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Neighbors | Submitted.Members of the community participated in the Metro Mutts hike with your dog event at Mill Creek Park. The group offers events for both members and non-members throughout the year.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Members of the Metro Mutts group walked around Mill Creek Park for the groups annual Halloween walk.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Pets dressed up in Halloween costumes for the Metro Mutts Halloween hike in 2018. The group hosts walks and special events throughout the year.
By JESSICA HARKER
Members of the Metro Mutts group at Mill Creek Park gathered at the Fellows Riverside Garden on Feb. 2 to discuss dog body language.
Lorri Matey, a trainer with the Canine Campus, presented at the event about how to interpret your pets body language and why it matters.
“It helps your relationship with your dog because you can facilitate the communication, what they say is not a big mystery,” Matey said.
She presented to those gathered about how to understand what your dog is feeling, based on how they hold their heads, tails and more.
“It just does a great service to them because its like trying to communicate with someone who can’t speak your language,” Matey said. “You try really hard to figure each other out.”
Canine Campus has been doing dog training, according to Matey, for about 30 years.
The group currently has a campus in Hubbard on East Liberty Street, and in Boardman on Market Street.
Matey said Canine Campus only practices positive dog training, meaning they never use shock collars or other harmful tools.
Along with training, she said the campus’ offer classes, programs and even play dates for dogs.
“It helps build the bond and really just helps build a better relationship,” Matey said.
Dana Sidney, the recreation activity facilitator at Mill Creek Park who runs Metro Mutts, said the group often partners with Canine Campus and other local organizations.
“We are actually looking to work with the Mahoning County Dog Pound as well,” Sidney said. “They are actually going to bring a few dogs on hikes.”
She said that Linda Kostka, a Mill Creek Parks employee, started the group as a way to encourage people to bring their dogs to Mill Creek Park.
“She essentially just wanted a program where people can get involved with the park and bring their dogs,” Sidney said. “She’s a huge dog lover.”
Sidney took over the program about a year ago, and said that it has grown from hikes, to holiday events, classes and more for local dog lovers like Kostka.
“There’s just something about being able to bring your furry friend that’s magical,” Sidney said.
She said that the group has about 50-60 members every year, but that non members are welcome to attend a variety of events.
“We do have member only events, where owners and their dogs ride our trolley the Cohasset Express, and also ride the passenger boat around Glacier Lake,” Sidyney said.
To become a member Sidney said community members can call the Ford Nature Center, as well as pick up pamphlets there with more information about the group.