Pets and owners keeping cool at Regina dog park

The hot weather Regina is experiencing has lots of people trying to keep cool — and their furry friends as well.

Even at 10 o’clock in the morning, dog owners were out in full force Friday at the Cathy Lauritsen Memorial Dog Park.

Many dogs were jumping with excitement to get through the gates. Angie Evans said she likes to spend a few days a week at the park with her two dogs, Sam and Sophie.

Sam, a 12-year-old rescue pooch, has been with Evans a long time.

“He was rescued from some family way out in the boonies. He was pretty neglected when we got him,” said Evans.

Sam has a condition where the muscles shrunk in his head, so some of the skin and fur falls over his eyes.

“He’s totally healthy, even for an old guy, but it makes his eyes water,” said Angie.

Going to the dog park has been routine for Evans and her dogs. As it starts to get hotter, the dogs like to go for a swim in the stream.

Clearly, a soggy, dirty Sam and Sophie appreciate the river more than Evans does.

“The river (has) that sludge,” Evans said with a laugh. “Sometimes in the year, there are dead fish over there.

“You can see my dog is so muddy. The dogs can get away from you and run across the river.”

Despite mucky dogs, Evans says she will be out rain or shine no matter what.

“This is a beautiful park. It’s big and I love it, but everyone complains about that river,” said Evans.

The windy weather might turn some away, but Bill Cain was happy to be throwing a ball for his two border collies.

“This is ideal weather for the park,” said Cain. “(The wind) keeps the heat down and the mosquitoes off.”

Cain said he has been coming to the park every day for years. In the summer, he gets there early to beat the heat.

“It’s a great place to walk and a great place for the dogs to run, and we have met hundreds of people here,” he said.

His two dogs, Jordy and Jasper, accompany him while Cain meets new individuals. He said some of the best conversations he has had at the park have been about the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Regina Red Sox.

Max Bourgh stood by the water giving his two dogs Cookie and Maple a pat. The hot weather for the upcoming weekend is something he’s been waiting for all winter.

“Pretty damn good (for) six months of the year — hell yeah,” he said.

Keeping his dogs hydrated is a priority to him. He said something that might help is if the city puts in a water fountain at the park.