OUR LAGUNA: Dogs were tops at event

Folks had a doggone good time Sunday at the fundraiser for the Bark Park.

About 300 people attended the event presented at Tivoli too by the Friends of the Laguna Beach Dog Park, who dogged the city until the park was reserved for canines.

“Proceeds will benefit the Dog Park and rescue groups,” said Gina Kantzabedian, owner of Animal Crackers, an event sponsor. “Last year we created the small-dog area, and we have fenced in the back side.”

Dogs and people were equally welcome at “My Best Friend’s Brunch.” Special canine guests included Harmon, dean of the local Guide Dog for the Blind puppies in training. He will be returning to the training headquarters in Marin County in about three weeks.

“He’ll get another five months training by pros,” said John Dowdy, one of the Laguna Beach residents who fosters the puppies. “If he passes [requirements], he will be paired with a blind person and they will train for about a month together.”

Dowdy has fostered two dogs in the four years he has belonged to the South Orange County VIP 3 Club.

Nancy Joseph, who is training Zola, her fifth puppy in five years, is hoping that Harmon will be used at stud.

It takes a special kind of person to give a home to these puppies, train them, love them and then give them up.

However, if you are looking for a puppy that you get to keep, Laguna’s Animal Shelter is a good place to start. Animal Crackers is another.

Kantzabedian brought about a dozen puppies to the brunch — one Chihuahua/Visla-mix, ready for adoption now; one shepherd-mix and six mixed Chihuahuas, ready for adoption in less than two weeks.

Youthful assistants helped with the puppies: Thurston Middle School students Natalie Houlas, 10, and Wyatt Gibbs, 11; El Morro students Regan Carachers, 9, Ryan Carachers, 7, and Rose Niermeijer, 10; Isabelle Danisi, 10, and Emma Gibbs, who attend Top of the World Elementary School. Liz Louch, and Pookie, her Chihuahua mix, also helped.

“I don’t usually get any takers at the brunch, but I do get visibility so people know about the puppies [not to mention adult dogs — including a Basset hound named Shorty, kittens and cats],” Kantzabedian said.

The Coastline Pilot regularly features pets available by contacting Kantzabedian.

No question, dog lovers are a different breed — and in Laguna even more different.

An attempt by the City Council many years ago to ban dogs from the beaches at any time of the day or night was successfully challenged by a parade of outraged residents on Main Beach, led by Richard Challis.

The Friends of the Laguna Beach Dog Park was founded to combat a city proposal to split off the northern end of the dog park to create a skateboard park.

City officials listened to the opponents of the plan and in February 2006 eliminated the Bark Park as a site for a skateboard project.

The group then focused on educating the public about responsible pet ownership — a nice way to say, “Pick up after your pet.” Other best practices for owners include preventing unwanted pregnancies and obeying leash laws.

Another priority of the group is support for local rescue operations, such as the Laguna Beach Animal Shelter, which now has its own nonprofit fundraising group, Protecting Unwanted Pets, up and running.

PUP could equally stand for Pick Up Plops — which would really make Bruce Hopping happy.

But improving the Bark Park is at the top of the list for the Friends.

More water fountains are needed, according to Kantzabedian.

“And they are very expensive,” she said.

One of the biggest benefits of the Bark Park is to socialize dogs. The brunch was proof that it doesn’t have to be a dog-eat-dog world.

“Have you noticed there has not been one fight?” said dog owner Nanci Nielsen, a Laguna Beach hair stylist and police department volunteer.

In fact, Nielsen’s two dogs, Garnet and Red Wagon, are so socially adept, they were accepted as volunteers at South Coast Medical Center on the fourth floor, which houses an addiction recovery program.

The well-regarded dogs participate in the Thursday program-completion ceremonies.

“Sometimes they fill in as family members if they have really bonded,” Jerry Nielsen said.

The Nielsens began volunteering Garnet and ’Wagon after reading a story in the Coastline Pilot about the program. Both dogs are Delta Society-certified, which the hospital requires.

“We are at the hospital at least four times a week,” Nielsen said.

Garnet and ’Wagon are big dogs, which are used only on the hospital’s fourth floor. Small-dog owners service the fifth floor, and there has been talk of expanding the program to the third floor, Nielsen said.

Both Nielsen dogs and about 20 others were dressed for the fundraiser, which included opportunity prizes, a silent auction, entertainment, mimosas and a “Howl’oween pet costume contest.

The contest winner was Maggie Marie, a golden retriever-spaniel who makes her home with Shirley Picard-Dornia.

Lauri Julian’s contest-winning Chihuahua, Chloe, seen on television and in movies, was the canine celebrity judge.

Special thanks from the Friends went to Tivoli Too owner June Neptune for the brunch.

“Every time we have called on her, she has stepped up,” said Mallory McCamant, president of the Friends of Laguna Beach Dog Park. “I get choked up just thinking about it.”

On hand to enjoy the event: Cheryl Post and her sister, Carol Richards; Morrie Granger and City Council candidate Verna Rollinger, with Sophie, an adorable Havanese who succeeded Rollinger’s beloved Flash; Vicki and Mike Orgill, with Jade, a Dalmatian-collie mixed rescue dog; and Jeri Hyde with Twiggy.

“It was just perfect,” said Joy Butterfield, co-chair with McCamant of the fundraiser.

If you couldn’t make it to the fundraiser, donations can be made at www.LBDogPark.org. Paypal, Visa, MasterCard and American Express all accepted.

The Friends are a 501 c(3), nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-exempt.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; hand-deliver to Suite 22 in the Lumberyard, 384 Forest Ave.; call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979 or e-mail coastlinepilot@latimes.com