TP_071218

tinleyjunction.com life & Arts
The tinley junction | July 12, 2018 | 21
Tinley Park dog park welcomes pets for day of fun
Mary Compton
Freelance Reporter
They came ready to
swim, chase balls and bark
along with a few friends.
It was the fourth annual
Doggie Beach Paw-ty
held Saturday, July 7, at
Canine Campus, located at
18200 S. 84th Ave. in Tinley
Park.
“We have our doggy
beach party for members
and non-members today,”
said Meghan Fenlon, employee
for the Tinley Park
Park District. “We have
beach balls, pools set up,
we have raffles, doggie bandanas
and free giveaways
from Pet Smart. We do three
free dog events a year — a
spring, a summer and a fall
— so this is our summer
event.”
This first off-leash dog
park in Tinley Park opened
in 2015. This was a joint
project between the Tinley
Park-Park District and
Orland Township. Canine
Campus is open to Tinley
Park residents and Orland
Township residents for a
fee.
Fenlon takes her own dog,
Maggie, to the park as well.
“I have a Welsh Terrier
named Maggie,” Fenlon
said. “Maggie does come
and play in the dog area; she
loves it. Dogs bring so much
joy. They are fun to watch.
Everybody who comes out
to Canine Campus is so
friendly. We get to know
each other, people form
bonds with each other as
well as their dogs. If you’re
interested in joining Canine
Campus, go to the Tinley
Park Recreation Center and
pay a yearly membership
fee. You can use this campus
365 days a year, it’s
open dusk to dawn.”
According to the Tinley
Park Park District website,
Tinley Park’s off-leash dog
park is a membership facility.
The annual dog park
pass can be purchased at
any time. All dog park users
must pay an annual
fee; meet Cook County
and the Village of Tinley
Park vaccination, health
screening, and licensing
requirements; and sign a
liability waiver to obtain a
dog park pass. A pass must
be purchased for each dog
brought to the park. Dog
park passes are nontransferable
and non-refundable.
There is a link to download
the registration packet on
this web page, or residents
can stop in at the Bettenhausen
Recreation Center to
pick one up. Proof of residency
for Tinley Park-Park
District residents and Orland
Township residents is
required to receive resident
rates.
Pat Gerdes from Tinley
Park brought her dog Larry
out. She and Larry have
been members of Canine
Campus for two years.
“These events are so fun,”
Gerdes said. “It’s good to
see all the dogs interacting.
I bring my dog once a
week. During the summer I
come after work because he
loves it so much. He barks
the whole way from the
house until we get here. It’s
big and everyone takes care
of their dogs really well to
make sure there’s no incidents.”
With various dogs playing
and jumping in small
pools, various breeds were
playing together. Two beautiful
greyhounds put their
paws in a small blue kiddie
pool.
Mike Serratore from
Tinley Park brought his
two greyhounds, Dazzle
and Dinky, along with his
3-year-old-son, Evan.
Mike Serratore, of Tinley Park, encourages his rescued
greyhounds, Dinky and Dazzle, to cool off in a pool during
the Tinley Park-Park District’s Doggie Beach Paw-ty.
“These are Dazzle and
Dinky; they are litter mates,”
he explained. “They came
out of a bad litter so they
never raced on the track.
We volunteer with REGAP
(Retired Greyhounds As
Pets), which is a greyhound
rescue group. We do a lot of
meet and greets in the local
pet stores. Greyhounds
are great companion dogs,
they’re good with children
they’re also good with older
people. These events are always
good.
“Every family should
have a dog — they’re great
companions, they reduce
stress, they are a lot of fun,”
Serratore concluded.
Colin Nolan, of Orland Park, plays catch with his dog
Bullseye during the event, which featured a photo area, pet
bandana decorating station and more.
Maggie
Huizinga, of
New Lenox,
gives a big
hug to her
boyfriend’s
dog, Louie,
on July 7
at Canine
Campus,
located at
18200 S. 84th
Ave. in Tinley
Park. PHOTOS
BY MARY
COMPTON/22ND
CENTURY
MEDIA