Bark in the Park brings “paw”sitivity to the community
On Sunday, April 23, the cloudy skies parted for a hot and sunny day at Conejo Creek park, for the annual “Bark in the Park” event coordinated by the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD). The event was filled with canine-enthused activities, like dog races and costume contests, sprinkler stations, a variety of vendors and more.
One annual attender of the event, Theresa Hanson and owner of two great danes Gus and Gracie, loves the welcoming atmosphere that “Bark in the Park” encourages. “It’s family, it’s community. Nobody comes here with a mean dog. You can actually come knowing your animals are safe, your kids are safe. There’s a little bit of something for everyone,” Hanson said.
Those “something for everyone” included multiple dog contests, one of the most notable being the costume contest. Costumes ranged from lions to bumblebees. The winner of the contest was particularly creative. Caitlain Bricker, a regular attendee of pup-related events, brought her dog Maizie in a homemade flower garden costume complete with a watering can leash. “I just love dog events. We go to all of them, usually ones that have costume contests…I really like seeing all of the rescues, most importantly…I like seeing that they bring out the dogs so you can actually meet them and hopefully find homes for them. So that’s honestly my favorite part. I just wish I could take them all home,” Bricker said.
One of these rescues is the Canine Adoption and Rescue League, also known as CARL. The nonprofit organization has been coming to “Bark in the Park” since the event’s creation, bringing their rescue dogs to meet potential new owners and spread awareness about their rescue. Toni Kamm, a volunteer with the organization since its establishment in 1996, said that at the event, “We get a lot of lookers. And of course a lot of people here already have dogs. But, you know, sometimes they’re looking for another dog. And when the time comes they can always go online, once they know that we’re out there.”
From the vendors, the community volunteers, and the dogs themselves, Bark in the Park promotes a friendly safe space for everyone in the community.“People bring their animals everywhere and this is kind of an unspoken freebie where you can go without any judgment so it’s fun,” Hanson said.
