On Saturday, July 25, dogs from Rockaway and beyond had their day as the Tail Waggers Task Force hosted a Hawaiian Pool Pawty Luau and Hula Ice Cream Social at the Rockaway Freeway Dog Run. Though postponed from the previous Saturday due to heavy rains, skies were sunny and clear for the afternoon event.
Dogs of all sizes, ages and breeds happily strolled, chased, played and socialized around the 2.5-acre park, one of the largest in the city, at 83-02 Beach Channel Dr. Set up were four blue collapsible pools for them to splash in and jump in and out of. Another small pool was filled with hundreds of colorful balls. Two sprinkler splash pads were brought in, as one Tail Wagger volunteer put it, for “those canines who, having recently visited the groomer, preferred to cool off without getting completely submerged and ruining their coifs!”
Upon one large dog, named Moses, making a powerful pool splash, one visitor commented, “Well, Moses certainly parted the waters.”
About 30 pups attended the event, along with nearly 40 humans who accompanied them. One woman and her pet, who often attend Tail Wagger events, came all the way from the Bronx. Many dogs dressed for the occasion sporting Hawaiian and other colorful print shirts, sunglasses, and even a doggie bikini.
Each dog received a lei and a Hawaiian bandana presented by Tail Wagger Orisha Jordan. All were also treated to Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, pumpkin or peanut butter flavored, specially made for dogs, and provided courtesy of the group’s Latanya Blassingame-Hall. Meanwhile Tail Wagger’s Jocelyn Matos presented a well-decorated Tiki Bar complete with iced water and home-made roasted chicken treats for the pups, and cold beverages for the humans.
Raffled goody bags containing doggie toys and treats were won by four lucky participants, including a young pup named Dollar and dog-mom Missy Torres.
The Tail Waggers reported, “Everyone in attendance agreed that it was a really fun day for both the dogs and their people. One woman exclaimed, ‘This is the most fun I’ve had with my dog in years!’”
The event was the non-profit Tail Waggers Task Force’s second annual ice cream social and pool pawty. The group, working with NYC Parks, is responsible for the stewardship of the Rockaway Freeway Dog Run.
Tail Waggers gave thanks to “all the dog-owners who visit the park on a regular basis and those who have just discovered (it).” They also gave “special thanks to all attendees at Saturday’s event, for making it a giant splash!” Tail Waggers reminds all to start getting costumes ready for the annual Howl-o-ween Costume Pawty, scheduled for late October.
For more information, dates and times, or to register for Tail Wagger events, visit www.tailwaggerstaskforce.org
Photos by Dan Guarino.
