Dog park visits likely to make you want more pets

Oklahoma City. I've taken Deter a few times to Paw Park, 3303 NW Grand Blvd., and we stopped by again Tuesday evening. Sophie, a 10-pound poodle, yapped through the fence at my 60-pound lab/chow mix. Of course, Deter whined and ran. Though she was in the small dog area and we were in the big dog area, she was still in charge.

Her owner, Jack Bowen of Oklahoma City, brings Sophie to Paw Park every other day or so. "When you get older, he said, "your dog gets to be a lot like your kids. His wife even threw Sophie a birthday party at the dog park, complete with a doggie birthday cake.

Andrea Linn of Oklahoma City brings her 120 pound Great Dane, Lucy, to the park just as often, but her pooch doesn't come just to play; Paw Park is her physical therapy. Three years ago Lucy had surgery to help correct Wobbler's disease, a nerve problem common in Great Danes and Dobermans, Linn said. After surgery, Lucy was paralyzed for eight months. Now she has trouble walking, but at least she's mobile, Linn said. "We started coming out here as soon as she could walk, Linn said. "She doesn't really play much, but she can stand and walk around.

Archive ID: 3262122

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