Thanksgiving goes to the dogs

June Casagrande

COSTA MESA -- As any dog can tell you, family is where you find it.

And anywhere you find it, they know, there’s reason to be thankful.

For about 16 regulars of Costa Mesa’s Bark Park, this spirit took

shape Thursday in turkey and terriers, pumpkin pie and poodles, stuffing

and schnauzers.

“We all see each other so much, we’re like family,” said Maxi

Morrison, a Newport Beach resident whose four schnauzers were star

spangled with glitter at the Thanksgiving dinner for dog park die-hards.

Marlene and Patrick Russell brought the turkey, Jan King brought the

homemade pumpkin pie, Tammy Vranich brought shepherd’s bread and green

bean casserole -- and everyone brought their best friends.

“My fiance is in Chicago so when I heard they were having Thanksgiving

there, it was perfect.” said Mike Baird, a dog park regular and owner of

Coby, a dachshund who was right at home with the friends he sees at the

park every day.

The gang gathered at picnic tables in TeWinkle Park, adjacent to the

Bark Park. Pens were set up for the dogs -- six schnauzers, three

dachshunds, a standard poodle and a half dozen other mixes -- all of whom

seemed to take notice of the smell of simmering turkey.

The Russells were using a propane-fueled Cajun cooker to deep-fry the

turkey on the spot -- a 1 1/2 hour process that sent holiday scents

wafting through the park. As it sizzled, attention shifted toward the

doggie obstacle course, a series of ladders, jumps and posts that made

the event as much a holiday for the dogs as for their owners.

“It just all kind of came together,” said Kathy Colby, who helped

organize the impressive feast -- itself a feat of preparation and

planning.

Most of the participants said they were there because they didn’t have

any family locally. But all agreed that beloved pets and close friends

are the next best thing.

“We see each other all week long,” King said, as her dachshunds,

Stretch and Cricket, frolicked in the pen with the other small dogs.

“We’re like a little family.”

And like all families, there was a little disagreement. In this case,

not surprisingly, it was about the dogs. And as perhaps was going on at

countless Thanksgiving tables across the country at the same moment, the

bone of contention centered around turkey: Some said they would give

their dogs a little taste; others, citing reports that turkey is bad for

animals, said their dogs would be getting some more traditional fare.

“I think they’ll all be getting some dog treats today,” King said.

“After all, it’s Thanksgiving.”