Monica Crowe, Reporter
08-17-2009
There’s something special about the way a dog greets his master that always makes him feel at home. A dog can always be counted on to stand at the threshold, wagging his tail — an enthusiastic salute to his companion.
In this world there are two distinctive personality types, those of dogs and cats. Dog personalities are open, friendly and welcoming, while cat personalities are aloof, reserved and mysterious.
If Ruston, as a whole, could be characterized, it would surely have a dog personality.
The friendliness of the community is enduring even as the city continues its march toward progress.
Though I’ve been gone from my penman’s post at the Daily Leader for a time, and living in Monroe, many things have remained the same.
As I drove into town last week for my first day back, I instantly found the familiarity of the sights as comfortable as slipping into an old favorite sweater.
I’m glad to be back working in Ruston, reporting on the city’s day-to-day events, seeing old friends, meeting new people and recently mingling with the town hounds — canines, that is.
On Saturday, Ruston Parks and Recreation’s first ever K-9 Pool Party to benefit 4 Paws Rescue Inc. kicked off at the municipal pool.
The cost of attendance was a can of dog food — a trifle for a day of splashing in the off-season pool and walking away with a killer tan.
An unfazed sentinel sat at the pool’s entrance, talking on her phone while the cans of grub piled up.
Apparently, the atmosphere at the pool was laid back, and I fear that in my silk shirt, dressy, pleated shorts and sandals I was noticeably overdressed.
The mutts and full breeds trotted past, shaking their wet fur out on my nicely pressed clothes as if to disapprove of my squeaky clean appearance. I looked down at my splattered clothes.
Meanwhile, a barbecued chicken breast in the pool floated past preoccupied dogs paddling with much effort in the pristine water. Pet owners lounged in shallow end near the deck with their quadruped friends.
Some of the hounds had to be coaxed in, and I wondered if many of them would have been more comfortable in a natural setting, diving impulsively into a pond after a team of ducks. The feathers would surely fly.
The general public showed up for the splashy soiree as did 4 Paws affiliates, from former in-house volunteers to foster families. Regardless of their association, the attendees’ love for dogs was apparent.
Many protectively guided their pooches across the pool and watched adoringly as they scampered about the deck with their new furry friends.
As the noontime sun neared its peak in the cloudless sky, people and their pets packed it in, looking forward to the next dog-gone good day at the pool.
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