Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Dogs

Dog Show At The Aurora Farmers Market, Picture Can Be Yours

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:57:30 +0000

It is amazing what you can see when sitting on the curb. Totally different world. I was eye to eye with some visiting dogs. Yes, that day on the farmer’s market I couldn’t help to photograph all the dogs that were brought to the market.

Aurora Farmers Market, May 12, 2012, Town Park, Aurora

The candid photo shoot – 16 dogs ten minutes later. I can only imagine seeing all the dogs for a total duration of the farmer’s market.

Aurora Farmers Market, May 12, 2012, Town Park, Aurora

I am not good with dog breeds or identifying them, but I have to tell you all these dogs are very photogenic.

Aurora Farmers Market, May 12, 2012, Town Park, Aurora

I share my pictures because I don’t believe hiding them in the storage box. I want everyone to enjoy them.

Now if you find picture which is of you, or someone you know or even your dog or your booth – the picture is yours. Feel free to contact me and I will be glad to provide digital copy of the photo.

Aurora Farmers Market, May 12, 2012, Town Park, Aurora

What you will get – three digital formats 5×7, 4×6 and you can take a copy of the web image from the post. Web image must stay as is, that is with the watermark. For personal use they are free to use and you can develop as many as you want.

If you have a blog or site and want to use photo, source link is appreciated for personal sites. Commercial use – subject to negotiation.

Aurora Farmers Market, May 12, 2012, Town Park, Aurora

This photo was a nice coincident capturing pink jacket and pink shoe laces.

Aurora Farmers Market, May 12, 2012, Town Park, Aurora

First time at the market this season and I had so much to share with you. Hope you enjoyed my photo journey as much I did. I will be back.

Coyotes Back In Aurora, February Start Of The Mating Season, Happy Valentines

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:56:00 +0000

I have been deliberating – got no pictures of coyotes, have seen couple and no body is emphasizing that coyote mating season starts in February. I doubt they are looking for a dog companion perhaps more like food for Valentine’s dinner.

Yes I have been deliberating if I should write few things that I have on my mind about coyotes – everyone else did it including politicians.

So I have seen two coyotes.

St. Andrew's Golf Course

Not this year. But last year I saw one crossing Vandorf (common in that area).

Then few months later the second coyote I saw was in the Hamilton Park soccer field (near St. John’s sideroad). That day on the opposite side of the field I spotted unleashed dog sniffing around.

I don’t trust unleashed dogs, so myself and Matthew decided to head home. I know I turned few times behind me and there was no sign of any dog owner, just that one dog. He looked like Husky from far away. It hit me later.

Just Husky Dog In The Dog Leash Free Park, Industrial Parkway

My neighbour once told me (3-4 years ago) that five or six coyotes have been killed in that same area, Hamilton Park soccer field. There was no publicity for that event. The same neightbour told me that she many times heard howling at night, but then it went away. I guess her killing story was correct.

Few weeks ago, my other neighbour couple of times saw coyotes coming out the St. Andrew’s Golf Course. I guess no body is golfing now so they have place for themselves to hunt. That one time the coyotes face was all bloody – she told me.

I understand that food chain is important, but I prefer vegetarian animals over the meat eating coyotes. Oh just the image of the poor rabbit being eaten. Oh, on other note my backyard rabbit is also missing.

Community Arboretum, Coyotes On The Map

My thoughts.

What can we do? Do not kill and do not relocate, and do not feed. Stay alert and educate yourself. The bottom line is that coyotes always will be in our area and there is nothing we can do beside to be alert and to be cautious.

Do I like it? No, not one bit, but this is not any different than having a giant dog off the leash running around the neighbourhood. So may be this is a wake up call for dog owners to keep dogs on the leash at all times.

Now that we have all this attention going on in our town about coyotes I thought that we may need a map of coyotes sightings. That will be a very useful page that can be added to any of the Town of Aurora printed materials released to the public.

Only The Unleashed Wildlife Allowed In Sheppard’s Bush, Unless Dogs Are

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:02:47 +0000

I just wish that Town of Aurora posted fines on their signs throughout the town and enforced them for walking with unleashed dogs and for dogs pooping and owners not scooping after their dogs.

Please please learn from your neighbors and visit the Fairy Lake or Tim Taylor Trail in Newmarket. They got something right.

Dogs Must Be Leashed

We were on our way out from the Sheppard’s Bush on Sunday afternoon. A man with a very nice big white dog walked by. The dog sniffed and walked away. The dog was not on the leash.

Few minutes later as we were exiting the Sheppard’s Bush, another man was just walking in with a dog. I will not describe but I will leave series of pictures here to your interpretation.

A Man With Unleashed Dog, Sheppard's Bush Parking Lot

A Man With Still Unleashed Dog, Entered Sheppard's Bush Trail

Man Is Minding His Business, Dog Is Minding His Business

Unleashed Dog All The Way, Sheppard's Bush

Obviously lot of dog owners do not know how to interpret the signs. May be we should all change them to ‘Only Unleashed Wildlife Is Allowed‘ and ‘Do Not Scoop After Wildlife‘.

Kidding aside, do you think this is right?

Canine Leash-Free-Park, Found Parking On Industrial Parkway To Access The Arboretum

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 03:13:02 +0000

I always walk to and enter the Arboretum from the Industrial Parkway and St. John’s Sideroad intersection. It cannot be missed. It has wooden pergola on the East side of St. John’s sideroad built by the Home Depot in Aurora. Beside there is a nice flower garden patch and further the trail information booth as shown below.

Nokiidaa Trail, Information Booth

It never occurred to me that the parking for the Canine Leash-Free-Park on Industrial Parkway is also parking to access the Arboretum. This is a good news in fact, because I can drive to the parking lot, and actually enjoy longer time on the trail as opposed to be walking along the St. John’s sideroad during high traffic hours – just too much road noise, and pollution. Never mind the accident that occurred few weeks ago on St. John’s sideroad. You just always have to look over your shoulder even on the sidewalk.

Aurora Community Arboretum

The other day I visited the Arboretum from the Industrial Parkway and used the parking lot for the first time. While there I took some pictures of the dog park and the dogs.

I have seen this park regularly from the other side of the trail, but I didn’t know that it was actually that big. I think this is great thing for the dogs, they need to have some freedom too. The parking is big enough to accommodate both dog owners cars and anyone who wants to access the Arboretum.

Canine Leash-Free-Park

Sometimes we don’t realize but we do have many great things here in Aurora. I was surprised to see all the recycling boxes and compost green containers on the site for the dog park users. Obviously there must be a regular garbage and compost pick up.

Canine Leash-Free Park

In lieu for that great land to use and service, Town of Aurora has a big sign asking users to adhere to Rules and Code of Conduct. I re-wrote the rules here, as I found it rather interesting. The list has 15 items. Well thought out and carefully written list. I couldn’t resist to add some of my thoughts too.

Rules and Code of Conduct

1. Dogs are allowed off their leash only within the fenced compound.
‘Yes, yes good point, just wished that in the land somewhere far far away from the dog park still in Aurora dog owners did not follow the same rule.‘

2. All dogs must be licensed and have up-to-date dog tags.
‘In fact every dog I saw up close had dog tag. Up-to-date tag, I cannot comment.‘

3. All dogs must have up-to-date vaccinations.
‘Yes, not sure if there are any means to verify it.‘

4. You must pick up and properly dispose of your dog’s waste.
‘There is a fundamental flaw with this item – there are still some that do not adhere to it. The parking lot in front of the wooden guard is full of it. I had to do my wild dance again to walk off the crap of my shoes.‘

Watch For You Know What Around Those

5. Dogs are not to be left unattended. It is recommended that dogs remain within sight and voice control at all times.
‘At the gate I saw four unattended dogs, beautiful dogs. However, they were within my sight and voice control, hopefully that counts.‘

Husky

6. It is recommended that you only take into the park the number of dogs you can control.
‘I must say, dog walkers like this park a lot. I hope they are dog walkers?‘

7. Aggressive dogs must be muzzled or removed from the park immediately.
‘Not sure if one dog wrestling another dog can be called an aggressive activity in the park.‘

8. Female dogs in heat are not allowed in the park.
‘No comment, it was cold day that day. Not sure what that means either.‘

9. Sick dogs are requsted no to use the park.
‘And if they do, that is torture.’

10. It is recommended that all dogs using the park be spayed and neutered.
‘Good idea.‘

11. It is recommended that dogs do not wear spiked or chain collars in the park.
‘Better idea.‘

12. Parents are stronly advised that this is not a suitable environment for children under the age of 12.
‘We stayed outside the dog park.‘

13. No vehicles are allowed in the park.
‘Not sure how one with a vehicle would get in.‘

14. Professional dog trainers are prohibited from using this facility to conduct their business.
‘How can you tell?‘

A Bench Inside the Park

15. Always respect other users of the park.
‘Yes, yes, yes …‘

Pet Cemetery, Access Denied

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:14:23 +0000

It isn’t going to happen after seeing this sign. The Kennel Inn is now closed and there is absolutely no trespassing. I thought that Kennel Inn was always private property, but according to the sign it is now.

Sign

After all this work about the pet cemetery in Aurora, there will be no pictures in my gallery.

Looking from Young Street

So I have been reading. Yes a book. With all the blogging and reading online I do in the past 4 years, I am actually enjoying a good book before going to sleep. Not that reading books put me to sleep, but the night is only time I can actually sit still and read. It is good thing to wind down after busy day. Two weeks ago I visited Aurora Library and picked up ‘Aurora 1945-1965 An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change‘ book by Elizabeth Hearn Milner. I am really amazed by the author’s detailed information, 300 pages of 20 years of Aurora history.

Interesting enough I found more information about Victor Blochin in Milner’s book.

‘… Mr. Victor Blochin who was, by accounts a (white) Russian Count. Victory Blochin lived on Ridge Road, the first side road after the overpass, on the west side of Yonge Street at the south end of town. He had kennels, a pet cemetery, raised West Highland Terriers, made and delivered special dog food to special customers and gave lessons in Russian and chess. He wore a monocle and dressed with panache, often in jodhpurs, riding boots, sport jacket and beret. He wasn’t the usual chap you saw on the post office steps in the town.’ – Elizabeth Hearn Milner wrote on page 34.

I flip to page 300 and Milner writes, ‘I regret that I could not find pictures of Thelma Fielding, Anne Elizabeth (Wilson) Blochin, Louise McDowell and Vivian Wilcox. Perhaps someone will find photographs of these women as a result of this effort.‘

Perhaps someone will in deed …

About Canada’s Only Pet Cemetery In Aurora, Finally, Part III

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 04:12:37 +0000

Happy Woodlawn (Woodland) was the Canada’s first and only pet cemetery situated here Aurora, Ontario. It was privately own by Mr. and Mrs. Victor Blochin.

If according to the article ‘the cemetery was laid out 11 years ago …’, then taking into consideration the newspaper age it must have been from 1927 or 1930s. I am trying to figure out the real name, as different sources call the pet cemetery Happy Woodlawn, and some Happy Woodland. On the end does it really matter.

READ FULL STORY HERE …

Happy Woodlawn Pet Cemetery, Dog Ghost Stories, Part II

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:51:39 +0000

It was the Forgotten Mysteries 1947 book by R. Dewitt Miller that I stumbled upon and the local article to connect the two to find out that Mr. and Mrs. Blochin were the owners of the Bencruachan Kennnels and a couple who started the first pet cemetery in Canada here in Aurora.

According to the author the pet cemetery was called Happy Woodland. However to my further search the name seemed to be Happy Woodlawn, that is according to the local newspaper articles.

READ FULL STORY HERE …

Stoop and Scoop Pick Up After Your Pet

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:10:11 +0000

It was very nice weather and very inviting for a walk. I needed to do small groceries that day, so we have decided to go shopping to Superstore. It is only about 15 minutes walk. It was kind of wet, because snow is still melting. We caught through the Hamilton Park, and down to the soccer field. Then as I was enjoying my beautiful walk – nice sun, beautiful blue sky, fresh air – suddenly I freaked out. Searching for words to express myself and dancing around, especially in the front of my three year old, I yelled ‘Holy macaroni crap’. Yes, crap, I stepped into pile of crap – dog poop. Disgusted and upset, I tried to enjoy my rest of walk to the grocery store. Oh and the stink? Never mind I got a kid at home who now runs around and keeps repeating: ‘Holy macaroni crap, mommy stepped into dog poop’.

I know in other cities, if you don’t pick up the poop after your pet there is a fine of $2000. I decided to do some research for by-laws in Town of Aurora. I took a photo of the sign reminding dog owners to scoop after their pets. The message is very clear. The sign also reminded to keep dogs on the leash which some do not practice at all. Once I had a dog run after me and jumped at me. The owner apologized and said he was just a puppy. Yes to you mister, to me he looked like a big wild crazy dog attacking me. Then I had two big dogs charging at us, until owner started to yell hard at them. Both cases, dogs were not on the leash.

Furthermore, I continued to search for the by-law #4283-01.P listed on the sign as shown on the picture here. I only was able to find this page which provides information on by-laws for pet licensing only. I am going to do little more research in this area. Something definitely needs to be done.