South Haven Bark Park

11/05/2024

From my book, Dog People

10/12/2024

09/07/2024

IT'S TOMORROW!!!! SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8TH HawksHead, 10 AM SHOTGUN START.
PAR 4 PAWS, OUR ANNUAL GOLF OUTING, BENEFITING AL-VANHUMANE SOCIETY.
4 PERSON SCRAMBLE, $125/PERSON, RAFFLE AND SILENT AUCTION.

REGISTER AND START BIDDING HERE - https://givebutter.com/c/PAR4PAWS2024

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE ANIMAL🐕🐈S AT Al-Van Humane Society

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

❤

09/04/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/uiZJMTmN8PqhVaan/?mibextid=WaXdOe

❤️

08/15/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/kEXbUMTGHyAPZdzC/?mibextid=WaXdOe

08/05/2024

❤️...!

07/21/2024

🥰...

07/19/2024

DOG PARK COMMUNITY UPDATE SATURDAY, JULY 20 AT 10 A.M.

There has been very promising activity related to the development of a NEW DOG PARK for the South Haven area community. We want to invite you to a meeting to hear about all the new developments and to have an opportunity to ask questions and/or offer your input as this exciting project unfolds.
SHARA (South Haven Area Recreation Authority) has just this week been approved to purchase the DNR "Riverwoods" property along the east side of Blue Star Highway between the Kal Haven Trail and 2nd Avenue. SHARA is planning the development of 4 to 5 acres of land for a new dog park on that 49-acre parcel.
Scott Reinert of SHARA will be giving a presentation at our Dog Park Community Update meeting on July 20. He will be addressing the property purchase, the upcoming recreation millage vote, and how the dog park fits into the overall project. He will also be available to answer your questions and receive your input.
We are inviting all dog park members and friends to this important community meeting. The time and place are:
Time: Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
Place: Lifebridge Church at 10420 M-140 (located on the east side of M-140 and across the street from Betten Baker Automotive).
We believe this will be a very informative and important meeting for all of our dog lovers.
See you there!

07/10/2024

There has been very promising activity on a NEW dog park; it may be coming earlier than you think. We want to invite you to a meeting to discuss all the new developments .
SHARA (South Haven Area Recreation Authority) is in the process of purchasing the DNR Riverwoods property along the east side of Blue Star and the north side of 2nd Avenue. They are graciously offering us 4 - 5 acres of land for a new dog park.
Scott Reinert of SHARA will be giving a presentation at our next dog park board meeting on July 20. He will be addressing the property purchase, the upcoming recreational millage vote, and how the dog park fits into the overall project. He will also be available to answer questions.
We are inviting all dog park members to this important meeting. The time and place are:
Time: Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 10:00 am
Place: Lifebridge Church at 10420 M-140 (located on the east side of M-140 and across the street from Betten Baker Automotive).
We believe this will be a very informative and important meeting for all of our dog lovers.
See you there!

07/02/2024

Attention!
Message from Sheral Bradley:
Mushrooms growing by the center picnic table. Don't let your dogs eat them. I pulled everything above ground but the mushrooms are still there.
They looked like white tennis balls this morning. I pulled about 8 out of the ground.

05/04/2024

Just the guy we KNOW you all want to see!

T-Rex says HAPPY MAY!

He wants to let everyone know he is doing well. His hair is growing back, and he’s even walking on his back legs. We’ll have more of an update soon. He just really wanted to model is beautiful dandelion crown 🥰

T-Rex also wants to remind everyone that YOU can help with our Spring Fundraiser goal and donate here! We’re a private non-profit shelter, so our operating dollars come from our amazing community’s support. See the pinned post for the fundraiser letter ❤️

You can donate here on this post, at al-van.org/donate, stop by in person, or mail a check to PO Box 421, South Haven, MI 49090.

You are all the BEST! Let’s reach that $6,500 goal!

05/04/2024

Heart says she’ll share her favorite spring toy if you come give her pets 🥰

al-van.org/adopt

05/04/2024

11/05/2023

Very interesting

RESOURCE GUARDING - absolutely anything a dog values can become something that is a source of anxiety if they have to share it with another dog. Of course we know this to be the case with food, toys, people or treats. But this can also happen with sniff spots too.

To us it's "just" a spot on the ground like the millions of others we see around us. "Just" a leaf. To them it's a story with a beginning, middle and end. It's a whole sensory experience that in that moment they don't want to have taken away from them.

DID YOU KNOW? Pulling your dog away from sniffs and/or neglecting to let them sniff on walks can increase a dogs propensity to resource guard sniff spots when they do find a good one. Because you've created stress around sniffing. You've turned a natural behaviour into something they feel they have to cling onto otherwise they'll lose.

This is yet ANOTHER reason why it isn't fair to stop your dog from sniffing in the name of "walking nicely on the lead". Or "controlling when sniffing is appropriate". For some dogs, especially those who have a propensity to react around other dogs and resource guard other things, this can simply add another thing to the list of things they will then go on to guard.

And most importantly, resource guarding sniff spots is tough to undo. It becomes an issue of management and reading your dog to ascertain when they have a spot they are likely to guard.

Let them sniff. For as long and as often as they want to. Don't rush them. Don't jolly them on. You could create some real problems down the line doing that 🐾💜

Disclaimer: I WILL be monitoring comments on this post and deleting ANY that suggest aversive methods to deal with this "problem". Putting fire on fire is not beneficial for anyone.

08/23/2023

😂 so true !

07/02/2023

IMPORTANT!

We have received reports of raisins being found in the water bowls at the dog park by our intake center, and a police intake dog who was brought in last night is vomiting raisins.

‼ Raisins are toxic to dogs ‼

Due to these incidents, we feel the need to make the community aware that you should check any public water bowls or places your dogs frequent to be sure there are no raisins scattered. We don't want to make any accusations regarding the motivation behind this, but we want everyone to be safe!

If you witness anyone doing this, please report it!