Built as giant Beagles in 2003, Dog Bark Park near Boise, Idaho closed as bed n’ breakfast this year when the owners retired. It is still a popular roadside attraction.
The end of summer is a wonderful time to take a road trip—the weather is often cooler, and the crowds have gone. This week’s “Pets” suggests six destinations that will delight dog lovers. Be sure to check with each location before bringing your pup along.
FOR BEAGLE MANIACS
Dog Bark Park Inn, Cottonwood, Idaho: At 12-feet high, Toby and his friend Sweet Willy are the world’s tallest Beagles. These wooden wonders were part of a bed-and-breakfast. Sweet Willy served as a hotel room, complete with a deck, from 2003 until earlier this year when the owners retired. The former gift shop—once filled with their clever canine woodcarvings— is now a museum open by appointment. www.dogbarkpark.com/
FOR COLLIE AND LAD-A-DOG FANS
Sunnybank, Wayne Township, NJ: Though the original Sunnybank homestead is gone, the Albert Payson Terhune property is maintained as a memorial park by Wayne Township, New Jersey. Tour the gardens and the Van Riper-Hopper Historic House Museum, which features a collection of Terhune’s books and awards. The park also includes the graves of many of Terhune’s collies. Each year, the third week in August is known as The Gathering, when Collie lovers meet at Terhune Park to celebrate the area’s history and Terhune’s literary legacy. No reservations are required. Sunnybank is located between
Pompton Lake and US Route 202 in northern NJ. www.waynetownship.com/parks-recreation/terhune-memorial-park/
FOR ALL THINGS SNOOPY
Charles M. Schulz Museum, Santa Rosa, CA: This museum is dedicated to the creator of the Peanuts comic strip. Schulz drew over 18,000 strips. Highlights include a life-sized, fabric-wrapped Snoopy doghouse created by the late artist Christo, the Warm Puppy Café, and Snoopy’s Gallery and Gift Shop. Exhibits change frequently. www.sonomacounty.com/profiles/charles-m-schulz-museum/
FOR THE ARTSY SET
AKC Museum of the Dog, New York, NY: Located at 101 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10178, this museum promotes the human-canine bond through art and engaging exhibits. Its permanent collection includes one of the world’s largest assortments of canine-themed fine art and artifacts. The current exhibition, Honoring the Point, ends in August. It will be followed by The New Yorker in Dog Years (September 4–December 7), showcasing 100 years of New Yorker dog-themed covers from a private collection. https://museumofthedog.org/
FOR THE CAIRN CROWD
The Wizard of Oz Museum, Wamego, Kansas: This museum houses over 2,000 artifacts from L. Frank Baum’s book and the Judy Garland film, including loads of Toto memorabilia. However, Toto (a female dog named Terry) isn’t buried there. She died in 1944 and was buried on her trainer Carl Spitz’s ranch in Studio City, CA. That site was lost to the expansion of Ventura Highway in 1958. https://ozmuseum.com
FOR THOSE WHO NEVER LOSE HOPE
BOBBIE THE WONDER DOG
Mural, Silverton, Oregon: In 1923, Bobbie was separated from his family during a road trip in Indiana and got lost. Six months later, he miraculously returned home to Silverton, Oregon—on his own. A mural on Water Street honors Bobbie, the Wonder Dog. Silverton also hosts an annual Pet Parade in May and Bobbie Day on February 15, commemorating the day he came home. https://silvertonian.com
DOGS NEEDING HOMES AT
BABYLON SHELTER:
80 New Highway, N. Amityville 11701. Atlas #25-348 is a large, male Siberian Husky, while Greystone #25-301 is a petite male Shih tzu mix. Both boys would like to go on a road trip to a loving home. Call 631-643-9270.
