Cameo - the Path to Friendship

In 2009, Lynda and her husband, Niles, took a giant leap of faith, selling their house in Northern California and moving to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.  Niles had a dream of building his own home and Lynda wanted more time to spend exploring nature with her standard Poodle, Cameo.  Moving from a densely populated urban area to a small town of 9,000 accommodated their wishes.  

Soon after they relocated, Lynda and Cameo began walking at the local fairgrounds, mainly because it allowed dogs to be off-leash.  One day Cameo met a Tibetan terrier, Yogi, and the two became fast friends.  Lynda asked Yogi’s guardian, Jim, if he would like to meet the next day to walk the dogs together.  He said yes and soon the foursome was gathering every day at 9:00 in the morning for a one-hour walk.

They began inviting other regulars at the park to join them and the group steadily grew.    At times they have had as many as 12 people and 17 dogs.  Usually the numbers are lower and the group is “constantly morphing” but one of the things Lynda loves about life in the coastal town is “everyone seems to have a dog.”  

The dogs play a crucial role in the group. They tend to pair off with other canines similar in age.  Puppies play together and learn social skills while the older dogs avoid the fray.  Just as Lynda and Jim did, other walkers often make friends through their dog’s relationships.  Sometimes newcomers arrive saying they heard about the walkers from somebody in town.  On occasion even out-of-town visitors with dogs ask to join them.  All are welcome.

To maintain good relations with nearby homeowners, the group is self-monitoring, which includes cleaning up after their own and other dogs.  Their efforts have been so successful that when events are held at the fairgrounds, signs are posted in advance for the dog walkers, alerting them that their routine will be interrupted temporarily.  When that happens, they meet on the beach or a trailhead in the forest.

Lynda’s new life took root the day Cameo met Yogi.  Their daily two-mile walks have provided them with numerous friends, countless hours in nature, and a seamless transition to small town life.  Neither could have anticipated how much adventure awaited them following one chance encounter with a pair of like-minded souls. 

by Elizabeth Sundstrom