[News] Dogs Bring People Together at Market

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In any given weekend at the Vancouver Farmers Market, four-legged visitors trot alongside their owners among the piles of peaches, handmade soap and technicolored flower bouquets.

Dogs of all shapes and sizes, from squirrel-sized Chihuahuas to pony-proportioned Great Danes, scan the stalls of fresh produce and eye-catching art.

For some people, the animals are welcome. Others howl in disapproval. Some fall somewhere in the middle, hoping to live in harmony with the canines and, more importantly, the two-legged customers on the other end of the leash.

"I think dogs enhance the market the same way the people do," said farmers market master Dawn Blankenship. Just like people, dogs each bring their own flavor.

"The market is a great melting pot," she said.

Dogs are one ingredient Katherine Monaghan of Vancouver, who is nearly 80 years old, would like to see left out of that recipe.

"I just don't think they belong down there," she said. Several years ago, Monaghan was knocked to the ground when a dog wrapped its leash around her crutches. She wasn't hurt, and the owner was very apologetic. Monaghan brushed herself off and advised the animal's keeper to leave the dog at home.

Monaghan said she hasn't visited the market much this year, partly because she doesn't want to deal with the dogs, particularly the large ones that take up a lot of space as they make their way past the booths.

"We're talking monster dogs," she said. "What's next? Elephants?"

Blankenship said the market's board strives to strike a balance between customers who love to bring pets to the market and those not comfortable with the animals.

"We want everybody to have a good time at the market, not just the dog owner," she said.

In Vancouver, the market operates as an independent nonprofit organization with the vendors as members, similar to a chamber of commerce, said Ann Amies, the president of the market's board of directors. Dogs have been accompanying their owners to the market since its inception.

"We haven't had a major problem with them," she said. "Basically, they've been quite well-mannered."

Fliers detailing proper dog manners are posted near the garbage cans at the market. They include requests to keep animals on short leashes at all times; keeping both ends of the dog away from produce, plants and food; and cleaning up after pets.

While the market operates without direct oversight from the city, it does enjoy a supportive relationship with city officials, Amies said. Market organizers obtain a street-use permit from the city in order to block off parts of Esther and Sixth streets.

Mayor Royce Pollard said he enjoys seeing dogs when he visits the market, often on his bicycle.

"I've seen dogs in there, and I haven't seen any problems," he said. "It adds to the flavor of the market."

Roland Dalen and his Australian kelpie, Princess, are a common sight both at the market and during events at nearby Esther Short Park. They stand out as they amble up the road with matching cowboy hats and patriotic bandannas. Kelpies are a breed descended from border collies and dingoes. Princess looks a bit like a shepherd mix.

"She's the mascot," Dalen, 63, said. "She attracts attention."

Princess accepts the attention graciously, making herself available for gentle petting and affectionate scratching. On this day, her ears perk up when a French bulldog waddles past, but she doesn't bark or challenge the animal. She politely sniffs a passing Rottweiler puppy before the animal's owner pulls it away.

Pollard said Dalen and Princess bring character to the market.

"That guy is part of the landscape," he said. "I think he's thinking about running for mayor."

Dogs are an integral part of the market for vendor Scott Chandler, both personally and because he is the owner of Happy Hounds.

He welcomes dogs with a dish constantly filled with bottled water and a stuffed toy Rottweiler.

His business caters to dogs, offering canine snacks, toys and sweaters. There are also items for the responsible dog owner, such as fabric sacks attached to leashes that carry the plastic bags owners use to clean up after their pets.

Chandler seems more excited to see the pooches than the people. As he stood outside his booth one recent afternoon he frequently shot out into the crowd to scoop up a puppy or scratch a dog's back.

Chandler said he sees a lot of people using the sights and smells of the market to train their dogs to be comfortable with people and other animals.

Sharon Hollamon of Portland was cradling her Yorkshire terrier, Lacey, as she looked at silver jewelry during a recent visit. Besides the companionship that comes from bringing her pet almost everywhere, Hollamon said the market is a good place for her pet to become more comfortable with crowds.

"I want to socialize her," she said.

Those interactions are not always amicable. Over the course of the day, dog disagreements erupt, marked by loud barking and strained leashes, even occasional hissing by a passing Pomeranian. Chandler said those scuffles are over quickly if there is a responsible owner on the end of each leash.

While Chandler welcomes dogs with open arms, it's another story a few stalls down at the Johnson Family Farm. Next to the signs that list the prices for fresh peppers is a sign that reads "No Dogs Please."

There is fresh produce stacked low to the ground and a small area for customers to move around in, said Cherie Johnson, who runs the business with her husband, Gordon.

"You don't take a dog into a grocery store," she said. Besides the cleanliness issue, Johnson said they are concerned about their elderly customers who could get jostled by a large dog.

"It's just not a good combination," she said.

The combination of dogs and the market is fine as far as the Clark County Health Department is concerned. Gary Bickett, the program manager for environmental health for the department, said dogs are only prohibited from areas where food is being prepared, such as grills where meals are being cooked.

His department has received one complaint from a market customer who was concerned about the animals' proximity to the food.

"There isn't anything in the code to prevent the dogs from being there," Bickett said.

Vendor Chandler said pet lovers who can't have an animal of their own often visit the market "to get their dog fix."

He's also witnessed a lot of conversations sparked between people by the dogs. Strangers will ask to pet an animal then start talking to the owner.

Dianne Stefani-Ruff of the Portland Farmers Market said it has had a similar experience. The dogs act as a catalyst between people who might not otherwise talk to each other. In that way, it helps build community, one of the goals of the market.

"It's a good way to start a conversation," Vancouver's Blankenship agreed. "It kind of brings the whole market together."

Kelly Adams writes about social issues and religion for The Columbian. Contact her at 360-759-8016 or kelly.adams@columbian.com.



The debate

Are dogs at Vancouver Farmers Market a good idea?

On one side: Dog owners enjoy bringing their pets to the market, saying it offers a good chance to socialize. Market managers say they add character and help build community.

On another side: Some marketgoers worry about dogs leaving messes, fighting or biting. Some vendors want to protect their products as well as their customers from the animals.

Did you know?

The Vancouver Farmers Market at Esther Short Park is open on Saturdays through Oct. 30. The market closed on Sundays on Sept. 26. The adjacent indoor market is scheduled to open April 2 and will coincide with the opening of the outdoor season, which will run from April to October 2005.

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