Date: Fri 02-Oct-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Quick Words:

Keane-Methodist-dog-wash

Full Text:

Rover Gets The Once-Over

(with cuts)

BY SHANNON HICKS

The backyard of the Keane home in Newtown went to the dogs last weekend,

literally.

On Saturday, September 26, Joanne and Phil Keane opened their Sugar Street

backyard to the dogs of Newtown when they hosted a dog wash. The four-hour

event was held the same day other members of United Methodist Church, located

in Sandy Hook, were presenting the church's annual fall fair. The church fair

was held Saturday at Edmond Town Hall.

There was no admission charge for the dog wash, but there was a table set up

for freewill donations. By the end of the afternoon a grand total of $62 had

been collected. Any money collected was earmarked as a direct contribution to

the World Outreach Program.

It was hard to tell whether it was the dogs or the dog washers who were having

a better time. Some of the dogs' owners had made arrangements in advance to

stop in at a particular time, while others were lulled by the colorful signs

posted along Route 302, Main Street and at the town hall that had been created

by members of the church's congregation.

Whether by appointment or chance, however, every dog who showed up was given a

bubble bath, or shower in some cases -- not all of the dogs were keen on

jumping into the kiddie pool that had been filled with water. Each dog was

then towel dried, then dried a little more with a hair dryer.

Next stop was "The Fluffing Station," a corner of the deck behind the Keane

home where kids were brushing the coats of the dogs to a glorious shine. Dogs

were given ribbons for their efforts, and of course there were the obligatory

doggie treats at the very end of each cycle.

"We had a nice number of customers," Kim Weber said Monday morning. Mrs Weber

was one of the organizers of the event, and was also helping out Saturday

afternoon with some of the washing chores. "No one bit anybody," she laughed.

"I think this may be something we might do again," she said. "It was a fun

afternoon, and it was a nice way to raise some money for the outreach

program."

Of course, it was also a nice way to pamper some of Newtown's favorite

pooches.