Dogs, humans make friends at the Valley Stream dog park

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Thor is the king of the Valley Stream dog park — at least according to his owner, Jennifer Cheney. Once a day for the past two years, Thor, a Pomeranian- Chihuahua mix, could be seen running around the large dog park where there is more room for him to frolic.

“You have to see him in action, it’s the funniest thing you ever saw,” said Cheney’s friend, Joanne Lindour. “He plays with the biggest dogs, and everyone loves him.”

But Thor’s best friend is Lindour’s dog, Billy. The two dogs always play together at the park. “It’s just like toddlers,” said Cheney. “They go into the park, they don’t want to get out, you know.”

As a result, Cheney and Lindour, who lives in Woodmere, became friends. “Not only is it great socialization for the animal, but it’s also for the people,” said Cheney. “Dog park people are different, we love all animals — like crazily love all animals.”

In fact, some members of the Valley Stream Dog Park schedule specific times to meet at the park. “If you come here certain times of day there’s certain types of people,” said Nancy Arnold, who serves as a board member of the Friends of the Valley Stream Dog Park. “There’s a lunch crowd, there’s a late afternoon crowd, then there’s a dinner crowd.”

For Arnold, the dog park offered an opportunity to meet people after she moved to Valley Stream from Ohio. “It’s like a little community thing to me,” she said.

Now, she is involved with the Friends of the Valley Stream Dog Park, a booster organization that raises money for improvements to the dog park. Currently, the dog park needs new carpeting on the dog ramp as well as replacements for signs and a first-aid kit. “We were vandalized over there last year … they took the first aid kit and trashed it and I think the fountain is a casualty of that, but I don’t know if the village takes care of that or we do,” said Arnold, who added that the village removes all of the feces.

To raise money for these improvements, the Friends of the Valley Stream Dog Park held their sixth annual Dog Day on the Green on June 17. The event featured adoptable pit bulls, dog treats and a chance to win a free dog grooming. Unfortunately for the energetic canines, the event ended early due to rain.

The Friends of the Valley Stream Dog Park will still have their annual Halloween party in October to raise funds. Guests can bring their dogs in costume.

About 250 people are members of the dog park, according to Denise Barnard, who organized the event. Some of these members, including Lindour, live in the Town of Hempstead. Non-residents, however, have to pay more for a dog park membership. A resident pays $18 for membership to the dog park, members from the unincorporated part of Valley Stream pay $55 and members from the Town of Hempstead pay $110 per animal.