One-Tank Trip for
Oct. 25/14
(c) By Jim Fox
It’s a perfect
Sunday drive – along country roads with rolling hills, scenic vistas and fresh
air.
And, it’s also a chance to return home with a
new member of the family.
Dog Tales, located
north of Toronto in the picturesque horse farm community of King City, is a “one-of
kind sanctuary for dogs, horses and animal-loving families.”
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| Maggie, the Neapolitan mastiff, relaxes on a divan with original artwork and a chandelier above in her new temporary home at Dog Tales. (Jim Fox photo) |
Opening for weekly public
visits starting in November, the lavish setting is a “dream come true” for
animal lovers Rob Scheinberg and Danielle Eden.
Calling it a
“unique day trip,” the husband-wife team will welcome visitors on Sundays to
visit with the dogs – the lucky ones that have been rescued from “dire
conditions.”
“To help rescued
dogs find new loving and caring families, Dog Tales will be hosting weekly
Sunday adoptions,” Scheinberg said.
The public is
encouraged to visit the sanctuary whether they plan to adopt a dog or not and
families are welcome to bring their pets and enjoy the outdoors space, he added.
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| Dog Tales also houses Horse Haven, a shelter for unwanted retired racehorses. (Jim Fox photo) |
It also houses Horse
Haven, a shelter with a stable big enough for some 40 old and retired racehorses.
This is a haven
offering horses a “happy fulfilling place to spend their final years and with access
to outstanding medical and farrier care, good food, room to roam, love and
attention.”
Country-club life
The not-for-profit
sanctuary situated on 20 hectares of green fields, rolling hills and wooded areas
– and costing “north of a million dollars” – is an eye-opener for sure.
At its official
launch last Sunday, visitors soon learned these aren’t your usual dog kennels.
Instead of cages,
these living spaces are opulent, furnished with “comfy
beds” such as custom-made divans for each dog and refinished antique sofas.
That’s not all: there are chandeliers, original animal art work, silver-plated
eating and drinking bowls, and private glass-fronted kennels.
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| This is one of the first dogs to settle into Dog Tales while awaiting a new home. (Barbara Fox photo) |
Eden was the
decorator and said she wanted to create a space for neglected dogs to heal,
rehabilitate and recover from difficult pasts and in a way become accustomed to
life at home while they await adoption.
Maggie, the rescued
huge Neapolitan mastiff, couldn’t sit still long for photos on a divan as she
was so happy to see the some 500 visitors at the opening.
The highlight of
the day was visiting with the first arrivals – 12 dogs and four horses – while
entertainment was provided by Jewel, the Sam Roberts Band and Nicola Benedetti.
Most of the animals
are to be rescued in Canada, primarily Ontario and Quebec, as well as Israel as
Dog Tales works with an Israeli rescue group, Let Animals Live.
In fact, the couple said they wanted to create
“something grand” in Canada inspired by the four dogs they rescued from shelters
in Israel.
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| Two of the dogs with a handler at Dog Tales in King City. (Barbara Fox photo) |
With enough space to eventually house up to 90
or so rescued dogs, the sanctuary is funded by their personal contributions
along with private donations.
Need to know
Dog Tales Rescue & Sanctuary is 45
minutes north of Toronto, off Highway 400, at 1405 19th Sideroad, King City. More
information at: dogtales.ca
Cottage Life
The Fall Cottage
Life Show, on through Sunday at the International Centre (6900
Airport Rd.) in Mississauga, is going to the dogs and other critters,
too.
The Great Outdoors
section of the show features the Haliburton Forest Sled Dogs demonstrating what
it’s like to experience a winter trail ride.
Wild Ontario has fine-feathered
friends including a barn owl, falcon and other birds of prey while Scales
Nature Centre lets visitors “get hands-on” with turtles and snakes.
The fall show
provides a chance for cottagers to “start planning for next year’s cottage
projects,” said publicist Peggy Sheffield.
They can see the
“ultimate” bunkie costing $80,000 and learn about buying and renting cottages
along with presentations by hosts of Cottage Life TV shows.
The Cottage Kitchen has chef Victor
Barry of Splendido, cookbook author Jane Rodmell and craft beer makers.
The show opened on
Friday and continues today (Saturday) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and tomorrow from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. www.cottagelife.com/shows
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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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