Robert Midkiff walks with his dog, Miki, in the Hawaiian
Humane Society's new McInerny Dog Park behind the
society's headquarters at Waialae Avenue and King
Street. McInerny is Oahu's second dog-friendly park.
It will be dedicated Oct. 16.
Poster pooch
By Mary Adamski
presides in pretty
new pet park
Star-BulletinMikikipi, one of 2,600 dogs adopted from the Hawaiian Humane Society animal shelter last year, returned to the scene to pose in the new pooch park to be opened next week in celebration of "Love-a-Dog Month."
"He was very much mistreated," said his owner, Robert Midkiff, recalling his first meeting with the yellow Labrador. "He was a scared dog; he was very timid."
Midkiff, who is chairman of Good Beginnings early learning program, chairman of Hawaii Theatre and a strong supporter of the Humane Society, was taking a preview look at Oahu's second dog-friendly park.
Pets may wander off the leash in McInerny Dog Park behind the society headquarters at Waialae Avenue and King Street, just as they do at Bark Park on Diamond Head Road.
The past year in a good life brought out his dog's affectionate personality, said Midkiff, who has taken Miki through obedience classes and is pleased with the watchdog role he has assumed whenever anyone approaches their home.
Their routine together includes morning walks on Kahala Beach. The timing is Miki's, and is a little earlier than Midkiff might choose.
"He's bouncing off the floor at 5:30 a.m., he loves the water."
"You're keeping me young and spry," Midkiff told the canine poster boy, who likes to lean his considerable bulk against his owner. "You're a handsome fellow."
The shady, one-third acre park will be dedicated Oct. 16 at 11:45 a.m., followed by the annual Pooch Party Picnic, a $20-per-person fund-raiser catered by Dixie Grill Crab Shack & Bar-b-que.
Treats will be provided for dogs, which are welcome at the event.
Adjoining the park, named for the McInerny Foundation which provided a grant, will be the Paul Wagner Memorial Garden, where a $250 gift will reserve a steppingstone engraved with an inscription dedicated to a dead pet.
The perfect match between Midkiff and Miki is what the agency seeks for more than 5,000 dogs turned in to the shelter every year, said Humane Society spokeswoman Eve Holt said.
"It was apparent he was mistreated. We wanted him to go to someone with the patience and understanding ... someone who had a dog before," she said. "Even though he had been mistreated, they could tell he had a good personality."
Holt said the animal care staff evaluates dogs in their reactions to people, to other animals and to food as part of a "temperament test."
"There's more to it than just picking up a dog. We try to match a dog's personality with the family.
"Some people want a dog to be focused on them. Some want an independent animal. Some want a couch potato.
"The best adoption is when people know what their expectations are."
Holt said people may have the misconception that "problem dogs" end up at the shelter.
"The only problem with these dogs is that they don't have a home," she said.
