When Linda Carroll was working at the downtown
Sandusky Trick or Treat and Pumpkin Drop last year, she saw a group walking about eight golden retrievers coming toward her.
Carroll, who has a 14-year-old golden named Mack, immediately was drawn to the group.
“I said, ‘If this is a club, I need to know about this,’” she says, laughing. “They were all there for the pumpkin drop. The dogs just sort of gravitated toward each other.”
Neil Yuengling, who has three goldens, Carroll, and other golden owners began talking about having some sort of golden retriever event in the city. With winter coming, the idea fizzled out somewhat – until the city’s celebration of the
total solar eclipse on April 8.
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New Departure FilmsA member of Golden Greeters smiles during a Sunday meetup.Golden owners Marcia Giordano and Cinda Davis had their dogs at the
Jackson Street Pier.
“We had people from all over the country coming to watch the eclipse,” Carroll says. “They were kind of ambassadors for the city. Everyone wants to see these goldens. It started conversations.”
While those visitors were petting the dogs, they started talking about where they were from, what they loved about Sandusky and asked for recommendations of things to do and see while they were here. That experience sparked Giordano and Davis to reach out to Carroll and Yuengling to get a golden retriever gathering going.
“We felt like they were golden greeters for the city,” Carroll says. “Wouldn’t it be cool if we could get this group together and walk and be ambassadors for the city?”
The result was the
Golden Greeters, a group of dog owners who meet each Sunday evening to walk through downtown Sandusky and let their dogs – and owners – socialize and enjoy the picturesque city and waterfront.
The group meets at 7 p.m. each Sunday at
Washington Park. The dogs hang out for 10 to 15 minutes to socialize and get to know each other, and then the group starts off on its route downtown. After each walk, they take a picture at the park’s fountain.
“It’s literally amazing to see people’s faces when they see this whole group of dogs coming toward them,” Carroll says. “People say ‘This is the best day ever.’ The dogs are all so happy, and they love people.”
Although the group is named for golden retrievers, all dogs and dog owners are welcome. Other breeds regularly join the walks.
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Golden Greeters FacebookAll dogs are welcome at Golden Greeters.“They seem so excited to see each other,” she says. “They just prance, and their tails are going. I feel like Mack senses Sunday evenings. He has a special harness that he wears for it because he started pulling out of his collar because he gets so excited to see the other dogs.”
The group has grown to more than 30 people. It has a Facebook page, and Yuengling has made T-shirts and dog bandanas.
Many walkers like to bring their puppies because it gives them a chance to socialize the puppies with other dogs and people. One week, a participant whose dog had a litter of golden retrievers brought the puppies in a wagon.
“We hope to keep growing,” Carroll says. “This has really kind of been spontaneous. We’re so excited that every week we have more and more dogs.”
The group is still considering having some sort of dog festival or event and looking into the logistics of doing so. Cities around the country have golden retriever festivals, so it would be fun to add Sandusky to that list, she says.
Golden Greeters also plan to participate in Sandusky
Farmers Market’s dog costume contest in October. They also had hoped to walk in the
Sandusky Pride Parade last June, but temperatures and the pavement were too hot for the dogs. Participating in events like this could be a possibility in the future.
Meanwhile, the group will continue with its weekly walks. As temperatures cool this fall, the time could be moved to earlier in the day on Sundays. Updates will be posted on the
Golden Greeters’ Facebook page.
“Everyone is welcome,” Carroll says. “It’s Golden Greeters and friends.”