This year the Annual SoCal Jindo Picnic was moved from the Spring to the Fall to avoid date conflicts with the Pet Expo and Rattlesnake Avoidance Clinic.   Fall is also the season for Jindo events throughout Korea, so it seemed to be especially apropos.

The picnic location was restored to  Griffith Park, but there was a bit of a twist for the picnikers.  Instead of Mineral Wells Picnic Area, the spot was moved to Crystal Springs Picnic Area.  A few cars couldn't find the spot, but thanks to Linda and Patty cruising the park, the people who RSVP'ed were located.  They gathered under a large shady tree where some of the rescue dogs had already been settled in a row of exercise pens.

 

Introductions

It was an especially nice surprise to see Jim, a rescue alumni, and his owner stop by for a few moments.  Jim came out of South Central Los Angeles City shelter several years ago, thin and ill from kennel cough.  He had trouble gaining weight.  He was adopted by a very understanding family who borne with him suffering from severe, inexplicable, gastrointestinal problems.   Time in a stabile environment seems to have cured him and now Jim is the picture of health.

 
If there was theme to this picnic, it would have been that there are going to be challenges that one encounters while rescuing or raising a Jindo, but there are also going to be many rewards.  From dealing with a dog manifesting ill-health, to working through 4-6 months of separation anxiety, to integrating two unrelated females in the same household, it was encouraging to hear the success stories and see that patience and perseverance does pay off even with the Jindos.

Jinju (left) has discoid lupus and Honey (right) had separation anxiety.
 

Hana (back) and Greta (front) now live peacably together.

Lunch was served and a few brave souls tried the very red BBQ pork dish.  (It really wasn't *supposed* to be too spicy...)  Luckily for the others, there were alternatives like beef shortribs (kalbi), korean green-onion pancake (pajung), noodles (chapchae), rice, and spinach.   There were also enough cookies, cupcakes, Choco-pies, and Shikhaes for dessert.

After lunch, the drawing was started.

Young Rambo helping to keep an eye on the ticket numbers?

Jinju's prize
 

Rambo's owners sweeping the big prizes

There were some fun prizes tucked away in the bags.  Well, fun for the humans that is.
 

Hana with her new antlers

Yoshi with her styling doggles.

Afterwards, the agility course was tackled by the dogs and their humans.  The favorite going into the course was last year's champ, Yoshi.  Despite 'offseason' practice, Yoshi and her handler were foiled by a leash tangling over a jump.  The upset winner was Jinju.  Young Rambo, with his previous tunneling experience managed to squeak into 2nd.  

After awards were handed out, a brief intro was given about the Canine Good Citizen certificate program and then the picnic meandered to a close.

 

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