A Muncie couple dish on their favorite spots to spoil their dogs.
What makes a happy dog? Is it the wag of their tail? The toys they play with? Their owners? Or is it the location in which they reside? Whatever it may be, the most important factor is that they are a loved and happy dog at the end of the day.
Hannah and Kane Smith have been residents of Muncie for eight years. They own three dachshunds: Jaxon, Lincoln, and Harrison.
Jaxon is the eldest at 6, Lincoln is 5, and Harrison is still a puppy at 8 months. Hannah and Kane are newlyweds who fell in love for many reasons—one of them being their love of dogs.
“I adopted Jaxon when I was a sophomore in college when I lived by myself,” Hannah says. “A year later, I adopted Lincoln so that Jaxon would have a buddy.”
Soon after Hannah had two dogs, her husband Kane came into her life and they eloped in February of this year.
“Both of them brought us so much joy that after we got married, we decided to get a puppy of our own. We brought Harrison home a few weeks after we got married,” she says.
Hannah and Kane’s dogs love to play at Emerson dog park, located on the corner of North Pauline and West Beechwood Avenues. Emerson Dog Park offers two sections of play areas—one for all dogs with play equipment like ramps, and one for small dogs.
The park is fenced so that owners feel more secure about letting their dogs run around leash-free. Both sections offer a waste station and water station.
“I think the dog park is where a lot of people take their dogs to meet other dogs and socialize with other people,” Hannah says. “I met one of my best friends there on my lunch break.”
Hannah and Kane also recommended the Minnetrista Trail for walking dogs, as well as the Prairie Creek Reservoir for activities like swimming during the warmer months.
Even though dachshunds have short hair, they still require regular grooming. Hannah and Kane love to take their dogs to Wagglebottoms, a locally owned full-service facility featuring boarding, grooming, and even pet portraits.
They also have a retail store stocked with food, treats, collars, leashes, etc. Muncie also is home to a Ball State alumni-owned retail store, Roo’s Holistic Supplies.
Roo’s sells family-owned pet food brands with natural and holistic ingredients, as well as treats and toys for pets. Roo’s also offers nutritional consultations to pet owners who are concerned about their pets’ nutritional, skin, and behavioral health.
Hannah and Kane say they love owning dachshunds.
“I initially decided to get dachshunds because they can live in smaller spaces because of their size, and they need less exercise. They’re very loyal and funny dogs.” Hannah says. “They all bring us so much happiness and they’re definitely our best friends.”
Hannah says any first-time dog owner should do as much research as they can before deciding to adopt.
“Look into the breed, training methods, cost of shots, food, vet bills, etcetera,” she says.
Hannah and Kane say they hope Muncie builds an indoor dog park in the future so dogs can continue to exercise through cold winters and hot summers.
