Taking that as a yes, Derek went through the gate then released Sonya from her leash.
Released, Sonya immediately ran across to the other dogs who stopped what they were doing to observe the newcomer. Initially there was a bit of a standoff and the Jack Russell took an aggressive posture. Then Sonya was on her back giving a submissive signal. Immediately the other two dogs approached her, sniffed her exposed belly and the Jack Russell’s tail began to wave.
Sonya rolled back to her feet and then Derek watched as the other two dogs sniffed her behind. They simultaneously had their noses pressed to beneath Sonya’s tail. Clearly Sonya didn’t seem to mind at all and now had their approval.
What happened next Derek had not expected to see. Sonya’s nose pressed tightly into the bum of first the Jack Russell, then the poodle as the Jack Russell gave Sonya yet another bum sniff. In fact for a few seconds the three dogs formed a triangle of bum sniffers.
Greetings now made, Sonya began to play with her new friends. In a flash she was running around the enclosure with the other two dogs hot on her hammer, but in a playful manner. Derek doubted that Sonya had ever moved so quickly in her life. It took a moment to realise that Sonya had a stick in her mouth. The dogs were playing chase.
All three dogs took their turns running around with the stick. First Sonya, then the poodle, then the Jack Russell. After several minutes the poodle appeared to tire and moved to lay down near the elderly woman who was now sitting on a bench. Sonya and her remaining friend were sill tearing around at a frantic pace.
It took a moment for Derek to realise she was been spoken to. It was the middle aged woman ‘You have a cute little puppy. How old is she?’
Derek hadn’t really thought about that. Clearly Sonya was a puppy, not a fully grown dog but she was reasonably mature. Derek guessed an approximate age ’10 months’
‘And what do you call her?’
‘Sonya’
‘Our boy is Chester. He’s 5 but still has so much energy. If he had his way he would play all day’
‘Sonya seems to be enjoying playing with him’ Derek replied. The two dogs were once more sniffing each other’s bums. Sonya took the opportunity of Chester being distracted to grab the stick once more and sprinted towards the far corner of the enclosure with Chester in hot pursuit.
‘I notice you are here on your own. Does your Mummy know that you have taken Sonya to the dog park?’
With apprehension Derek realised the woman was concerned that an apparently 7 year old girl was at a park on her own. Derek had a quick look around. There were no other adults around who she could point to and say ‘That’s my Mum/Big sister/Big brother over there’ All she could say was ‘We are staying close by. Mum said I could but that I shouldn’t be too long’
“Well you shouldn’t stay for long. I think your Mummy might start to get worried. Would you like us to walk you home?’
‘No, I will be fine. I’m older than I look’ Derek realised she could hardly say she was 18. Even 10 would be a stretch ‘I’m 10, just not very big’
‘Well you are a big girl in that case but I think your Mum might still be a bit worried’
The conversation had spooked Derek somewhat. She didn’t want this woman and her husband escorting them back to Sonya’s house only to discover no adults around. Thoughts of been handed over to child safety flew through her mind. ‘I think it’s time I took Sonya home’ She than called out ‘Sonya’ as loudly as her little voice could call.
Just then Derek heard the gate close and another woman enter with her dog. It appeared to be a scruffy looking terrier, not much bigger than the Jack Russell. Clearly the owner knew the woman who had been talking to Derek. She called out ‘Hi Marge’ as she released her dog from his leash.
Sonya had either heard Derek’s call or had heard the new arrival, either way she and Chester were sprinting towards her.
The new dog ran down the hill to meet the other dogs. Sonya and Chester met him 20 yards from Derek to have another round of greetings. Clearly the new dog was friendly. His tail was wagging quite excitedly as he gave Sonya’s bum a big sniff.
Derek called Sonya once more but perhaps she was caught up in moment as she did not respond. Her view of Sonya was temporarily impeded by the newly arrived woman who marched in front of her. The woman was calling to her dog. ‘Scruffy! Stop that! Scruffy! Oh get off!’
Derek ran around to see what the angst was about only to observe Scruffy sitting on top of Sonya. He was apparently having a piggy back. It took a moment to recognise that Scruffy’s bum was thrusting up and down. With horror Derek realised what was happening.