Orchard Beach State Park Goes to the Dogs on July 24-25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2010

Contacts: Melinda Eberbach 231-723-7422 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014

Orchard Beach State Park Goes to the Dogs on July 24-25

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment announced that
Orchard Beach State Park is hosting a “GO-Get Outdoors Pets in the
Park” weekend on Saturday and Sunday, July 24 & 25.  Scheduled events
and activities for the weekend include dog training, a demonstration on
scent detection, first aid for pets, wild animal rehabilitation, an
agility and work-out course and search and rescue. A veterinarian will
be on hand for a question and answer session and there will be a
children’s and pet parade.

Activities will start Saturday at 10 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. when the
children’s and pet parade will begin. Prizes donated by Manistee
Equine Feed & Pet Supply of Manistee and other local businesses, will be
awarded for the best costumes in the parade.

Starting at 10 a.m. Sunday, “Paws for Agility” will have an agility
course set up with demonstrations. Visitors may try maneuvering the
course with their pets. Participants are asked to donate pet food for
use in the local pet pantry before taking their turn on the course. Also
during this time, Dr. Laura Betts, a local veterinarian, will be at the
park to talk about health and safety issues for your pets.

Available throughout the day on Saturday will be a display of products
for pets.  Visitors are welcome to bring their pets for the weekend’s
fun and activities.

Partnering with Orchard Beach State Park to offer the “Pets in the
Park” weekend are Lori Linderman of Manistee Equine Feed and Pet
Supplies, Jim Rutherford of Action Canine Institute, Chris Felty of
“Paws for Agility,” Dr. Laura Betts of Parkdale Animal Hospital
and Little River Ottawa Indians Search & Rescue K9 Division.

Orchard Beach State Park is located at 2064 N. Lakeshore Rd. near
Manistee. For more information about this event, the park,
accessibility, or persons needing accommodations to attend this event,
contact the park supervisor at 231-723-7422 (or TTY/TDD711 Michigan
Relay Center for the hearing impaired).

All motor vehicles entering a state park or recreation area must
display a 2010 Motor Vehicle Permit, available for purchase at the park
entrance or online through the Michigan E-Store at
www.michigan.gov/estore. Cost is $24 for a resident annual and $6 for
a resident daily. A non-resident annual is $29 and a non-resident daily
is $8.

Effective Oct. 1, 2010, the Recreation Passport will be available to
Michigan residents for $10 per registered vehicle, or $5 per registered
motorcycle. This will replace the resident annual state park and boating
access site permits. By checking "Yes" on your vehicle registration
form, Michigan residents will realize a 58 percent savings in exchange
for unlimited access to all Michigan state parks and boating access
sites. This money will also help support Michigan state parks, boating
access sites, state forests and local parks. For more information about
the Recreation Passport, visit www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport .

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment is committed to the
conservation, protection, management, and accessible use and enjoyment
of the state’s environment, natural resources, and related economic
interests for current and future generations. For more information,
visit www.michigan.gov/dnre.


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