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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2015
JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian
From left: Claudia Frey, Jester, a 2-year-old pug and Chihuahua mix, Lawrence Frey, and Joker, a 5-year-old Newfoundland, stand for a portrait.
Event: ‘The fort probably smelled like wet dog’
Continued from Page 1A
of many stories told by Ranger Sally
Freeman at the event.
Freeman said Seaman likely was
smaller and less Àuffy than modern
Newfoundlands. Instead of a shiny
black coat like most of the dogs at
the fort Wednesday, he was probably
white with dark patches.
In his diary, Lewis complained of
Àeas from elk hides while they stayed
at the fort, so Seaman may have had
to endure Àeas as well, even if he ap-
preciated the diet of elk meat more
than his humans and didn’t mind the
cold as much.
“The fort probably smelled like
wet dog,” Freeman said.
Buddy stood in for Seaman
during Freeman’s ¿rst talk, gathering
bark chips in his thick fur while his
owner looked on.
Buddy might not be as famous as
Seaman, but he’s got his share of ac-
complishments. He’s the furry mas-
cot for Lewis and Clark College and
is trained for water rescue. Buddy
will be 9 in two weeks.
JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian
Ashley Crider, 6, smiles as she
checks out her face paint in a
mirror held up by volunteer Pat
Williams.
JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian
Kids listen to a presentation by Sally Freeman explaining Seaman’s journey.
She’s not the only one with prob-
lems. During the Meet the New-
foundland Dogs session, owners
shared that one of the downsides is
the dogs can have joint problems.
Also, their life expectancy is about
10 years.
)ace SaintinJ ÀoSS\ ears
Children had their faces paint-
ed at the visitor center so that they
looked like dogs and wore Àoppy
ears made of paper. Warrenton resi-
dent Lauri Dowell held the leash of
her 5-year-old dog Mikayla near the
face-painting station.
“Kids can climb on them and they
don’t care,” Dowell said.
As long as they get attention, she
added.
Mikayla has her share of quirks.
For instance, she won’t walk on li-
noleum or hardwood Àoors. In Dow-
ell’s home, the hardwood Àoors are
covered with carpet runners so Mi-
kayla can get around. Otherwise,
she’s trapped.
Mikayla is very relaxed, but
Dowell’s other Newfoundland, Ab-
bee, is unusually hyper.
Dowell can’t imagine how her
own dogs could have made the trip
Seaman did.
“These dogs, I can’t imagine
Shed a lot
JOSHUA BESSEX — The Daily Astorian
Jessica Hayes watches as Murphy McGuinness, a 3-year-old New-
foundland, relaxes outside the visitors center.
them walking that far,” she said. “It’s
hard to get them to walk.”
Mikayla has knee problems and
recently had surgery. Wednesday,
she wore a special harness that al-
lows her owner to lift her from the
shoulders and the waist when need-
ed.
Beyond health issues, owners
told the audience the dogs create
messes, shed a lot and draw attention
wherever they go. But even these
supposed “cons” were described
with fondness.
“Do you have a saddle for it?
How much does it weigh?” Susan
Hook recounted questions asked
time and time again while she’s had
a Newfoundland.
Ralph 3lant], owner of 7-year-
old Newfoundland Samson, always
keeps the vacuum handy.
“Got it out when he was a pup-
py and haven’t put it away yet,” he
said.
Forgey has owned Newfound-
lands for 18 years. That’s 18 years
of hair.
“It could probably ¿ll a class-
room,” he said.
The Newfoundland owners’ af-
fection for their dogs came out in
their stories.
“I have had Newfoundlands fall
asleep and start snoring on my leg,”
Frey said.
And Frey’s Newfoundland Joker
has another admirer: Frey’s other
dog, a pug-Chihuahua mix named
Jester.
“Jester just loves Joker to death,”
he said.
And he chuckled as he talked
about Joker’s pursuit of pets.
“With human females, he seeks
them out,” he said. Joker knows they’ll
give him lots of attention, he added.
Dowell said Mikayla will place
herself between people she loves and
whatever is upsetting them.
“When my kids grew up and
moved out, I got a Newfoundland,”
she said. “I’d have a lot more, but my
husband says ‘no.’”
Buddy, like the other Àuffy New-
foundlands, sought out the shade
during the talk in the afternoon.
Forgey takes good care of Buddy,
gauging his mood and comfort after
an exciting and busy day.
Besides being under Forgey’s
watchful eye, Buddy’s on a strict,
all meat diet, even if it’s not elk like
Seaman ate.
“He eats better than I do,” he said.
And for treats? Buddy gets dried
cod skins, and he loves them.
Elite softball clinic at Warrenton
The Daily Astorian
An Elite Softball Clinic is
scheduled 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Saturday at Warrenton High
School.
The clinic for players age
7 to 15 will be conducted by
members of the Stealth Fast-
pitch 16U ‘A’ team, which
earned a berth in the upcom-
ing 16U National Champion-
ships, July 26 through Aug. 2
in Chattanooga, Tenn.
The Stealth includes col-
lege-bound players, players
from the 5A state champion-
ship team, along with Warren-
ton’s Landree Miethe.
Cost of the clinic is $30
with a T-shirt, $25 without. It
will be an all-skills clinic that
includes hitting/slapping, de-
fense, pitching/catching and
baserunning.
Coaches and parents are
invited to attend, take video
and notes. Cost is $5 per adult
with a player participating in
the clinic, $10 per adult with-
out a player.
The clinic is contingent on
¿lling 40 spots. 3reregistra-
tion is required.
Contact Staci Miethe at:
stacimiethe@msn.com, or
call 503-440-3521 to regis-
ter.
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Submitted Photo
The Stealth 16U softball team, which includes Warrenton’s
Landree Miethe (front row, far left), will be competing in
the National Championships later this month in Tennes-
see.
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