Marquette Dog Park

09/14/2026

After a walk near the lighthouse, our older but very healthy dog started acting like she was having a stroke. The emergency vet heard the symptoms, and immediately said, “It sounds like she got into some THC” and noted that they have seen a lot of these cases in their service area.

Here’s my deep dive, summarized:

🐾 THC POISONING IN DOGS:
THC poisoning can cause surprisingly similar symptoms to a stroke or other neurological issue.

⛑️ KNOW THE SIGNS:
• Sudden stumbling, swaying, or falling
• Vocalization— barking, growling, howling
• Sudden onset of the “zoomies” or needing to run.
• Dribbling urine or loss of bladder control — a particularly characteristic sign
• Extreme sleepiness or appearing “out of it”
• Glassy or dilated eyes
• Trembling or twitching
• Unusual sensitivity to sound, touch or movement
• Drooling or vomiting
• Changes in heart rate, breathing or body temperature
• Severe cases can involve seizures, coma or breathing problems

WHAT MIGHT A DOG FIND?
Dogs can encounter discarded cannabis products on trails, beaches, parks and campgrounds—and it may take only a small amount to make a dog very sick.

• Ma*****na flower, joints or “roaches”
• Gummies, brownies or other edibles
• V**e pens or cartridges
• Oils, resins, wax, concentrates or “dabs”
• Discarded food containing THC
• Even human waste may contain THC metabolites after cannabis use. 🤢

⚠️ IT DOESN’T TAKE MUCH.
Today’s ma*****na flower can contain high concentrations of THC, while some cannabis concentrates can contain 80–90% THC. Dogs are very sensitive to THC, so even a small discarded amount can produce pronounced symptoms—especially in a smaller dog.

🍫 EDIBLES CAN PRESENT ADDITIONAL DANGERS.
THC may not be the only concern. Some products also contain chocolate or xylitol, which can be dangerous to dogs.

🚨 IF YOUR DOG SUDDENLY DEVELOPS NEUROLOGIC SYMPTOMS:
Even with all of this, don’t just assume it’s THC. Stroke, seizures, vestibular disease and other poisonings can look similar.
• Contact your veterinarian right away.
• Tell the veterinarian if THC exposure is even a possibility. We had no idea this could even be a “thing” but the vet has seen enough of these cases to immediately suspect it.
• Do not induce vomiting unless a veterinarian specifically instructs you to.
• If you find packaging or remnants of what the dog may have eaten, take a photo, or if possible, safely bring them with you.

The good news: Most dogs with uncomplicated THC intoxication recover well. Our canine acted “high” for about 12 hours and 48 hours out is still sleeping a lot more than usual.

🐕 ON THE TRAIL or BEACH
Watch for discarded food, cannabis remnants as mentioned above, v**e products, f***s and other unidentified objects. A strong “leave it” command can be an important safety tool.

Please dispose of cannabis products responsibly—and watch what your dog picks up outdoors

08/16/2026

LOST DOG SYNDROME/ SURVIVAL MODE

When a dog goes missing, panic immediately sets in- for us, of course, but especially for them. We think that when they hear our voice, they will immediately come running. But depending on their breed, temperament, age, etc. a lost dog can enter survival mode almost immediately, where their brain switches to a primal state, with fear overriding familiarity. They may not come when called, might run from their owners, and can treat even loved ones as threats. Priorities shift strictly to finding food, water, and shelter while avoiding danger.

SURVIVAL MODE MAY LOOK LIKE:

Ignoring you: Your dog may blankly stare, turn away, or bolt if you call their name.

Hiding out: They tend to stay hidden during the day and move only at night or in quiet areas.

Silent behavior: Unlike normal pets, they often stop barking, whining, or crying to avoid detection.

Feral instincts: Brain chemistry changes deplete short-term memory and flood the body with stress hormones.

This next part is counterintuitive, but experts agree.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:

Stop chasing: Never run after or corner the dog. Chasing extends panic mode and can drive them into traffic or farther away.

Do not yell: Avoid calling their name loudly or making sudden movements.

Set a feeding station: Leave strong-smelling, warm food (like roasted chicken or canned wet food) and worn clothing with your scent in one consistent spot.

Use a humane trap: If the dog is completely shut down and won't approach, coordinate with local rescue groups to set a safe, baited enclosure or trap.

Bring Them Home is a local, trained resource that has the knowledge, experience, and equipment to assist with recovering your lost dog. A flyer with tips is attached. Consider bookmarking their contact information. (Hope it’s never needed!)

08/11/2026

08/10/2026

🎉The kick-off fundraising event was held today at the site of a planned new summer dog park off of County Road 550.

We saw friends from the winter dog park like Ruby, Thor, Dante (who changed out of his usual “Security” garb and appeared quite dapper in an elegant tuxedo) and a few others.

PLEASE TAKE A LOOK 👀: There are many informational items in the pics below (including associated QR codes) regarding the park creation timeline, how to donate and volunteer to make this dream a reality, an order form for some cool Marquette Dog Park merch, etc. 🎉

📣As many of you know, this specific page that you’re reading began way back in 2011 as a way to organize doggy play dates and stay in touch during the summer months. Unfortunately, the only option at that time was to organize as a page and not a group. The difference between the two is in how interaction between members happens— and the page you’re on now just isn’t the best for that type of interactive communication.

🐶 We highly encourage you to visit www.MarquetteDogPark.org and also the Marquette Dog Park Friends Facebook Group to stay informed about the new summer park: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1ENZd3dg4Y/?mibextid=wwXIf. 🐶

That said, THIS page isn’t going away. We will continue to post dog-related informational items of interest, support the new Marquette Dog Park venture in every way possible, provide pics and vids of the fur-kids at the park as able, and occasionally, share a funny bit or two.

Please click on the QR codes to learn much more about the new park— and while you’re at it, thank one of the dedicated volunteers who are working so hard to make this happen. (The post tags do not include everyone— we KNOW there are many more!) ❤️

💕🐶❤️💕🐶❤️💕🐶❤️💕🐶❤️💕🐶❤️

08/07/2026

🎈🎉 SAVE THE DATE! 🎉🎈

Monday, August 10th, 2026, at Noon is your opportunity to check out the plans for the *NEW* Summer Marquette Dog Park!

Meet the volunteers, donate to the cause, and see how YOU can help make this a reality!

Hope to see you there!

07/17/2026

⚠️ 💨 First it was the heat….and now it’s the smoke! After largely being in for almost a week—except for ultra-short jaunts to do the duty (💩)— it’s fur-kid high anxiety over here. Soon, soon… ☔️🤞

Here are some things to think about to keep ‘em safe and as healthy as possible until things clear up….

07/03/2026

😫🎉💣 BOOM- BOOM WEEKEND 🎉💣😫

To block out fireworks noise, set up a secure, windowless interior room (like a bathroom or basement) and drown out the sounds by playing bass-heavy "brown noise" or calming classical music. For extra soundproofing, close heavy curtains and run loud fans.

Play Brown Noise: Unlike standard white noise, brown (or red) noise focuses on deep, low-frequency sounds to mask explosions and helps dogs settle down. Here (below) is one continuous 10-hour loop on YouTube and there are many more.

Muffle Your Home: Close all windows, draw blackout curtains, and pull down the blinds to block both the bright flashes and the sharpest percussions.

Create a Den: Allow your dog to hide in a familiar, comfortable space, such as an open crate covered with thick blankets, or an interior bathroom

Relaxing Music for Dogs to calm from Fireworks, loud noises - inclu...

06/30/2026

⚠️🇺🇸 Did you know that more pets go missing during the Fourth of July holiday than at any other time? With UPAWS being unable to take found pets at the moment, it’s critical to be pro-active in the event your fur-baby gets loose during the big booms 🎉 or in crowds.🇺🇸⚠️

A FEW THINGS TO DO TODAY:

- Make sure your dog’s collar ID has CURRENT contact information.

- Take current pics of your dog— front, back, side- in good light so they can be clearly identified if needed. (For black dogs, this may mean adding some light/brightness into the pic itself.)

•Plan on how doors will be monitored to keep dogs in and accounted for–  especially if there is the hubbub of visitors going in and out.

•Bookmark these incredible resources! There are some links in the comments. (This is not an exhaustive list— just the ones most familiar to us.) To find a Lost and Found group near you, search “Lost and Found Pets (and the name of your county.”) You will want to get in touch with them right away:

- Bring Them Home
-Lost and Found Pets Marquette County Michigan
-Lost and Found Pets in Upper Michigan
-Lost & Found Paws of the U.P.

Finally, below is a wonderful resource from Bring Them Home about what to do if the very scary thing happens.

05/15/2026

A message from the City of Marquette
regarding tomorrow’s (Saturday, May 16 starting at 8:00 am) Marquette Dog Park cleanup extravaganza:

“We are leaving garbage bags and instructions at the office for volunteers. The dumpsters are ready in the middle of the park. Powder Mill road and the entrance will be closed, so everyone will have to enter from 550 to avoid the loggers.”

See you at the park!