2021 Roof Sit for Kids is in the books
Kelly Schafer, Executive Director, The Voice for Clinton County’s Children
– with photos by Maralyn Fink
The Voice for Clinton County’s Children is so appreciative of all who supported us during our 2021 Roof Sit for Kids. The purpose of our outside event was to raise awareness during National Child Abuse Prevention Month. We cannot undo the harm of the children and youth we serve, we can do our part to raise awareness; everyone can do their part to keep our kids safe.
We appreciate St. Johns Big Boy for hosting us, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Team for being on site, Michigan Graphics and Signs for the great sponsor signs, and The League of Enchantment (seeing the reactions when people meet Superheroes is priceless). Special thank you for all who stopped by to learn about us and pick up a Blue Pinwheel, the symbol of awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month. Your generous support raised nearly $5,000 supporting our services for Clinton County children and youth who have experienced abuse and/or neglect.
For more information about our services, please visit our website VoiceForClintonCountyChildren.org. We hope you will join us Saturday, September 25th for our 8th Annual Superhero 5K Run, Walk, or Fly! Will your cape be ready?
City Park road construction update
courtesy of Darryl Schmitz
Street improvement at City Park has begun. The brick buildings will be retained and electrical/plumbing upgraded. Some old pipes and sewer line have been dug up and replaced; some sidewalk sections have been removed and will be replaced with something else. The pavilion drinking fountain has been removed, at least temporarily, and some gravel has been spread out.
City Park upgrades update: More angled parking between the performance shell pavilion and restrooms.
A Look Back Again – Squeak Hyler Retires
by Barry Bauer
Left to right: Clare Maier, E. O. “Squeak” Hyler, and Richard “Sonny” Cornwell
Firemen congratulated Squeak on his retirement from the Fire Department in April, 1972 and presented him with a Mercury outboard motor.
I asked his daughter, Sandra Wagar, what E. O. stood for and she replied that his given name was just E. O. He got the nickname, Squeak, in school when he wore a pair of shoes that squeaked when he walk. It stuck with him the rest of his life.
Squeak retired to Florida and lived on a canal where he could enjoy fishing.
Squeak is best remembered as caretaker of the City Park. He also ran the concession stand where kids from the swimming pool and Park could go over and buy their favorite snacks and candy.
Letters – Howe’s and Performance Shell say thanks
Thank you everyone who came out to help us celebrate at our open house. We love and appreciate you more than words can say. Thank you!
Howe’s Greenhouse & Flower Shoppe, LLC
8160 S US Highway 27 DeWitt, MI, US 48820
******
Thank you Darryl Schmitz for the aerial photos of the ongoing improvements to the parking and accessibility around the William E. Tennant Performance Shell. Lots to look forward to and truly one of the nicest settings for outdoor concerts anywhere.
Maralyn’s Pet Corner -. Why do dogs love squeaky toys?
Just the sheer number of toy options for dogs is a clear indicator that dogs love toys. There are toys that bounce, toys that fly, toys for chewing, toys for tugging, and, probably the most interesting of all, toys that squeak.
What is it about squeaky toys that gets dogs so excited and engaged?
While we can’t read dogs’ minds or ask them why they find squeaky toys so alluring, we can observe their body language and behavior to form a few viable theories.
First, we’ll need to take a look at why dogs like to play and the types of play they seem to enjoy.
Why Do Dogs Play?
Something that people have in common with dogs is that we love to play. “Our unique relationship with dogs is, in part, a result of our mutual love of play,” says Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists Patricia McConnell, PhD, and Karen London, PhD, authors of “Play Together, Stay Together: Happy and Healthy Play Between People and Dogs.”
Retaining this juvenile trait, “the love of play,” into adulthood is an example of neoteny. According to Dr. McConnell and Dr. London, it’s unusual for most adult animals to play with any regularity, although a few exceptions exist.1
Through the process of domestication in dogs, we’ve selected for the retention of the desire to play, which contributes to our emotionally based bond with dogs.
Types of Play
Dogs typically engage in social play and solitary play.
Social play involves a partner, which might be another dog, a human, or another species of animal. Solitary play often involves objects such as toys.
In a 2015 study by Bradshaw, Pullen, and Rooney, they examined the playfulness of adult dogs. They discuss how play behavior is usually made up of motor patterns characteristic of predatory, agonistic, and courtship behavior.2
They state that solitary play with objects resembles predatory behavior, both in form and motivation, and that the preferred toys are those that can be dismembered.
The Allure of the “Squeak”
While some dogs don’t particularly care for squeaky toys, the vast majority do seem to really love them.
Why are they so drawn to these types of toys? Is it that the sound reminds them of scared or injured prey, thus tapping into their “wild” side? Are they positively reinforced by us for engaging with squeaky toys? Or, is it just plain old fun?
Here are three theories that can help you understand the squeak appeal.
Prey-Drive Theory
Wolves, the ancestors of domestic dogs, were hunters that had to rely on catching prey to live. Today, dogs still have these inherent prey drives, although some more than others.
During the domestication process, various traits have been enhanced in different breeds. Does this affect how a dog plays?
A 2017 study by Mehrkam et al. looked at the influence of breed on social and solitary play in dogs. They chose adult dogs from working lines (retrievers, herders, and livestock-guarding dogs).
Of the three breed types, they found that overall, retrievers and herders were significantly more likely to engage in solitary play (i.e., with toys) than livestock-guarding dogs.3
However, they also found that social play levels did not differ significantly across breed types.
While this study didn’t specifically look at “squeaky toy” play, another study (Pullen, Merrill, Bradshaw, 2010) found that dogs had more interest in playing with toys that can be easily chewed and/or made a noise.4
Again, we wonder, does the squeaky noise stimulate dogs at an instinctive level? Many sources suggest that this is the case, but it has not been proven through studies as of yet.
Human Reinforcement Theory
Another theory is that pet parents are somehow reinforcing the play behavior in dogs. In other words, dogs notice that we give them more attention when they play with a squeaky toy. Dogs are masters at figuring out what gets our attention (and it’s hard to ignore a squeaky toy).
The Mehrkam, et al. study found that across all breeds, higher levels of play were seen when human attention was a factor as well as a moving toy (like throwing a ball for the dog). It makes sense that by interacting with our dog during toy play, we can increase their interest in the toy.
However, I believe it’s a case of mutual reinforcement. I’ve never come across a human that can pick up a squeaky toy without squeezing it to make it squeak, me included.
We just can’t resist it, and we like the response we get from dogs when we squeak the toy, thus reinforcing the squeezing action.
“Just Plain Fun” Theory
Doing something that elicits an entertaining response is just plain fun and enjoyable. It stands to reason that dogs enjoy squeaky toys because it’s fun to bite down and get an interesting sound.
It’s not just toys that elicit the squeaking sounds that dogs like. Many dogs also love toys that grunt or make other noises.
Dogs engage in behaviors that are reinforced or rewarded, which is why we repeat “fun” things. They are self-reinforcing.
Moving about, playing, and exercising, both with a toy and/or with us, also triggers the release of happy hormones (serotonin, dopamine, endorphins, oxytocin).
What If Your Dog Doesn’t Like Squeaky Toys?
If your dog doesn’t like squeaky toys, or toys in general, are they abnormal? Not at all.
Dogs are individuals, like us, and they have likes and dislikes. Some dogs prefer tug toys or flying discs, and some dogs don’t like toy play at all, and that’s okay.
Some dogs engage their new squeaky toy with reckless abandon and don’t stop until they’ve disemboweled the toy and removed the squeaker with the precision of a surgeon. Others leave their toy intact and functional for years.
For my dog, part of the fun of getting a squeaky toy seems to be that he gets to engage in the entertaining challenge of getting the squeaker out of the toy.
My guess is that, as is the case for all behavior, it is a combination of genetics (perhaps prey drive and neoteny?), rewarding behaviors, and just plain old fun that drives the zest with which dogs engage their squeaky toys.