“One vanilla in a doggie dish,” shouted my co-worker at the local Twin Kiss Drive In.
The traffic was backed up so far on Route 19 North of Mercer that people had time to leap out of their cars, order an ice cream cone and catch up with their car and driver down the road.
This was before I-79 was completed. Many others would pull in, unload their dogs and treat them there in the parking lot.
Fast forward a few years — well make that about 57 years — and I again enjoyed dogs having their ice cream. The Ice Cream Socials for dogs that have taken place each Friday at Wiscoy Pet Food Company, 424 W. Aaron Drive, State College, have been a hit with dogs and owners alike. Who doesn’t enjoy ice cream on a warm summer night?
“Amazingly there have never been incidents and we have had upwards of 140-150 dogs on some evenings,” said Wiscoy owner Wanda Cosby. She had her business since 1990 at another location and decided a few years ago that she wanted to have her own building. She proceeded to build at the present location. She has been holding the Ice Cream Socials for dogs for 18 years.
Wanda said is it very satisfying to meet the people in the store, learn their stories and offer advice about various pet foods, toys, grooming supplies and training. She has a full staff of well-trained employees who bring a variety of backgrounds and experience.
One of the dogs patiently watching the activities Friday was a six -year -old German Shepherd named Angel. As the tee shirts worn by Wiscoy employees suggested, BYOL ( “Bring Your Owner on a Leash”), Angel had brought Ron Pifer, his new owner.
Angel had been left at Paws after a grandfather of a family had died and his children decided that Angel was a great dog and should have a new owner. It happened that Ron and Barbara Pifer had recently lost a dog and thanks to Angel; they were only without a dog for three days. The Pifers foster dogs and cats for Paws during the week and those dogs and cats are offered for adoption on the weekends. Ron says they are happy with their Angel and she is fitting into their home nicely.
Everyone seemed to be enjoying the balmy evening, sitting at tables and chatting. New acquaintances were initiated through the discussions of breeds and shared stories as the pride and joy of each owner lay at his feet.
There are rules for the doggie ice cream socials: No nose to nose, or nose to any other body part is permitted! This puts the issue of control on the owners and it works. Wanda said, “It’s like when you were little and went to an ice cream social. You were expected to be on your best behavior right?” Amazingly most dogs were calm and accepting of the others passing by. One little blonde girl worked her way around the dogs asking each owner, “May I pet him/her?”
The Friday night events in August are also a way of looking over different breeds of dogs and observing their natures. Up close, you can see how much hair they might shed and how quiet, or not so quiet, they seem around other dogs.
Wiscoy will be back next year with their ice cream socials for dogs, but in the meantime, stop in and bring your dog for a visit as you pick up your animal supplies.
