Sant) realized, this group had staying
power. Although the conversations
began about dogs – what they were eating, how training was going, who was
chewing up the furniture – it took
“about three minutes” for the discussion to shift to more personal topics
like husbands and raising teenagers.
“Maybe it was the fact that we
didn’t really know each other, so we
felt free to talk about anything,” says
Bunn. Says Dana, “No topic is off the
table!” The women travel in different
social circles and – with three
Democrats and three Republicans –
disagree on certain political issues, but
on one rule there is unilateral agreement: “What happens in puppy play
group stays in puppy play group!”
Initially, the group met weekly in
fenced in backyards and became such
an important part of the women’s
lives that they would cancel longstanding doctor’s appointments to be
there. Conversation flowed, to a
fault—there was the time the dogs
jumped the fence at Van Sant’s
house, escaping to nearby Glenwood
Jeri Dana
and Sherman
School, with one of the escapees
running into the school’s cafeteria.
“We were so engrossed in discussion
that we didn’t even notice until we
got a call from the school office,”
laughs Van Sant. The dogs’ birthday
is celebrated with fanfare: Each year
there is a “cake” made from meatloaf,
mashed potatoes and cream cheese.
Milkbone biscuits form the number
that represents the dogs’ age.
The group has also been a source
of solace during difficult times. When
the dogs were three, Kahn’s Coco
disappeared in South Mountain
Reservation. She immediately called
the others, who showed up, husbands
and kids in tow, to search for hours.
Sadly, Coco didn’t survive, but Kahn
still showed up for playgroup to
receive comfort from her “dog family.”
“They cried with me. Sallie baked me
banana bread. It was like [the Jewish
tradition of] sitting shiva,” says Kahn.
Nine days later, Kahn adopted a rescue dog, Chloe, who joined the group
and now fits in seamlessly.
And when Sysler’s dog, Striker,
passed away,, the others rallied to
console her. “I think I cried more than
Robin did!” says Dana. Six months
later, Sysler brought home a new
puppy, a yellow lab named Duncan.
Initially, he was too small to run with
the pack, but when he was old enough,
she resumed puppy playgroup and
Duncan was absorbed into the mix.
Nearly a decade in, the group’s
bond is stronger than ever. They don’t
meet weekly anymore, but still get
together with and without the dogs
and consider one another family.
“Our lives have changed – the dogs
are getting older and don’t need as
much exercise as they used to, but we
still need one another,” says Sysler.
Their bond can be hard for outsiders
to understand, perhaps the reason
why friends who have asked to join
the group over the years have been
gently turned down. “My non-dog
friends think this is crazy,” says Dana,
sweeping a hand around Sysler’s
picnic table to indicate the tight-knit
group. “Even my friends who have
dogs think this is crazy!” ➤
Sallie Bunn
and Lulu
Sarma Van Sant
and Zile