We sat down with some of the dogs that spend time here at Sun-N-Fun to get their point of view on what life is like for them at the Resort. We had to bribe them with some biscuits and belly rubs to get them to talk, but once they got started they had plenty to bark about, starting with Dan and Ruth Healey’s full bred, apricot Miniature Poodle, darling little Lucky.
Lucky Healey
“My folks could not have picked a better name for me, because I am definitely the luckiest dog in the world, not only because I get to live at Sun-N-Fun, the greatest place on earth, but because when my parents found me I had been abandoned and was living on the street.
“They saw me scavenging for food on the road right across from Sun-N-Fun, stopped their truck, picked me up, brought me here, adopted me – and I’ve been living the good life every since. That’s why they call me Lucky and why I love them like crazy.
“Dad takes me for an hour long walk every morning so I can sniff my way through the whole Resort. It’s something I just love to do because there’s something to investigate in every nook and cranny here. But I’d have to say that the best part of my walk is all the attention I get. It seems everybody has a biscuit, hug, or belly rub for me. I guess it’s because I’m so darned cute, or maybe because I always let people know I’m available by rolling onto my back. I think people must like rubbing my tummy almost as much as I like having it rubbed.
“The Sun-N-Fun team is especially good to me. Whenever they see me, they stop what they’re doing just to give me a little special attention. I think because I was found across the street, everyone feels I’m a little bit theirs and they’re as happy as I am that Mom and Dad brought me to live here.
“My favorite time of year is winter because a lot of my friends are Snowdogs who come down for the season and so I’ve got lots of pals to play with. But without question, my best pal is Bella Deputy. Bella’s a Greyhound so she’s lots bigger than I am, but that doesn’t mean a thing to us. We get together a couple of times a week to play, chasing toys and trying our best to get into mischief. Sometimes we do. What fun!”
Sammy and Smoolee Chesnick
You don’t have to be a dog that lives here to enjoy Sun-N-Fun. Sammy and Smoo, a Schnauzer and Muttigree, both rescues, enjoy visiting with their Mom and Pop, Kathleen and David Chesnick. Sammy’s a big talker and has lots to say to everyone about everything.
“Smoo and I love this place. Sometimes Dad comes to work here and we get to stay for a couple of days. It’s great. What we like best is the chance to get off the leash and run wild around the Bark Park. At home, I’m a bit of a couch potato, but at Sun-N-Fun I can stretch my legs and have a blast. I like being outdoors and when we’re here, we’re outdoors a lot.
“Smoo, on the other hand, is always on the move, at home and here. But instead of running around from room to room like he does at home, he gets the chance to roam around. We also get extra long walks because there’s just so much space and so much to explore. Smoo likes to do his little act for folks, walking in circles and doing his “sit pretty” trick because everyone tells him how cute he is and gives him biscuits and loving. He’s a total show off. Mom says he belongs in Sarasota because he’s a total circus dog.
“Of course, even with all the great stuff to do and see here, it isn’t all a bed of roses at Sun-N-Fun. That’s because every time we come here Mom takes us to one of the doggie bath stations and gives us a real good wash before we go home. I’d never let her know, but I like the water even if I don’t like the wash. What would be great is if they let us go swimming in the pool, but then I guess you can’t have everything – though I have to admit – you come pretty close here.
“Smoo doesn’t like getting a bath at all. Not one little bit. Actually, I think the only thing he likes is getting biscuits. He’s such a beggar boy. I don’t blame him at all for begging to come here. Sun-N-Fun is a just a doggie paradise.”
