Newly released children’s book, “Let’s Meet at the Dog Park,” inspired by local author’s experiences

“Let’s Meet at the Dog Park” was written by Sara Daye Bargaehr in honor of her mom, Beverly Daye (January 5, 1950-June 19, 2022), and Beverly’s beloved dog, Leo.  The story is based on the idea that when you go to the dog park, you might strike up a conversation with a fellow dog lover and end up making a lifelong friend, which is what happened on numerous occasions to Bev and Leo at the Wautoma Dog Park.

Bev and Leo were inseparable from the moment they met.  Sara used to tease her mom that Leo, a rescued Yorkie, was the most expensive “free” dog that ever existed, because when Leo came into Bev’s life, he had a broken leg and she didn’t hesitate to pay $3,000.00 for the surgery to repair it.   As soon as Leo’s leg was healed, Bev began taking him to the Wautoma Dog Park every day, sometimes twice a day.  While there, Bev met so many wonderful people and their dogs.   She ended up becoming lifelong friends with several people who became like family.  They would often go to lunch together, check in on each other, and bring food if someone was feeling under the weather.  Every time Sara went to the Dog Park with her mom and Leo, Bev would introduce her to people, and she would know their names and their dogs’ names, and she would often tell Sara something special about the person, like what they did for a living, or a unique hobby they had, or something they were good at.  These were not just superficial friendships.  These were lifelong bonds being made at the Dog Park.  They would spend hours socializing at the dog park, which became as important to them as it was to their furry little friends.

After her mom passed, Sara donated the small dog run at the Wautoma Dog Park in honor of Bev and Leo, which is a fenced-in area within the Dog Park for smaller dogs to run and play off-leash in a safe environment.  When Bev passed, Sara inherited Leo, and one day she took him to the Dog Park.  While there, a woman recognized Leo and told Sara that she became a doctor because of her mom.  She explained she had been an intern at Waushara County Department of Social Services, where Bev had been a Social Worker for 35 years, and that Bev was an encourager.  She said Bev encouraged her to go to medical school, which she did, and she became a doctor.  She could not have known how much that story meant to Sara, especially to hear it so soon after her mom’s passing.  Leaving the Dog Park that day, Sara felt uplifted by the story and so proud of her mom.  She said to herself, that sounds just like mom.  She realized that with just a short interaction, you can make someone's day and possibly make a friend.

That chance encounter inspired Sara to write her children’s book, and after two years in the making, it is now in print.  The book features drawings of people you might meet at the dog park, followed by drawings of the same people in the “real world”.  For example, the first page is a drawing of Sara’s Uncle Jimmy at the Dog Park, and the next page is of him in the “real world” as a farmer.   Sara gave all of her stick-figure drawings to local Artist Stephanie Crane of Waupaca, who turned them into the beautiful, colorful, and fun drawings featured throughout the book.  

The Nest, which is a delightful gift shop on Main Street in Wautoma, recently hosted a book signing for Sara, which was very well-attended.   Also in attendance at the book signing was an adoptable dog from the local shelter, Milo, who was there to meet his potential forever family.  Waushara County Animal Shelter Volunteer, Barbara Newberry, kindly brought him to The Nest for the day, and everyone who met Milo fell absolutely in love with him!  

Please pick up your copy of the book at The Nest, Tropical Shades, and I’ll Be Dipped in Wautoma.  It is also available for purchase by contacting Sara via Facebook Messenger.  Please note that all of the proceeds from Sara’s book are being donated to the Waushara County Animal Shelter.  The Wautoma and Wild Rose Libraries also have the book to share with their patrons.

A bit about the Author: Sara Day Bargaehr is a Waushara County native who graduated from Wautoma High School and UW-Madison.  She lived and worked as a Paralegal in Madison for 25 years before returning to the Wautoma area to be closer to her family.  She is married to Renato, a native of Switzerland, and they have a very much-loved ten-year-old yellow lab named Abby.

Sara has been a Paralegal at the Waupaca County District Attorney’s Office for going on eight years, and in her free time she loves to go on long walks with Abby and to take pictures of all the wildlife she sees.  She also volunteers at the Waushara Animal Shelter by playing with the adoptable dogs.  They are always looking for volunteers and foster families for their adoptable dogs and cats.

“Let’s Meet at the Dog Park” is a labor of love for Sara to honor her Mom, but the love goes well beyond the dog park.  The life lesson Sara learned from her Mom and lives every day is “Never Love What Can’t Love You Back.”  Which means to love others and not material things.  Sara feels it is important to do our part to make our community a great place to live by making friends with our neighbors and by taking care of the animals that cannot take care of themselves.  So…who will YOU meet at the Dog Park?!