Picnic with your pet at annual Spring Grove 'dog day'

Take your pooch on a stroll to visit Procter and Gamble, or at least what's left of them, this summer during Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum's once-a-year "dog day," June 26.

You can traverse 45 miles of trails through 400 acres of the park-cemetery, the final resting place of local history makers including William Procter and James Gamble. Dog-owners often drool at the thought of walking their dogs through the historic graveyard, which is off-limits to canines 364 days a year.

But on Dog Day, you'll not only find plenty of famous dead people (U.S. Supreme Court Justice Salmon P. Chase, grocery entrepreneur Bernie Kroger, parents of William Howard Taft and Ulysses S. Grant, to name just a few), you'll find water and cooling stations to keep your best friend well-hydrated.

Now in its fourth year, Dog Day will host its first ever "Picnic with your Pooch" from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., complete with cheap eats from the grill and picnic tables. While the event is free, Spring Grove will accept donations for SPCA Cincinnati.

Do Good:

• Bring a leash and be prepared to clean up after your dog. Females "in season" need to stay home.

• Prepare for your visit. Preview some of the beautiful trees and plants at Spring Grove on the Arboretum's web page.

Sponsor a Champion Tree. For just $50, you can help maintain one of the cemetery's 17 state champions. In return, you'll get a certificate and fact sheet, plus a picture of your tree.

By Elissa Yancey

Photo courtesy Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum

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