Owner throws birthday party for dog family

For the second year in a row, neighbors Lois Ramberg and Clark Hofeldt of Chinook hosted a birthday that doubled as a canine family reunion for their English shepherds in the Dairy Queen parking lot Friday, complete with ice cream and a chorus of barks.

Ramberg, Hofeldt and Jim and Kari Grabofsky arrived in three muddied pickups 1:30 p.m with their respective dogs.

Ramberg, showed up with Hailey and her three puppies Joe, Boomer and Mitzi. Hofeldt brought with him Stump, father of the puppies and Miss, Stump's mother.

They were later joined by the Grabofsky, owners of C.J, whom they received in Christmas 2014 as a gift from Ramberg.

Each dog received a cup of vanilla ice cream after those in attendance sung a rendition of happy birthday.  

"We don't allow them to get chocolate. We heard chocolate is not good for dogs just for people," Ramberg said.  

A long-time lover of dogs, Ramberg said she came up with the idea for the birthday party last year when the youngest ones turned 1-year-old.

She said when they were born two years ago, it was the first time that a dog of hers had given birth to puppies.

"So I got to watch the whole process of them being born and then just got really close to them," Ramberg said.

Hofeldt said dogs have always been a big part of his life, especially on the ranch.

"They do pretty much everything," Clark said.

It marks the only time of the year that all the dogs are together.

Evelyn Smith, who was not at last year's party, said she was invited to the gathering this year by Merilyn Hall, Ramberg's sister.

"I think it sounds like fun," Smith said. "First thing you know, they can teach the dogs to howl and then they can sing happy birthday to each other."

  It's the type of thing she thinks could catch on, she added.

"You know how people who love dogs are, they will be down here having parties all the time or at least some people will," Smith said.