DOGS
WALKING THE WALK
Lisa Orlan, Wendy
Prager, Debbie Evans
and Sheryl Katz,
with some of their
four-legged friends
THE WALKERS
C
ombining a love of the outdoors with exercise and
companionship for both
dogs and their humans?
A win-win, according to Debbie
Evans, Sheryl Katz, Lisa Orlan and
Wendy Prager. Between them, the
four have eight Labradors and one
French Bulldog. The group formed
six years ago when Prager and Orlan,
who lived near each other, adopted
Lab puppies (Maui and Georgia) and
began walking their dogs in the
South Mountain Reservation. Around
the same time, Evans, whose
daughter was friendly with Orlan’s
daughter, brought home a Lab puppy,
Johnny, and joined the group.
A few years later, Prager discovered
that Katz had recently adopted Olive
(another Lab). Prager, who worked
three days a week in New York,
expressed dismay that Maui was
alone when she was working; Katz,
who was eager for Olive to have a
companion, began supervising dog
play dates in Prager’s backyard while
Prager was at work. Katz and Olive
were absorbed into the playgroup,
which grew to include the aforementioned eight Labs (including Orlan’s
older dog, Bodie, and Evans’, Prager’s
and Katz’s second dogs, Kona, Stella
and Vogue), plus Orlan’s French
Bulldog, also named Olive.
The group walks together two to
four times a week, in different
combinations. “It’s exciting when all
of us can make it on the same day –
it’s a total Lab-fest!” says Katz.
“What I love the most is that it can
be the wettest, snowiest, coldest day
and if I send them an email about
walking, they will show up.”
So much time spent in the woods
each week has forged abiding
friendships. “We have become very
close,” says Evans. “We talk about
44 MILLBURN • SHORT HILLS MAGAZINE HOLIDAY 2016
everything from our children to our
marriages to our aging parents and
professional struggles.” And the same
rule applies about airing topics of
discussion outside the group. “What
is said in the woods stays in the
woods!” laughs Evans.
So who is happiest to see one
another when the raucous Lab-fest
hits the trails? “The dogs really do
love each other,” say Evans. That said,
she adds: “I rely on these women not
only for advice about the dogs but for
every other life issue as well. How
many friends do you get to talk to for
an hour at a time three-to-four times
a week?” Prager concurs: “It has been
an amazing way to have thoughtful,
device-free time with women who
have become dear friends.” Katz sums
it up this way: “The woods are therapeutic for all of us. It has been a gift
to find these women and have this
time with them. It has added to my
life and time in this town.” ➤