Every Thursday, dog owners from Willow Glen and the South Bay gather at Willow Glen Elementary School for a brisk hour-long walk in the neighborhood before settling down in a dog-friendly restaurant to catch up.

While dog walks cannot compare to the convenience of a local dog park, it is a way for dogs and their owners to exercise and have fun together, said Terri Festa, founder of Society Dog.

"A dog park is always there and people can go there anytime they want," Festa said. "But this is a creative way people can have fun with their dogs."

It's also a safe environment, where dogs and owners can interact with others, she added. The dogs are on-leash during the walk and each owner has to sign an agreement, declaring that the dog is healthy and has had all the necessary shots. The dog needs to have a good temperament and behave well around other dogs.

Member Jim Morris, a Willow Glen resident, enjoys the walks but said they are only a supplement to the exercise his dogs need.

"My dogs need to run," said Morris, who takes his three dogs to off-leash dog parks in Hellyer County Park in South San Jose and Watson Park on E. Jackson and 22nd streets daily. "A walk is good if you can't do anything else and it's good for dogs to socialize, but a dog park in the neighborhood is what we need."

Festa, a sales representative for a textbook publisher, started Society Dog, as a singles group in 1999. A few months after she started the walks, she met her husband, Douglas Festa. In 2003, Festa decided to open the Bark in the Dark walks to all dog owners. The walks have drawn dog owners from all parts of San Jose and even Sunnyvale.

"Willow Glen has been a real dog-friendly place," said Festa, who lives in Scotts Valley but makes it a point to go each week. "It's a beautiful walk in a central spot."

The group, which can range from five to 20 dog owners weekly, has morphed into a close-knit community of dog-lovers who trade tips on dog care and help one another dog-sit when needed. Willow Glen resident Margot Vanderwalde, who's walked her dog, Roxie, with the group for 1 1/2 years, says being part of the group helps motivate her to take her dog out on long walks.

"When you get to know the people and their dogs, it becomes a great part of your social life," she said.

When Rose Garden resident Debbie Downs lost her dog to liver cancer a few months ago, the group helped her pull through.

"They understood how hard it was because she was with me for so long," she said. "They sent me cards, emails and visited me." The group also helped another member who lost her job and was unable to take care of her sick dog. Festa paid for treatment and also found the dog a new home

"It's almost like a mothers' group," Festa said. "The dogs are our children. We share both the good and bad."

Besides organizing dog walks, Society Dog has other activities for dog owners and their pets. Projects include Halloween fundraisers for nonprofit pet organizations in Los Gatos and Santana Row and a Yappy Hour where single-dog owners can schmooze. Festa and her husband also retrofitted a bus with dog-friendly features so they can transport dogs and their owners to events or plan road trips with their members.

"In the last year, I've realized that the sky is the limit," Festa said. "There are many creative ideas and we want to help people have fun with their dogs in an urban city."

For more information, visit www.societydog.com.