NEWS RELEASE

Mike McGinn, Mayor

Christopher Williams, Acting Superintendent

For Immediate Release:                                                                               May 1, 2013

Contact:          Dewey Potter, 206-684-7241

                        email dewey.potter@seattle.gov

Seattle Parks, Citizens for Off-Leash Areas to meet May 8

Public is invited to general membership meeting: topics include events, fundraisers, education and more!

Seattle Parks and Recreation will join Citizens for Off-Leash Areas (COLA) for a general membership meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8 in the Park Board Room, 100 Dexter Ave. N.

Parks and the COLA Board of Directors will celebrate the openings of two new off-leash areas at Magnolia Manor Park in Magnolia and at Lower Kinnear Park in Queen Anne. They will also share important updates and upcoming events and hold a roundtable discussion.

Topics will include events, fundraisers, marketing, education, volunteers, partnerships, newsletters, and more.

The public is invited to come and learn about the benefits of COLA membership and to join. Member dues help improve existing off-leash areas and communicate with supporters. Donations support the newsletter, postage, printing, phone line and educational brochures and materials.

Citizens for Off-Leash Areas (COLA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was formed to obtain and maintain off-leash dog exercise areas in Seattle. For more information on COLA, please go to www.coladog.org.

Note: Please leave doggies at home!

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www.seattle.gov/parks  

Check us out on: Facebook  | Twitter  | Flickr 

Facebook.com/COLAdogSeattle

Please report any concerns to:

Patrick Jones - COLA President

patrickjones321@gmail.com

(206) 913-7261

Grand Opening

Lower Kinnear Park Off Leash Area

Sunday February 24, 12pm -3pm

Please Join COLA, FOLK, Parks Dept. in

welcoming our 13th OLA in Seattle.

899 W Olympic Pl. Seattle, WA

Parking Available Intersenction

Elliot Ave W, W Mercer Pl.

Attention Seattle dog owners!

Everyone is encouraged to attend the COLA meeting on Wednesday, May 8th.

Come be a part of the discussion about the future of our dog parks!

May 8^th, 2013

6:30pm-8:30pm

Seattle Parks & Recreation Board Room

100 Dexter Avenue N

Seattle, WA 98109

Annual COLA Membership Meeting
For 2012-2013

Wednesday, September 19, 2012
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Board Room, Seattle Parks Department Headquarters
100 Dexter Ave., Seattle WA

Agenda

I. Introductions All – 5 min
II. Report from the COLA Chair Russell Harley – 10 min
III. Parks Department discussion Brenda Kramer – 30 min
o Park Rangers
o Animal Control
o Q&A for Parks (Last 5 min of Park’s time)
IV. Updates from COLA Board members COLA Board – 10 Min
V. Off Leash Area updates Toni/Loretta – 10 min
VI. Nominations for new Board Members (Max of 5) Membership -10 min
o Voting will occur at the end of the meeting
VII. Motions, Q & A, Annual report discussion Board – 30 min
VIII. Voting on new Board members All – 15 min
IX. Adjournment
 

What to do before you get to the dog park for a positive experience for you and your dog:   Training, Vaccinations, Socialization, Licensing, Rights and Responsibilities.

Many thanks to all who helped out with the Fremont Fair!

Here's a link to the 2012 Fremont Fair dogs that were in the Dads and Dogs parade that was held today and COLA sponsored.

Below is a photo from the 2011 parade:

Play it Safe - Enroll in Arden Moore's Pet First Aid, CPR, Safety and Wellness Classes

If your dog cut his paw on a hike, would you know how to stop the bleeding? If your cat started choking, would you know what to do? In pet emergency  situations, every minute counts. Moore, founder of Four Legged Life.com, is a Pet Tech-certified instructor and an IAABC-certified animal behavior consultant. Choose classes being offered from 1:30-5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, or on  Sunday, Oct. 2. Light refreshments will be served. Graduates earn certificates in pet first aid, CPR and safety - a plus for those in the pet care field.

This is a hands-on class - not lecture. Attendees will learn how to care for their injured, ill dogs and cats. Get the opportunity to download an amazing, comprehensive Pet Savers app for under $5 that works on all smart phones - iPhones and Androids.

Class fee is $70 ($45 for second person in same household) and includes all course materials. Each class is limited to 16 students to ensure everyone  receives hands-on training. Please, no family pets are permitted.

To sign up, contact Arden@fourleggedlife.com or 760-433-3480. To register online, visit www.fourleggedlife.com/classes-2 and click on the PayPal button for the Pet 1st Aid, CPR and Safety course in the Seattle Classes section. Advanced registration is required. For more information, contact Arden at Arden@fourleggedlife.com.

This hands-on training course will teach you a variety of skills that canbe used to stabilize a pet during an emergency. You will learn Pet CPR, rescue breathing, first aid, restraining and muzzling, choking management, fractures/bleeding protocols, care for heatstroke, frostbite, poisoning, seizures, shock and more. Each student will have their own demo dog andfirst aid supplies to use during class. Upon completion, you will receive:

PetSaver handbook
Wallet Emergency Card
Pet First Aid Certificate

Your "homework" assignment prior to attending these classes: Please email Arden (arden@fourleggedlife.com) an attached jpg. photo of your pet(s) by Sept. 29. Identify each pet .

Copied over from Loretta's blog at http://www.sludogpark.org/node/25

The Cascade Neighborhood Council meeting last month was an eye-opener, to say the least. Some pro dog park people came out (thank you!!) but the vast majority of attendees spoke of concerns about an off-leash park. Specifically, they voiced their unhappiness with the irresponsible dog owners that they saw using Cascade Park. These owners were allowing their dogs to run through the pea patch, spoiling the edibility of the food grown there; not picking up after their dogs; and letting the dogs run through the playground (causing health risks for children using the playground). There also were concerns about dogs who were off-leash and not responding to voice controls. Attendees reported incidents where they feared for their safety due to dogs who they viewed as out of control.

IMHO, the vast majority of dog owners are responsible. There always will be the bad actors. Problem is, these bad actors are hurting us, the responsible dog owners. This message was clearly communicated to me when I met last week with a few of the people who were concerned about establishment of a dog park. I spoke about the importance of stewardship for any successful park, including dog parks. As the conversation progressed, however, it became clear that dog park stewardship must begin now.

We need to establish credibility. How do we do that? For one thing, we can continue to be vigilant about picking up poop, keeping dogs out of the playground, leashing dogs that have not earned the right to be off leash, and being aware that there are people who are afraid of or don't particularly like dogs. The bad actors tarnish the reputation of the majority, who are considerate dog owners.

If we want to be successful in our quest for a dog park, we must start now. I know it's not the "Seattle way," but we cannot be afraid to speak up if someone is setting a bad example. If they let a poop drop and walk away, call them on it and hand them a bag. If their dog is running through the playground, let them know that this is unhealthy for the children who play there. Consider yourself "on duty" as a SLU Park steward when you are letting your dog run at Cascade Park, or Denny Park, or SLU Park, or anywhere else where (technically) off-leash dogs are not allowed. Now is the time to establish our credentials for canine stewardship.
 

 NEWS RELEASE