March 2005 DOA Meeting Minutes

Attendees (dogs): Beth Monahan (Pete, Mickey, Gracie), Alison Regan (Leo), Jennifer Snead (Linus & Lucy), Sharon Blumberg (Sasha), Nanci Bucca (Maggie), Carolyn Duffy (Max), Sarah Squire (Kiki & Nigel), Maria Romanach Buckley (Ch. Cherobs Trooper), Samantha Soldan & Jonathan Fingerut (Xena), Wendy Gosfield (Fudge), Natalie Dimambro, Linda Koenigsberg (Pandora).

I. Dog Park Maintenance/Improvements

Dog Park Spring Clean-up:

• Will be held from 10am-1pm on Saturday April 9th. The Rain date for this event will be Saturday, April 16th.
• The park will be closed to dogs during the clean up.
• Volunteers in charge of organizing will be Jennifer Snead (sign-up and signs for the dog park), Jonathan Fingerut (help organize), and Sharon Blumberg (arrange use of tools from the garden).
• Additional stones will be purchased and delivered to the dog park before the cleanup day.

Dog Park Surface:

• Concerns were raised about the dust from the surface and whether or not the dust is toxic or harmful to people and dogs. Maria Romanach explained that the dust from the limestone is inert material that is not harmful to dogs or people.
• The best way to prevent the dog park from getting dusty in dry weather is to wet the surface down. The possibility of appointing a person to routinely wet down the park was discussed.

Small Dog Park Resurfacing:

• A box needs to be built around the drain at the back of the small dog park
• It was unanimously decided that the small dog park should be completely resurfaced as it is not used when it is muddy
• This will be done professionally. Sharon is working on getting an estimate.

Other Possible Improvements:

• Adding trees to the park (Fairmount Park arborist will do this).
• Idea of Dog park memorial for dog park regulars who have passed.

II. Dog Park Safety and Hygiene Issues

• Consider joining town watch-especially if you have a large dog. E-mail Sharon if you are interested.
• Discussion about whether adults without dogs are allowed in dog park. Consensus is, yes.
• Aggressive dogs-discussed whether or not it would be worth it to organize a workshop for the dog park on recognizing and handling aggressive dogs. Most at the meeting said they would attend a workshop on aggressive behavior.

III. Dog friendly Activities

Schuylkill River Development Corp stake holders - March 4th

• There will be a meeting Friday March 4th at 2314 South Street at 10 AM
• Need a representative from the dog park. Maria Romanach and Jennifer Snead will share this responsibility. Meetings will be held every month
• The proposed ramp/overpass trail to path will be discussed.

People Pet Partnership (PPP) - April 30th & May 22nd (Sarah Squire)

• April 30th will be the "Adopt a Pouch Parade" -- Parade will start in front of dog park and go up to Rittenhouse Square.
• Adoption fee is $83.
• May 22nd super adoption event in Lloyd Hall.
• PPP is considering having dog wash fundraisers on the lot next to the dog park (1 per month) from June-September. We can use the dog park hydrant as a water source - Sharon will coordinate this with Sarah Squire.

FSRP festival - June 18th

• Will be held from 10:00am-3:00pm on June 18th
• Dog Association needs to staff 2 booths. Allison Regan and Dot (volunteered by Allison) will man the membership/pet product booth for the dog park. Beth Monahan and Wendy Gosfield will organize the SPCA microchipping and will collect $3 extra for the dog park for each tagged dog.

Mayor's Alliance for Philadelphia's Animals - June 26th (Beth Monahan and Natalie Dimambro)

• Sunday June 26th event-in front of the Academy of Natural Sciences. Event is partnered with SPCS and Philadelphia Style Magazine. Adoption Festival for dogs and cats. There will be food, resources and vendors.
• Will put up flyers at Dog Park.
• Dog park will set up a booth (organized by Sam Soldan and Jonathan Fingerut).
• September 2005 Big adoption Event.
• "Best in Show" fundraising/adoption event. Will need an MC. Please give suggestions.

IV. Fundraisers

Will have a Fundraising/Membership drive week April 30th-May 7

• Event will kick off with PPP "Adopt a Pouch Parade".
• Volunteers needed to sign up for shifts 12pm-2pm, 4pm-6pm, and 6pm-8pm. Sam will coordinate this.
• Will sign up people for memberships and sell dog products, dog socks that Sharon has acquired.
• Maria Romanach will put together a flyer showing where the $ collected for the dog park is spent and how much all of the improvements have cost
• We still owe $2,000 for resurfacing.

We thank Steven Carlino from Tavern on Camac (243 South Camac St.) for providing wine for the meeting!

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