SAVE THE DATE: Thursday Oct 28, 2010 The Hallowe'en Bark in the Park Dog Party!

It is now OFFICIAL! The Hallowe'en Bark in the Park Dog Party is on! On Thursday, October 28th, dogs and their families from all over Westmount will be welcome to the Lansdowne Dog Run for a fun-filled evening with prizes for best dog and or person costume, refreshments and fun for all involved.

The costume parade will start at 5:30 PM - with the judging and prize giving at 6 PM in the rotunda area (the brick circle) just outside of the dog run.

The idea is to raise awareness of and interest in the dog run, and it's importance for both its canine and human constituents. The dog run is not just for the dogs to have fun, but a place where owners and families make friends, connections and together build a robust and strong community.

We are looking for suggestions for judges and prizes - any ideas welcome.

best - and be on the lookout for some kick-butt artwork and posters appearing in your neighbourhood soon!

Otherworldly Hallowe'en Dog Party?

The Bark in the Park - was party that previous Pyr Henry attended with Ruth di Giovanni's Kujo - 20 odd years ago. I date myself but there you go. Speaking with Sandra this evening (Sandra of Dante Devil dog) about the Bark in the Park party and what we might do, and it occurred to me Hallowe'en is a good time - to reflect on the fantastical (as I sometimes imagine the attempt to get the fences fixed to be) and the other worldly - as I imagine the reasoning behind the bureaucratic decision making to not increase the fence height to be. So why not celebrate all of this.... with a costume party at the dog run? Owners AND dogs. Dante as a giant bat - or as the gato negro, Chaucer as a giant pumpkin (complete in orange polar fleece) and won't Murdoch have a field day with all of these things to GRAB?
A visual treat and a rare opportunity to promote interest in, and awareness of, the dog run. Any thoughts?

Chaucer's teeth

Chaucer had gum surgery this afternoon to correct some problems. My poor love puff! He's a bit under the weather at the moment, but I expect he'll pull through to be back in the park tomorrow. I am contemplating organizing a Bark in the Park for concerned dog owners and dog-run-goers to air their views - the Independent said they would cover it. Any thoughts?

councillor Lulham continues to refuse

Incredible as it may seem, the politician in charge of urban planning, Cynthia Lulham, has refused, and is continuing to refuse, to make the fences higher at the dog runs. In this nonsensical struggle over what are clearly safety issues for pets and people,, she comments that it is the owner's responsibility to prevent their dogs from jumping out. A nice idea in theory, but the reality is, even the most obedient dog can act out of accordance with its' owners' wishes on occasion.

Maybe what is really happening is that as part of the overall new arena plan the dog run will be temporarily removed - thus negating the need for higher fences - and then replaced with higher fences and better gates at some future date. Which would be great. Yahoo! And, if this is the case, why not make it public?