Update on the Dog Run

The WMA just posted this information on their website:

Sunday May 31st, 2015.

Mayor Peter Trent contacted the WMA co-president Dr. Maureen Kiely. He told her that he halted activity on the proposed dog run in Westmount Park. Apparently he is ordering a “redesign” and he specifically asked her to pass on this message to you.

Even though the dog run is not specifically on the agenda for the June 1st Council meeting, we still encourage all members to make their opinions heard.

WMA Westmount Park Issues

It will be interesting to see what is announced at tomorrow's council meeting. Remember to attend and make your opinion heard!

Replacement Dog Run For Lansdowne - Not What Was Promised

Back in October, to great fanfare, Mayor Trent announced a new location for the dog run that had been at the corner of Lansdowne and Ste Catherine for decades - Westmount Independent Oct 14 2014. Finally, after two years of a promise to restore the Lansdowne site, which had been "temporarily" removed during the construction of the WRC, it looked like a solution was found - despite the fact that an overwhelming majority (89.1%) of those polled by the WMA saying they wanted it back in its original location - see WMA Dog Poll Results.

It is worth noting that, at no point during this process, were there any public consultations, despite promises to the contrary by Council in the summer of 2014 - see page 47 October 6th Council Agenda.

Fast forward to May 2015 and construction is about to start. However, the location is not quite that promised in October 2014, but now more north into the Park and not at all on the roof of the WRC (see page 1 and 20 of this week's Independent). Due to this relocation, a larger deviation is required to the bikepath and this will result in the necessity to destroy several mature trees in its path. This will also create some steep curves in the bikepath and create conflict zones where dog owners will have to cross to access the new run.

There are other issues in this area - the access to the Westmount Park United Church has an inadequate turn-around - which is going to force the handicapped parking zone to be relocated to the west side of Lansdowne.

It's time to rethink this whole proposal before it's too late. The vast majority want the dog run back at its original location, where it happily served dog owners in the area for over 25 years.

Please come to City Council, Monday June 1st at 8pm and make your voice heard.

Meow wow! I need HELP

After a wonderful summer (in some ways) with Dad's cats - the time has now come to find new and loving homes for these wonderful, fabulous, funny, charming cats.

To see more images – including some movies – of these wonderful cats, please go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pony_e_brooks/sets/72157631755906145/

I really need help as all of the people with whom I have spoken are downsizing, allergic to cats, upsizing, not interested in cats, outsizing, and otherwise ever so clearly just not keen. Please share this - and or get in touch if you have any suggestions.

Thank You. Mrow!

It is with great sadness

Weary is the Head that Wears the Crown It is with sinking hearts and low spirits that we announce the passing of George Paul Creighton on Sunday April 15th at St. Mary’s, with his daughter and family friends by his side. Predeceased by his wife Beverly in 2006, he will be very much missed by his daughter Amy (Edwin), his son Chris (Minako), his two grandchildren Yuki Leslie and Lexington, and his brother Jon (Carol). Well known as the man with the big white dogs, Paul was a feature in Westmount for many years. Father, grandfather and pet lover, he was a friend to many and a storyteller without peer. Born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan on Sept 5, 1937, Paul lived a life characterized by family, adventure, travel and challenges, most of which he was able to overcome with his characteristic wit and very dry humour.  A Man in His Castle Paul graduated from Waterloo Lutheran College with a B.A. in 1962, then joined the Department of External Affairs as a Foreign Service Officer, playing a key liaison role during the Dominican Republic Revolution in 1965. After another posting in East Africa, Paul moved his family back to Canada, settling in Westmount in 1973. More thanks than can be adequately expressed for the CCU team at the Montreal General and Dr Tremblay and the ICU nurses at St. Mary’s. A memorial service will be held at the Mount Royal Cemetery Complex (1297 Chemin de la Forêt, Outremont, H2V 2P9) on Thursday, April 26th, at 2 PM with reception to follow directly. I would be so pleased to see his friends and fellow dog lovers there.

Future of Dog Run - News to Come from Councillor Lulham

With the destruction of the arena inching ever closer, there is MAJOR  interest in what is going to happen with and to our dog run. Last week,  Councillor Lulham asked me to share contact info on dog run users so she could get in touch directly with news on what is going on and what is planned. After asking for permission, I have shared the email addresses for those persons willing to hear from her directly.

There is also a meeting planned for April 16th at 7 PM  by the WABA - Westmount Ankle Biter's Association - in the Reading Room at the Westmount Library on this subject.

Fido barks up wrong tree: owners

Fido barks up wrong tree: owners

Who's the cover boy on the National Great Pyrenees Rescue page?

As of 9:15 PM,  Chaucer is ranked:

670 out of more than 22,833 dogs.


Now for those of you for whom this doesn't seem like a big to-do, we started out at 5,895 on Friday, October 21. This is rocket speed!


And it is all thanks to you.  15 more days until the competition closes - let's keep voting please!

http://www.fidocastingcall.ca/dogs/11847

GOBSMACKED PEOPLE I AM GOBSMACKED!

881.

We have moved 5014 places since entering the competition - all thanks to you! Chaucer is loved - and you know? I feel the love too! It's wonderful! I hope you enjoy checking into the Fido site (http://www.fidocastingcall.ca/dogs/11847) and watching the numbers. Did I mention it's addictive?  With 16 days to go, things are going to get hotter and fiercer. And hey! Chaucer's going to get brushed! Well, no time like the present really...

Today's ranking as of 10:19 PM

1,035.

It has been going up and down today - maddening for those of us who are semi-addicted to the listing. What this might be telling me is that there are people out there who care for their dog - or their friend's dog's more than WE CARE FOR OURS or mine. Zut alors and voyons donc!!! This cannot be true!!!

Another possibility is that what these numbers are telling me is that some people are better connected or networked than others. And this - well, this might well be true. And this requires asking for help. I clearly cannot do this alone - and neither can the already committed friends and family who are voting every day. Join us in making a difference to Canada's Dog Guides (every vote is a $1 donation from Fido. Click here:http://www.fidocastingcall.ca/dogs/11847

Almost there! From 5,895 to 1,124 with a few weeks to go!

The competition is heating up and we are continuing to move up in the rankings - thanks to YOU all. There are about 20 days left in the competition, and the time has come to develop a new strategy. Any suggestions? Preferably ones that incorporate elements on how NOT to lost friends or make enemies by entering one's dog, into a competition, winning through sharing, and how to make winning F U N.
Ideas welcome! Votes welcome too! Just in case it's not handy...http://www.fidocastingcall.ca/dogs/11847!

Well, hello!

After months of inaction, I have been jolted into acting on a contest! Amazing! I am such a NON-CONTEST person, yet here I am, heralding and championing Chaucer as the (hopeful) new Face of Fido.
Forget for a moment that I am not a Fido subscriber, and that this,  in all likelihood, will not change. Forget too, that some of the aspects of this competition - and believe you me - it's getting fierce out there - are a bit murky - like exactly how many votes has each dog secured? How much money has Fido raised for Canada Dog Guides? And, if we are currently ranked 1400 ish, how are we ever going to make it to Number 1 in just 20 days?

BY VOTING every day. By sharing the excitement of watching the rankings improve, day by day, hour by hour. By sharing Chaucer's profile and encouraging others to vote- and hey! not just Chaucer! Jamon, Helen's puppy, is in the contest and so is Zero, Jennifer's dog.  Vote for them, after all, each vote secures a $1 donation to Canada Dog Guides, and delivers a frisson of excitement to all participants.

Check it out at: http://www.fidocastingcall.ca/dogs/11847

Chaucer on the Mend

After a real scare last Thursday night, Chaucer is now recovering at Dad's house from bloat, a twisted gut, and major abdominal surgery. Our house-calling vet, Dr Shannon Whatman, recommended we take him to the Hopital Veterinaire Rive Sud where Chaucer was admitted and received superior care. He was so admired and well-behaved, that not only was his name changed to Chester, but he was also called "Doll." Luckily, he is nothing if not dignified, so all of this was perfectly ok.

Bloat and twisted gut. Horrible. Thank God Dad noticed Chaucer wasn't feeling right, and that Shannon told me where to go, that there was no traffic, no delays ..and the list of gratitude could go on. And believe me, I am GRATEFUL that my boy is alive and doing well. He even managed a little hop, butt wiggle and  head duck and dive today when I visited. We hope to be back at the dog run soon - within the next 10 days or so.

The Accident waiting to happen, Happened.

June 22

June 24

On May 7th, I posted about the hole in the bench and that it was an accident waiting to happen.  And on June 22, my daughter fell through that hole, twisted her leg and banger her head on the ground. Way to go Westmount! After the shrieking subsided, we left. The next day, Darren Reid called Public Works, the police and Public Security and together we filed an official report, so that this incident is now on public record. Letter in the Independent to appear next week. Any guesses as to how long it will take to replace this bench?

BROKEN GATE

Dangerous. Let's get it fixed!

Very funny video - that has NOTHING to do with the dog run! (now there's a change)

Let's Get in Touch with our Elected Officials

Not only has the snow fence not made its reappearance - but there is a hole in one of the benches just waiting for an accident. It's jagged and could pinch a bottom, cut a hand or arm, scratch a nose, rip a poo bag - or  damage a paw.

NOT GOOD. Here goes an email to our councillor.  Hey - you can all email too!  Address and contacts of significance are:

Councillor Cynthia Lulham: clulham@westmount.org
Mayor Peter Trent: pftrent@westmount.org

Direct from Councillor Lulham: Dog Run News

Ran into Councillor Lulham yesterday with her two mini-poochitos. While our conversation covered topics from the Easter Bunny and how her no-show to my generous invitation to tour the dog run in the company of some of its more avid-goers meant that I simply ate the chocolate she might have had herself. Does this make sense? Phew! Here are the highlights:

• the arena will stay as is for another year. While the digging will begin at the pool end at the end of the summer, the pals are to keep the arena for the next hockey season, meaning that the demolition of the current structure won't happen until next summer. Maybe. So no plans in place for the dog run at the moment.
• the snow fences are supposed to have been put back at Lansdowne - as a temporary measure - are they?
• in terms of more permanent fencing, the plan is to install 5' steel fences - the same as the private soccer field - around the dog runs. This will start at Murray Hill on the lower fence - with one section installed at a time. Not clear whether the "at a time" refers to seasons or years or weeks. Also not clear when the first one would appear.
• apparently there is a bit of a rush on in terms of setting up a new dog body in Westmount;  maybe to take over the existing Westmount Dog Owner's Association, or start a Summit association, or have a dog run group. Her plan is to invite all interested parties to council, and then invite them to organize, vote, install members etc., Then she has one point of liaison with concerned dog persons.

What do you think?

Status on dog run review?

You may remember that in the April 12 edition of the Westmount Independent there was an Editor's note stating that Councillor Lulham and city horticulturist  Savaria were going to check out the fences at the Lansdowne dog run. Having heard nothing since then, I am going to check in with Councillor Lulham to see where we are.

Lobbying Scandal in Westmount?

Most interesting  - the validity of a poll, conducted last spring by Ipsos Decarie  gauging public opinion in Westmount on the proposed arena project, has come under question almost a year by some Westmounters later as the story of a private school's interventionist social media outreach initiative has come to light.

Turns out that at the same time - in fact during - the timeframe of the Ipsos Decarie telephone survey to Westmount residents, Selywn House sent a mass emailing to over 2000 recipients - requesting said recipients to respond favourably to the proposed arena project should they be asked of course.

So is it possible that some of the less than 2500 respondents, 80 some percent of whom were in favour of the project, might have been influenced as a result of the contents of that email? Welcome to the world of power lobbying - and where better than in this microcosm of political hand to hand combat over issues like grass vs artificial surfaces, to Bixi or not to Bixi -   that is Westmount? Check out www.westmountwatch.org for the story of this story.

And now. for the picture of the day...We thought that spring was here and that hats were a thing of closets past! Clearly not. To see the sequence, take a look at the flickr sidebar. Especially for this total and absolute focus on his face as he looks down at the hat as Cathy is admonishing him from above.

Murdoch just can't resist a hat.....

Today's Westmount Independent

Note of interest: Has anyone seen Councillor Lulham at the run to check the gates or the ground or the fences?

Also - amazing but true: as of today,  less than 700 dog licences have been issued for 2011.  I'd hate to overestimate the number of dogs in Westmount, but I feel confident there are at least twice that number.

Why are there so few licences? And, where does the money go from the licences already issued?