No More Homeless Pets Forum
September 6, 2004

Creating a Dog Park for Your Community

Alison Deeb

Dog parks enhance the bonds between people and their dogs by making it easier for them to spend quality time together. Alison Deeb from MARDog and Marcia Perry Rhoades from BarkPark will tell you how you can create a dog park where you live.

Introduction from Alison Deeb:

Dog parks enhance the bonds between people and their dogs by providing a dedicated environment for them to spend quality time together. At the same time, they help satisfy your dogs' cravings for canine companionship, and let them burn off extra energy by running and playing with other dogs off leash in a safe, contained area. With a bit of commitment, determination and organization, you can develop a dog park in your community, and help others to more deeply enjoy the rewards of canine/human relationships.

The success of dog parks in the United States is evident in the growth from 253 dog parks in 1999 to 623 dog parks in 2004. As of 2003, when the MARDog-initiated dog park opened, there was no county-governed dog park in Morris County, New Jersey. The closest dog park was in Randolph Township and that was only for their town residents.

Join us this week as we discuss the ins and outs of establishing a dog park, including how long it takes from concept to opening, how to screen for dog/dog aggression, how to insure the health and safety of participating dogs, and what operating costs are involved.

Introduction from Marcia Perry Rhoades:

With dual income families having less and less leisure time, the need to exercise the family dog has become an increasing problem. The two to three hour walks needed for active breeds is not realistic. A dog spending all day in the home and exercised in a backyard surrounded by a privacy fence does not provide the needed socialization for a well-rounded, happy pet.

To meet the needs of their residents' dogs, many municipal parks have designated a fenced-off area to be used as a dog park. For-profit dog parks are a growing business trend, and now dog parks are being used as fundraisers to benefit a humane society, shelter or rescue. BarkPark takes this one step further and benefits many animal welfare organizations.

If you have ever considered opening a dog park or have questions on the needs and concerns of a dog park, I hope you join us this week.

Questions

Start up costs for a dog park
Partnering with local municipalities to run a dog park
Handling liability issues
Requirements for dogs to enter the park
Using the parks to fund animal welfare programs
Begin finding community support for a dog park
Keeping large breed and small breed dogs separate
Challenges and lessons learned in starting dog parks
Ground covering for parks
Stopping drop offs at parks
Finding start up funding
Being persistent when local governments turn you down for a dog park

Start up costs for a dog park

Partnering with local municipalities to run a dog park

Question from Carol:

Is it better for a non-profit to try to build and run their own Dog Park? Would it be better to try to partner with your area's local Parks and Recreation Department?

Response from Marcia:

I'm not sure I understood your question. Would you like to establish a dog park to provide funding for your existing non-profit organization or start a non-profit to establish a dog park?

Establishing a dog park to raise funds:
Many of the municipal dog parks have become 501(c)(3) non-profits in order to raise funds for the growth and maintenance of a park. I have not heard of any municipal dog park that raises funds for animal welfare organizations other than with the occasional special event. Since parks are on publicly owned land I would not think it possible for your Parks & Recreation Department to designate acreage to support a private non-profit organization.

Starting a dog park:
It would be best to partner with your local government if possible. Although you would not have complete control of the park it would save you the expense of purchasing land. Another obstacle in starting a private park is zoning. Finding affordable land close to your customer base that will pass the zoning board is difficult. In many cities you must have the approval of all adjoining landowners to change zoning. Many private parks have found that not all landowners, commercial or residential, want a dog park next door.

Response from Alison:

I think it depends on the situation including the locale, human population, dog population, resources, and goals. A partnership is good because it enhances your resources. In a location where space isn't available, partnering with the county or local government parks department may give you access to land. In the state of New Jersey, land costs are at a premium, so by partnering with the Morris County Park System -- who already owns, maintains and manages several parks across the county -- we increase our chances of getting land in which to host a dog park. You can still be a non-profit and partner with a local parks department. The two are not mutually exclusive. That is what MARDog is working towards. The challenge is sharing the same vision and developing the same understanding of the needs of an off-leash dog park environment.

Handling liability issues

Question from Callie:

I'm wondering about the liability of a dog park. If our group opens a dog park, can we be held responsible if someone gets bitten, or if a dog hurts another dog? We have some space near our shelter where we could set up a dog park, but we're worried about getting sued. Also, we're worried about someone getting hurt. How do we prevent injuries, and how do we protect ourselves?

Response from Marcia:

You need to check with your insurance company to see if a park would be covered under your shelter's liability insurance.

Are you a 501(c)(3)? There is a difference between suing an incorporated non-profit organization and a for profit business. I am not a lawyer and cannot give you legal advice, but I spoke with our lawyer and insurance agent several times before we allowed BarkPark on our property and feel comfortable hosting it at our home.

BarkPark has several safety measures and policies. This is our fifth year and each year we learn something new and revised our policies.

Everyone who attends BarkPark signs a release of liability.

We have volunteers called "walkers" who patrol the park and break up packs, put dogs on time outs or request dogs be removed from the park for the day... or in case of aggression, permanently.

Only altered dogs who are up to date on vaccinations are allowed in the park. Training collars of any kind, with the exception of martingales, and retractable leashes are banned on the property. We provide toys/frisbees/balls and discourage members bringing toys from home. Treats are not permitted. Children may not run in the park and are to be within eyesight of their parents at all times.

There are approximately 100 people and 200 dogs in the park at any given time on a Saturday. With our rules and a dedicated group of volunteers we have had very few incidents and no major problems/injuries... so far.

Response from Alison:

This is the reason you incorporate as a non-profit, charitable organization, or private enterprise, etc. If an accident happens, and one will, your organization will get sued and not you personally. MARDog was fortunate. One of our founding members is a professional attorney who sets up non-profits for a living. In our proposal to the Park Commission, we said we do not want to maintain the park. The Park Commission would maintain and operate the park; we would help in fundraising and in development. Therefore, MARDog is released from liability. However, we live in a litigious society and anyone can sue anyone unfortunately...

A private dog park is different than a public dog park, however, and it is a different operating environment. Is your park going to be supervised by a professional and knowledgeable dog person? Will you have customers sign a liability waiver? Are dogs going to be left there or will the owner be present? These are just a few.

At a public dog park you have people and dogs enter at their own risk. That is how the local government skirts the liability issue.

Comment from Carole:

Many states have special laws that limit the liability of governmental entities. Each state is different, and dog parks are of relatively recent origin, so they may or may not be included within the scope of laws granting immunity or limited liability.

As I presume you are aware, the fact that an organization is organized as not for profit doesn't ensure that the individuals who formed it, or who are its "management" or even volunteers won't be sued. Plaintiff lawyers will go wherever there might be money. Since small non-profit animal welfare organizations frequently aren't wealthy, the lawyer will attempt to prove that the individuals in the organization should be held responsible. It's frightening to be sued. The founders of non-profit organizations ought to make sure that not only the organization but they, themselves, are adequately insured.

Requirements for dogs to enter the park

Question from Cathy:

What requirements do you have for dogs entering the park? I am presuming you would require them to be spay/neutered, have all their shots, and get along with other dogs. What shots do you require and do you require vet records as proof of shots and being fixed? How do you check to make sure they get along with other dogs?

Response from Marcia:

All dogs at BarkPark must be spayed/neutered. No exceptions for puppies, show dogs or medical reasons. We have our own vaccination form members must have filled out and signed by their vet.

Dr. Shane Bateman, an Associate Professor at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine donates his time to BarkPark as our Veterinarian. Dr. Bateman sets our medical policies. Our vaccination requirements for the last five years are that all dogs must have a rabies and yearly parvo, distemper and bordatella. We will accept titers, but they must be sent to Dr. Bateman for approval before attending. We are revising the vaccination policy for 2005. Allowing the three-year vaccination plan is in discussion. Guests that visit the park are not required to have our form filled out, but must bring vet records with them that show their dog(s) meet our requirements.

It is impossible to check all dogs to make sure they are not aggressive before attending BarkPark. Until they are in this setting we cannot foresee how a dog will act. This is where we hope that owners will voluntarily remove the dog if he/she is a problem; most do. If not, our volunteers step in. If it was a minor incident they ask you to leash the dog for time out. Anything more than that they are sent home for the day. A dog with multiple complaints or a major incident is removed permanently. Since we run a private park, we have the luxury of dog savvy volunteers who patrol the park.

In many of the municipal parks a peer system is in place. People who frequent the park will speak to the owner of an out of control dog. Some non-profit municipal parks with Boards have memberships. You join the park for a fee and are given a key to get in the gate. Complaints on dogs are filed with the Board, and after a set number of complaints the dog is removed and key returned. Other parks have volunteers who patrol the park during peek times.

Response from Alison:

The Lewis Morris County dog park is a self-governed and self-regulated park. The County established the guidelines for the temporary park and currently they do not require dogs to be spayed/neutered. No dogs in heat are allowed in the park, but intact dogs can use the park. The park is still a test and the location is provided on a trial basis for owners and their canine companions.

MARDog agrees with BarkPark in their approach to the spay/neutering. In our initial proposal to the Park Commission, we recommended that dogs be spayed/neutered to reduce unwanted behavior and/or limit aggressive incidences. We think this rule leads to a more enjoyable and sociable experience for all. However, since MARDog is the middleman in this game, and it is not our park per se, we don't have the ultimate say on the rules that govern the park. However, we are still trying to work with the Commission on that particular issue.

The Lewis Morris park is self-governed and the guidelines are not enforced by any one park employee or official. Unlike a private or "members-only" park, there is no supervision by a behavioral expert. MARDog suggested a membership system, so we could manage the dogs and people who enter. However, the decision was that it should be free and open to the public. I love BarkPark's educational animal welfare approach with the Board monitoring the complaints!

At the Lewis Morris park the procedure is to report all bites to people or other dogs to the Park Police. Their number is posted on the signage outside the park as well as in the park brochure. If someone violates the rules, and an aggressive incident occurs, they are supposed to call the Park Police. The Park Police write up an incident report and then call the owner to issue them a warning. Basically, if a dogfight occurs and the Police are called, they call the owner of the aggressive dog and they are told not to come back. The problem with this approach is that it is self-reporting. Some people may not bother to contact the Park Police and leave unhappy and frustrated.

Currently, there is no temperament screen to see that the animals will get along, and there is no supervision from a dog park behavioral expert. Accidents, which can happen anywhere, have occurred and at times there is unwanted conduct. However, the people and the volunteers usually play nice and get along and usually the unwanted dog gets asked (nicely) to leave. We believe positive behavior elicits positive behavior and that people learn by example. That has been our motto. So far we have been successful and the park is generally safe and clean.

Again, our park is a self-run and self-regulating model. There are lots of different models. In a self-run and self-regulating model, the volunteers work hard to promote responsible dog ownership, basic dog park etiquette, and fundraising and development to ensure the park maintains itself. So far, we have been successful. The Lewis Morris park is a special place and the location pristine and quiet. We are still working out the bugs, but Rome wasn't built in a day... so we hope someday we will have built something great. We are just happy to have what we have for now, and it is free!

Using the parks to fund animal welfare programs

Question from a member:

I am interested in learning more about how both of your parks run, especially the part about how BarkPark is used as a fundraiser for local animal welfare organizations. That sounds like such an innovative way to raise funds and to educate dog owners at the same time! Can you both share more specifically about how they operate, and how they are funded?

Response from Marcia:

BarkPark is an all-volunteer non-profit dog park located in the Columbus, Ohio area. There is a $75 membership fee to join and a $5 entry fee each time you attend. We are only open on Saturdays, May - October. Membership fees are used to support local animal welfare programs. We have 500 members, 600 people on the waiting list and an email list of over 2,000 dog owners.

Each Saturday we invite a non-profit rescue, humane society or shelter to be the beneficiary of the park. They receive 100% of the funds raised in the park that day.

BarkPark was set up as a non-time consuming way for organizations to raise funds for the support of programs, adopt dogs and promote their organization. We supply the majority of the volunteers, tables, chairs, tents/canopies, water troughs/buckets, dog wash tubs, shampoo, towels, ear cleaner, grill, food/drinks, paper products, cash boxes/change, donation jars, signs, poop bags/receptacles/removal and anything else needed to run the park.

The only requirement of the beneficiary is to supply 8 volunteers and ice. They may bring their literature and items to sell/raffle, ask for donations, solicit volunteers and promote programs/fund raisers. They are also allowed to bring their dogs for adoption. These dogs wear our "up for adoption" bandanna while in the park. Many dogs have been adopted here, BarkParkers are the type of home we all hope to adopt our foster to.

Money is raised from the entry fees, dog wash, concession stand, and sales table. The amount raised in the park on a Saturday varies with weather, competition from other events and what the organization raffles/sells. Our average this year has been $4000 per BarkPark. 100% goes to the organization in the park that day. Over $100,000.00 was raised at BarkPark last year.

We also raise funds in other ways. Our t-shirt and logo item sales are used to purchase literature on puppy-mills to distribute. There was a Labs Only night with money raised to be used for education on our #1 breed and their high turn in rate at shelters. BarkPark memberships were auctioned on E-bay to support the low cost spay/neuter program at our shelter, with our three-year plus wait for membership the eight memberships sold for over $5000. Another membership will be in a silent auction this month at our humane societies event. In November after the park is closed we host Pictures with Santa/Christmas Shop for our shelter, we had a special day to raise building supply funds for feral cat shelters for CATCO, a feral cat coalition, and we have special event BarkParks during winter months to support the Aids Task Force Pet Program.

Membership dues support the soon to be behavior hotline at our humane society, a program to provide igloo doghouses/straw for outside dogs, equipment for the humane societies cruelty investigation department, a new offsite adoption center for the shelter, plus miscellaneous other programs.

We have a free program with the Franklin County Dog Shelter where volunteers may bring their dog and a dog from the shelter to BarkPark for the day. There is no entry fee and the volunteers receive a free lunch and dog wash for the shelter dog. It gives a caged dog the opportunity to run/socialize, exposes them to potential adopters and sends back a clean, happy and tired dog.

Our education department has over 1000 books, videos, worksheets, lesson plans, literature and brochures from local/national organizations, and handouts that can be borrowed for use in animal welfare education programs in schools.

BarkPark began as a small fundraiser five years ago and has grown into an organization we are all proud of. Only through the hard work of the volunteers and generosity of our membership has this been possible.

Response from Alison:

I love the idea how BarkPark is used as a fundraiser for local animal welfare organizations, and I want to borrow that idea and implement it here in Morristown! I believe we should all be working together to help promote animal care and welfare. As far as fundraising, we have several avenues. The sponsorship form is one way people can get involved and make a tax-deductible donation. People complete a sponsorship form (they can do this electronically or manually) and then mail in their tax-deductible donation directly to our PO Box.

We have an annual holiday auction fundraiser, which raised around $3,500 last year. It's a wonderful evening with live jazz, dinner buffet, dessert and the chance to win lots of specialty items. In the past, we've received original artwork from the Stephen Hunek Gallery in Woodstock, VT and cool dog and human stuff. So its nice to be able to do Holiday shopping while raising money for a good cause! We sell t-shirts, but they aren't a real moneymaker. It is more of community awareness as the graphic matches our website and brochure. We have dinner meetings every other month (excluding summer months) with Guest Speakers who talk about different topics relative to responsible dog ownership.

Two years ago we had a HOWL-O-WEEN parade and last summer a "Bark Hop" where we visited two parks in two days with an overnight. It was a blast! In addition to all of the above, we just started applying for grants and have received a $5,000 grant from Starbucks Corp., about which we are very excited.

Begin finding community support for a dog park

Question from Joanna:

I have recently moved from the Boulder, CO area, where there are several wonderful dog parks, to a more rural area in WA State. There are no dog parks here, and I'm sure it will be a challenge getting the community to realize the importance of a dog park.

Any suggestions? How does one go about starting the whole process of getting community support, finding land, getting city approval, etc? Thanks so much for your input!

Response from Marcia:

First you need to find people with the same goals. Your local animal shelter, humane society or rescues are good places to start. Advertise you are organizing a group to start a dog park at pet supply stores, veterinarian offices, adoption events, etc. Set up booths at fairs or anyplace there is a large gathering of your communities' residents.

Educate yourself on the different ways municipal parks are run, how they support themselves, handle problems, etc. Try to find someone in your local government who supports your cause. Set up a meeting with your Parks and Recreation Department, have your organization get on the agenda at city council meetings. Attend the meetings, a well represented organization will be noticed.

This isn't a speedy process. It may take years, put persistence pays off.

Response from Alison:

MARDog's grass roots beginnings consisted of a group of dog owners in the Morristown area who would meet every night at a baseball field that we used as a defacto dog park. We would let the dogs play off leash and it was a hoot! However, the Town started issuing summons and the neighbors started complaining. After a while, there was no place to play fetch with our dogs! So we united as a formal group, which later became a legal entity and charitable organization. Eventually we became MARDog, Inc., a non-profit organization, with 1,000 members and 200 individual and corporate sponsors, including MilkBone and Starbucks.

It all began with a public petition that we posted outside the ball field area. Once the town started issuing summons, we lost track of people. No one knew people's names, or the dog names. So, in May 2002, after we acquired 150 signatures, we petitioned the Morristown Town Council. We did our homework and prepared a thorough presentation demonstrating the public necessity for a dog park and the community value it would provide. We asked for resolutions from each of the neighboring towns to support our petition, and were relentless about getting their support, before we appealed to the County Park System. We then appealed to the County Park System because we had the local town support, and they had the land and resources to help us. The process took 19 months from the time we first went to the Morristown Town Council to the time the County opened the park. It wasn't an easy process, and we are still petitioning for a permanent park since they opened the park on a trial basis. So, in a way, we are still petitioning and working hard to bring a permanent public dog park to the Morris area.

Keeping large breed and small breed dogs separate

Question from Marie:

Do you allow large breed and small dogs to play together? Do you ban any specific breeds like pitbulls? I would not want to ban a specific breed but would worry about pitbulls playing with a toy poodle. How do you handle children with the dogs -- is there an age limit you require?

Response from Marcia:

Many of the municipal dog parks have sectioned off areas for small dogs, which is preferable. Since BarkPark is at my home we have not put up additional fencing for the small dogs. We try to discourage small dogs at BarkPark but do not ban them. Very few people bring toy breeds. When they do, they keep them close or carry them.

BarkPark does not breed discriminate, but we are also aware that some breeds can be more dominate or prey driven than others. We keep an eye on them until we know they are appropriate for the park. We have removed pitbulls we did not feel were safe but have also removed Golden Retrievers for the same reason. Our requirement of all dogs must be spayed/neutered has been our biggest safety net with territorial dogs and aggression.

We allow children of all ages in BarkPark, but they must stay with their parents, eat in an area that is closed off from the dogs, and are not allowed to run. Many of our members understand that this is not a children's playground but a place for their dogs and leave the kids at home. Volunteers keep an eye on children as well as the dogs.

One of the best ideas I have read about for municipal dog parks is a park that set up a children's playground adjoining the dog park. Children play safely away from the dogs while the parents can keep an eye on both. Another small park put in a platform area with railing around it, somewhat like a deck. It has tables/chairs and toys. All children are required to stay in this area and dogs are not permitted on the platform.

Response from Alison:

The Lewis Morris dog park allows dogs of all shapes and sizes to play together in the off leash area. MARDog continues to advocate for a separate enclosure for small and/or timid dogs as we did in our initial proposal. The Lewis Morris park does not discriminate by breed, but the guidelines do say to remove threatening or aggressive dogs immediately. Children under 12 are not recommended and the guidelines suggest to consider whether dog owners can safely supervise both a dog and a child, as children tend to approach dogs quickly, chase them, run or tease dogs and unfamiliar dogs might react aggressively toward a child with whom they do not know.

Challenges and lessons learned in starting dog parks

Question from Beth:

What would you say are the biggest challenges of starting a dog park? What lessons would you share with others wanting to start one?

Response from Marcia:

In our case it has just been getting local government to understand that a dog park is not a requirement for dogs, but a necessity for the residents of their city. In my area many of the housing developments do not allow fencing, which is a growing trend. Most households are two income families who are gone all day or have stay at home mom's who are equally busy. The time and energy to exercise the dog is not always available. With the national average of 39% of households owning 1.6 dogs, a dog park is as much a community service as the swimming pool, skate park, tennis courts and soccer fields the parks provide with residents tax dollars.

As for lessons learned, each city will have its own unique set of problems. My only advice is doing your homework before you approach city government. Be professional, organized and persistent when you do.

Response from Alison:

In our case with MARDog, the biggest challenges have been managing the political process and educating owners about canine communication and responsible dog ownership. It seems like in other parts of the country there is a greater understanding of dog parks and the value they can provide to a community.

In our case, the Mayor of Morristown is not a dog lover. Although supportive of our group and a nice guy, he is just not an animal lover. The Morristown town council is supportive. However, we had to appeal to other towns to get a critical mass, since we knew we were ultimately going to go to the Park Commission. This made the process more time consuming, because we had to pursue another layer of government whereas some parks get built at the municipal or town level. As such, we needed to develop many relationships.

I think the key is to develop good working relationships with everyone and be honest, do your homework, and be passionate, confident and relentless. You will succeed.

Ground covering for parks

Question from Angie:

I've thought about trying to get a dog park in our city. I live in a small town, and property isn't that expensive. But we're in the southwest and in a severe drought. It seems irresponsible to have a big area just covered with grass that will require so much water. Plus it would be really expensive and time consuming to keep it watered. Are there dog parks that don't have grass? What other kind of ground cover would work? Cement or just dirt seems boring and ugly, but I just don't think grass is reasonable. Any suggestions?

We also don't have many large trees here for shade, nor would planting them do well here. Do you think that is a problem?

Response from Marcia:

Not all dog parks have a lush green lawn, especially in the southwest. Dirt is an acceptable surface. It takes no care and has give to it unlike cement. It is impracticable where there is rain, but in the southwest it works. Some parks use mulch or wood chips and one of the newer materials being used is stone dust.

Mulch and wood chips are inexpensive and can be used on inclines. They both need to be replenished (how often depends on the park) and will hold the smell of urine. Stone Dust (decomposed granite) can be very expensive. A two acre park covered in the recommended 4 inches of stone dust will cost approximately $10,000+ and needs replenishing occasionally. It also should be hosed down with water to keep the dust at a minimum and can only be used on a flat surface. But it does not hold the urine smell. You could consider starting out with multiple ground covers and keep it that way or decide on the one that works best in your park.

Shade is nice but optional. Some parks have large trees, picnic areas and seating which is nice for people who wish to spend hours enjoying the outdoors. But many dog parks are set up as an exercise area. Dogs and their people are moving the entire time they are in the park and shade is not necessary. Think of it as playing tennis. You play for an hour or two in the sun and then go home.

Response from Alison:

The Lewis Morris park is an enclosed parking lot, so there are other alternatives to a grassy surface. The blacktop was not MARDog's preferred choice but having a park is better than not having one at all. Grass is natural and easy on a dog's paw pads. We still have instances of dog's ripping their pads due to the hard surface, and it is not pretty. However, there are parks covered with mulch, pea gravel, sand stone, river stone, astro turf, mulch, wood chips, etc. So there are options. Some may cost more than others and some are more sanitary. The stone and gravel can be hosed down and are hygienic, whereas wood chips can hold the urine if it hasn't rained in a while.

As far as shade, I think that a balance of shade and sun is idea. If you don't have trees, you can always plant them and it would look nice for future generations. You can always build a cabana or pavilion to provide shade but that costs money. The hot sun can be uncomfortable for people as well as dogs and ultimately, you want everyone to be happy and have an enjoyable experience at the park. A cabana is nice because it can protect you from the rainy weather, too, and you can hold seminars inside and not have to worry about the weather.

Stopping drop offs at parks

Question from Judy:

How does one avoid people using dog parks as a drop-off area for unwanted pets? For ponds/swimming areas/pools in dog parks, what is the best way to keep snakes away?

Response from Marcia:

We don't have a problem with snakes in our area. I would contact dog parks in Florida or the southwest to see how they handle that problem.

As for dropping off dogs, all dogs in park should be supervised. No one should be permitted to drop off a dog. Post signs stating if anyone sees a dog in the park without a guardian they should call animal control to remove the dog. Post your Animal Control's phone number on the sign.

Response from Alison:

At a public park, you don't really I guess. We have been lucky at Lewis Morris. So far, there haven't been any drop-offs that I am aware of. I think people in the area know about all the shelters in the immediate area.

As far as snakes and snapping turtles and the like, you can't really avoid Mother Nature. I guess you would have to advise against it if you knew the area was infested. The kind of pool I envision is one that is manmade -- sort of like a kiddie pool -- that was treated so no diseases or parasites could be transmitted. I haven't researched this idea well enough, but I would think a manmade pool would be more hygienic than a pond that doesn't drain well. Just some thoughts...

Finding start up funding

Question from Jennie:

Hello! I have started a group, KnoxDOG, Knoxville Dog Owners Group, in Knoxville, TN, to get some dog parks started here. I have a petition signed by over 250 people, have gotten the approval of the City of Knoxville to put a dog park on public land, but now it is up to me to get the funding for it. Can you help me from here? Do I have to be 501(c)(3) before I can accept any donations? What are some fundraising ideas, and how do I get the word out there?

Response from Marcia:

You are not required to be a 501(c)(3) to raise funds but you should become one in order to solicit corporate sponsors and apply for grants. A non-profit status allows donors to deduct a portion of their donation on tax returns and gives your organization credibility.

Your next step is to advertise your new park. Call the newspapers/T.V. stations and tell them what you are doing. New dog parks make good fluff stories.

Solicit and organize your volunteers. Post flyers. Contact animal welfare organizations to find volunteers. Some businesses have volunteer programs. Call your local high schools. Many have community service requirements for students. Ask rescues/shelters if you can attend their adoption events to pass out literature about the new park. Partner with your local shelter/humane society to promote the benefits of dog parks.

A good source of the fundraising ideas is Elizabeth Tolsen's list. You can find that at The Shelter Project website: http://www.nvo.com/frr/theshelterproject. There are also two or three yahoo groups devoted to animal welfare fund raising and dog parks. Join those.

Response from Alison:

Wow! Congratulations! You have done the hard part!

Fundraising has come fairly easy to MARDog. In fact, one of the ideas we have been talking about as an organization is expanding nationally to become more of a development group to help other animal welfare groups across the country get started with their parks. However, we are not there yet.

We were lucky. We got support early on from a few key members. They were happy to make donations to a 501(c)(3), because they knew it would be a tax write-off and benefit them in their year-end reporting. That is the main reason why you incorporate as a 501(c)(3) because people can make tax deductible donations. Otherwise, donors don't like that.

As far as fundraising ideas, there are a myriad of ideas out there. You can buy books on fundraising. You can have a swimathon. You can have a Pet Expo. The sky is the limit! But, you first have to look at your manpower to see what you can do without biting the heads off of your own volunteer group! Do what you are capable of and stretch yourself when you can.

Being persistent when local governments turn you down for a dog park

Question from Jen:

What advice can you give when the local city government turns you down in terms of supporting a dog park? They won't give us land, won't work with us, and won't help publicize our efforts. Do you keep trying to go to different departments? Do you gather petitions? How persistent should you be? Is there a support system of other dog parks that are willing to help talk to local governments? I know that Alison said that it could take awhile, so we don't want to give up. We have tried to show them that we have quite a few residents who would support a park, but they don't seem to care.

Response from Marcia:

Government officials are elected public servants. They were elected to implement the wishes of the people who voted for them. The more people/voters you have pressuring them, the more they will be required to listen.

Do your research on dog parks. Be able to give them statistics and examples when asked a question. Approach them with the idea that this isn't a community service for dogs, but for people with dogs.

Get petitions signed. Make up business cards on your computer. On one side of the card ask people to sign up to receive emails on the parks progress/events, on the other side have city councils email address with a request to contact the council about the park. People will email when they won't call or write and will throw away flyers, but keep a business card.

Hand it out to all dog owners. Give a stack to your kids to give to friends with dogs. Ask pet supply stores to display them at the check out. Distribute them to animal welfare organizations to pass out at events and include in their adoption package.

Keep a list of all the email addresses in your computers address book. This will allow you to contact a large number of people fast/free when you need to announce an event or a meeting. Send them a monthly e-mail newsletter to keep them updated on your progress or needs. This is a slow process and you want to keep them involved with what you are doing.

Start a website. People looking for dog parks in areas always do a search. They need to be able to find you in order to help you.

Be patient; be persistent.

Response from Alison:

I definitely think you have to be persistent and work smart. Find out where the dog lovers are and live. Be sure you get names in those districts to sign your petition. Network with the local animal welfare groups, pet stores, local authors and writers, veterinarians, groomers. Sponsor a fundraiser and see how much support you get from the local business and community. We didn't have public government buy-in immediately; we had to work for it (i.e., petitions, resolutions, etc.). So if you prove your weight in numbers and dollars that is only going to help show the local government the need and interest. Research why they are opposed and prove otherwise -- in a nice way. Believe in your cause and don't give up.

For the record, MARDog, Inc. has spoken publicly about the need for a national dog park organization dedicated to dog park development. For several reasons, we think there is a genuine need out there simply because no animal welfare group is doing it. We have applied for grants from groups such as The Geraldine Dodge Foundation, a group that supports local shelters in the area, only to be turned down again and again. We keep trying...

Rightfully so, animal shelter efforts are needed (rescue, spay/neuter, more space, etc.). But, MARDog believes we should all be working together as advocates for a nationwide effort to promote more public dog park development, and standards. Otherwise, there will be no place to walk our dogs and parks will get built without consistency in rules, signage and building standards.

Moderator's note:

Laura Lanza, The Southern Regional Manager for ASPCA-National Shelter Outreach has graciously offered to share with anyone who is interested a PowerPoint presentation she has done about the benefits of dog parks and convincing businesses and corporations to support one. You can contact her at: laural@aspca.org.