Hey all,
We will be doing a park clean up this Saturday, 7/18 from 10 to Noon. We have specific items that need to be addressed in addition to the usual poop/trash/rock pickup, namely try to remove the dirt/mud around the bottom bench, clean up the trash that has accumulated in the water jug bins near the bottom gate (they are not recycle bins!), and try to fill in the ruts between the new lot and the main area to assist wheelchair-bound park users. Please come out and help if you can- even 15 minutes of help is appreciated. If you can't make it out at that time, consider picking up a couple of extra piles next time you are out to contribute. Being tidy is also always appreciated- don't leave trash laying around (cigarette butts count!- they are quite toxic and could make a goofy dog that decides to eat them very sick), and throw away chewed up jugs and other random trash you see around. Thanks all, see you Saturday!
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Our small dog fundraiser at the Brookside Barkery and Bath was a big success, raising over $300 toward the effort. Big thanks to the Barkery (and Jason specifically), and especially volunteers Ali and Gina, who single-handedly made it work! The new small dog area should be done by this weekend, judging from the progress already made as of Wednesday (may be done now, haven't been out since). If you are excited about it, and want to help us recover the $3000 we (DIG) are contributing to pay for the work, please consider throwing us a few bucks through the small dog area fundraising page or through our pay pal 'Donate' link on diginthepark.com.

Note that the small dog area is limited to dogs 40 lbs and under, although elderly and handicapped pups can also use it if they can get along with the small fry and truly don't do well in the larger dog area. All dog park rules apply to the small dog area, too- last thing we need is a small aggressive dog driving other small dogs into the large dog area or making people not want to use it. Of course, the lightweights will always be welcome in the main dog park, but do so at their own risk (very small dogs- under 10 lbs- should likely not be in the main area at any time for safety reasons).
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Our dog park task force will be presenting our report (finally!) to

the Park Board next Tuesday. I will send out a copy afterwards- I am biased, but think it is excellent and provides tons of information, recommendations, and tools to help KCMO Parks get rolling on new dogparks. One of the less controversial aspects of the report is a set of revised rules for city dogparks. Although they don't represent a big change, we think they are a bit better than what we have now. Below I have attached a copy, along with a 'recommendations' list we would like to eventually have prominently displayed inside the park along with the new rules. Please take a minute to look them over, and try to both follow them yourselves and encourage others to do so, too.

Rules-
1. Users enter the off-leash area at their own risk.
2. Owners must clean up after their dogs and dispose of all trash.
3. Dogs may never be left unattended and must be under voice control at all times.
4. Owners are responsible legally and financially for the actions of their dogs. Aggressive dogs
should not be brought into the area.
5. Dogs must be healthy and free of parasites, properly licensed, vaccinated, and not in heat.
6. Dogs must be leashed when outside of the fenced area.
7. Safety of children in the off-leash area is the sole and complete responsibility of their parents
or guardians.
8. No human food is permitted in the off-leash area; dog treats are allowed.
9. Prong, choke, and spike collars must be removed for safety reasons.
10. Users are subject to all applicable city ordinances.
Recommendations-
Welcome to the park! Common sense, courtesy, and cooperation are key elements for the successful
enjoyment of this off-leash area. The following recommendations represent dog park best practices:
Dogs
1. Dogs exhibiting any of the following behaviors excessively should be removed from the area:
Barking
Bullying
Mounting
Possessiveness
2. If a dog’s behavior is making a majority of park users uncomfortable, the dog should be removed.
3. Firmly redirect undesirable dog behaviors, including by removal from the park.
4. Spaying/neutering makes for responsible pet ownership and less aggression.
Owners
1. Owners should always be aware of where their dog is and what they are doing.
2. Nervous/emotional owners make for unstable, overreacting dogs.
3. Leashes should be removed in the park; dogs which are 'unknowns' around other dogs should be socialized elsewhere first.
4. Most owners cannot safely control/watch more than three dogs at one time.
Puppies and Children
1. Puppies should not be at the park until old enough to have had all vaccinations, specifically for parvo.
2. Small/young puppies should be closely watched.
3. Children should not be permitted to run and/or yell in the park
4. Children should be told to never assume a dog is friendly and to ask owner permission before
approaching any dog.