Brooklyn - -
New York City's Largest Off-Leash Community

"Every day is a holiday for our dogs!" Tony Chiappelloni

FIDO In Prospect Park's commitment is to ensure that Prospect Park is a safe and healthy place for dogs; that responsible supervision of dogs and charitable activities focusing on Prospect Park, will enhance public respect regarding the benefits and responsibilities of dog ownership. Please make a serious effort to monitor your dog's interactions whether it be on the sidewalk or in the park itself. Join FIDO receive e-mail advisories: lost & found dogs, health notices and more...

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PROSPECT PARK OFF-LEASH AREAS: 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. -- 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Long Meadow; Nethermead & Peninsula... See map off-leash rules explained ALL other Times & Areas, you MUST leash up! Responsible Ownership Means Always Respect The Law

In Memory Of Our Beloved Prospect Park Geese read FIDO In Prospect Park's open letter to Tupper Thomas Rally At City Hall Please join NYC Animal Rights as we support In Defense of Animals in their compassionate plea for mercy on behalf all the 170,000 geese destined to die due to misinformation. August 12th - Noon In Defense of Our Geese Petition to the USDA (submitted by In Defense of Animals) Tell USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, To Stop Exterminating Canada Geese President Humane Society, NY chapter, Patrick Kwan   Vigil for the gassed geese was held Saturday, July 17 at the gazebo on Prospect Park lake (near the entrance at Vanderbilt Street) at 6:30 pm. More police than politicians showed up but those who did, assured the crowd that this mistake would never happen again. District 39 Councilmember, Brad Landers         State Senator, Eric Adams   Need to know more? Prospect Park Geese Roundup What we know... What our officials knew... Public reaction... Official's reaction What our officials will do so this never happens again! ------------------------ Upcoming... Next Coffee Bark - Saturday, August 7th 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. Long Meadow beside the Picnic House What's Coffee Bark? Our "Dog Chat" button now brings you to FIDO Facebook & Twitter *Pupnic 2010 - pictures Garbage 2010 Frederick Law Olmstead complained that when he designed Central Park, all the politicians messed with his plans - straightened out all his paths and walkways. When he got the contract for Prospect Park, he vowed to do it right! He most certainly did. The public knows he got it right - that's why they come. The Prospect Park Alliance has wrung out every last drop from their budget; has gone a long way toward buying proper sized trash containers; has turned out dozens of volunteers for clean up and appeals to the public - they can't continue to keep going it alone. A third term administration shouldn't be satisfied with a third rate response when it comes to maintaining the most beautiful park in the whole city. FIDO In Prospect Park just contributed $2000 toward two more containers, purely out of our monthly Coffee Bark donations. City officials, send more money to our parks! Below excerpted from Next American City - Online Magazine Quoting Geoffrey Croft, president of the watchdog group NYC Park Advocates. “One for the rich, the other for the poor.” By Patrick Arden "Though Parks Department funding has gone up since then (referring to Robert Moses and the 1930's) , it’s lagged dramatically behind increases to other agencies, and the department has never recovered from the drastic cuts in its workforce beginning in the fiscal crisis of the 1970s. In 1960 parks maintenance and operations claimed 1.4 percent of city funds. Mayor Bloomberg’s new $63.6 billion budget would send parks’ percentage to a record low of 0.37 percent, or $239 million. (Chicago spent almost $150 million more last year on 21,000 fewer acres.) The mayor’s cut would drop the full-time workforce below 3,000, less than half the number employed by the Parks Department in 1970. “No other city agency has lost a greater percentage of its workforce over the last 40 years,” says Croft. “Private money will never make that up.”" What does work! Buy and they will be used. One container is obviously not enough but picnickers get the idea. Look for at least twelve new, two yard trash containers arriving near your off-leash area. Now you can help encourage people to clean up - bag it over to the nearest container! or Join The FIDO Green Team We do it the old fashion way! Mondays around 9 a.m. The Peninsula - E-mail Tony: fidobrooklyn@gmail.com Long Meadow - E-mail Brian Henry: bjh1012@aol.com See FIDO Member Garry Osgood's commentary with Amy Pearl WNCY-News Summer 2010 - Our last summer's agenda now a reality! The Bottom Line as we saw it back in July 2009 "Here's the question: should we be content to just clean up every week or attack the problem! FIDO would like to see dozens of large trash containers, placed where the public can access them - no more individual garbage cans that constantly overflow. Enough is enough... (twelve are coming) FIDO would like to see a specific "green squad" of volunteers to encourage people to bag out what they can by handing out free trash bags and pointing out the nearest dumpster - non-threatening way to communicate. (see Alliance appeal below) FIDO would like to see a spring-time ticket blitz for the illegal barbecuing that is destroying tree roots and pitting open meadows.       Expansion of legal barbecuing areas with "striking" signs would go a long way toward steering people to the proper areas." (Some warnings are being handed out but they're being far too polite - signs in place - expanded barbecuing area) So all this is now happening..... but If We Talk The Talk, Can We Walk the Walk? Help The Prospect Park Alliance get the word out to the public! From Prospect Park Alliance... We are embarking on another venture to help keep Prospect Park clean. This particular campaign focuses on Parks "Anti-Litter Initiative" by encouraging sports leagues, picnickers and patrons to use garbage bags and bins.Starting this weekend, we are searching for volunteers to work alongside a staff person distributing literature, garbage bags, etc. to park users in BBQ and picnic areas. The shifts are 8:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. and 12:00p.m. to 4:00p.m.Join us by calling 718-965-8960 or via email at volunteers@prospectpark.org . We thank you in advance for your usual cooperation in our endeavors to keep Prospect Park clean and beautiful."James E. Green Office Manager ------------------------ Fish Line Recycling Bins They work! Chris Hubbard shows off first collection 6/2/10 First proposed to FIDO In Prospect Park by dog owner & member, Chris Hubbard, we followed through by donating four fish line recycling bins to the Prospect Park Alliance with our promise to periodically empty and ship any fishing line off to a designated recycling center. They are located along the Lullwater and near the Well House by the lake. Though our first week's collection amounted to a small bag of discarded line we feel good knowing that with its removal from the park, a few more waterfowl will be spared entanglement and needless death. If nothing else, the warning on these bins will heighten awareness of the danger fishing line poses to the birds who frequent our lake and waterways.   Update: Proposed Dog Run - 18th Street btw 7th & 6th Ave's Proposal has passed the local Community Board/Approved by Parks. see details ----------------- FIDO Remembrance For Our departed Dogs.... As in every May since 2003, we gathered in front of the FIDO Memorial Tree beside the Pools, not far from where we once strolled with companions so loyal, they cared not what the weather was; just so long as we were at their side.... Illegal Dog Fighting From the Brooklyn D. A.'s Office As the warm weather approaches there is often an increase in dog fighting and dogfight training in more remote areas of the Park. Obviously if there is something people see happening in front of them - e.g. a fight taking place – they should call 911 or find an Officer in the Park who can respond ASAP. (You can also try Park Enforcement Police (the green police vehicles) between 8 am & 6 pm at 718-437-1350 or 718-437-1351) People are welcome to contact the Kings County DA ’s Office. Our Action Center number is 718-250-2340 and staff is there during the normal business hours. If they see what they believe to be dog fighting at those times, all they need to do is note the location and the usual time. We can arrange for surveillance at a specific location (obviously not all over the park) as long as we have good details about when and where. Then we’ll catch the fighters ourselves Please let your members know that we are here and that we appreciate any information that would allow us to investigate and make a case. Carol Moran Deputy District Attorney Animal Crimes Enforcement Kings County District Attorney’s Office moranc@brooklynda.org 02/16/10 Suspicious Raccoon Encounters... A raccoon tested positive for rabies in Brooklyn - Boerum Hill near State & Nevins Streets Beware of any encounter where the raccoon is either openly aggressive or unusually friendly, especially during daylight hours. Report such encounters to 311 immediately. If you or your dog is bitten, call 911! 311 useless? In Prospect Park, if you suspect a rabid animal, call the Park Supervisor's office at: 718-287-9889. If it's during work hours they have expressed a willingness to investigate. Between the hours of 9 am and 6 pm, you can also call Park Enforcement Police (the green police vehicles) at 718-437-1350 or 718-437-1351. THE GREAT FIDO - PROSPECT PARK ALLIANCE Two For One Membership Offer $35 includes membership in both organizations for one year; free beverage coupons from Moveable Feast Cafe See our membership page for all the details All money will go to FIDO and will be earmarked toward the purchase of ten “two yard” industrial sized trash containers. OFFER GOOD THROUGH MAY-JUNE- JULY

First Things First... FIDO Video Dog Beach Video: NYC Parks Dept It's Your Park 2011 FIDO Calendar Will be in production at the next three Coffee Barks. We'll have the details up for you shortly. 2010 FIDO Calendar Will be for sale, Coffee Barks Now $8 each! If you can't come to the Coffee Barks, make arrangements with Lynn: lpradov@mindspring.com Newsletters going back to 2003 In The News ... New York Post - Sunday May 10th, 2009 Read about Orrin Tilevitz and his anti-off leash jihad in Prospect Park (and other parks) See Credo Blog Spot, the Orrin antidote

Barkings... Download FIDO Newsletters going back to Spring 2003 Lost & Found Items 7/2/10 On Monday evening, between 9 and 9:30 p.m., my dog's choke collar (the kind with prongs) fell off her neck while she was off-leash. ShelZip@aol.com Does Your Dog Have a City Dog Tag/Rabies Tag? New York City Health Department Dog Licence on-line registry - painless! An alternative is to download their PDF application and mail it in. Takes a few weeks! See your veterinarian for rabies tags. Know that a lost dog can be traced back to the veterinarian who issued the rabies tag. Usually under $10/ year! Health... Hot Weather Tips Leptospirosis! critical that you vaccinate your dog! See FIDO Newsletter Summer 2009 - Lepto interview (pdf) Lyme Disease summery Note: FIDO has a great "Health" section with all kinds of tips & links for canine park users Growls... Stand By Your Dog! While someone else does the shopping... Never leave your dog on a parking meter! Even though you may be able to see your dog through the shop window, a moment's distraction is all it takes! Stolen dogs have been held for ransom or reward right here in Park Slope. Size doesn't matter - there are people out there who will roll your dog through the doorway of a minivan without a moment's hesitation. Worse still, you dog may end up in a research laboratory or sold to an out of state pet store. Patronize dog friendly stores; have a friend watch your dog or better still, leave your dog home when you're shopping. Local Dog Runs Can't get up in the morning? Official Dog Runs (extended hours) Park Slope: Washington Park - 3rd Street btw 4th & 5th Aves Brooklyn Heights: Hillside Park - near Old Fulton Ferry See complete Borough list: NYC Off-Leash Areas & Dog Runs Local Groups Wanting to Establish a Dog Run (FIDO will promote your efforts any way we can) Greenwoood Hts-South Slope Dog Owners 18th Street, just below 7th ave toward 6th Ave (by Prospect Expressway). www.southslopedog.org/ contact Pamela Brown 5/20/10 Victory! .... Proposal has passed the Community Board by an overwhelming vote! Tireless efforts by this committed group pays off at last! It takes people who show up time and time again - stand by their group. Details are being worked out with the City Parks Department as to how this will all happen. For a full report, contact Pamela Brown . Cadman Plaza forming off-leash group Our Group is Cadman Plaza Dogs (cadmanplazadogs@gmail.com). We are starting to reach out to the community and could use all the help we can get. Want to establish a dog run? NYCdog had the information you need to get started: http://nycdog.org/NYCdogFreeserver/park.html Join FIDO   Please Remember... What made FIDO in Prospect Park viable twelve years ago was that a committed bunch of dog owners gathered together with Park administration to work out the basic off-leash rules that were essentially the rules we know today. The trick was to live by them.  By becoming a MEMBER of FIDO, dog owners felt empowered to apply peer pressure to those who still "didn't get it"!  Having control of your dog at all times is basic; it's still our number one priority today. FIDO In Prospect Park provided the city-wide role model that inspired some twenty thousand plus New York City dog owners to make their voices known through petitions and letters when the City beat back the lawsuit by the Juniper Hill Civic association to end all off-leash privileges. Instead off-leash privileges became off-leash law! Let's double our membership. Membership means you have a say in all manner of things "off-leash". Membership is a commitment to your fellow dog-owners as well as other park users. Membership is for one year. The  amount? Simply whatever you can afford from a few dollars on up. You can even join on-line. What's in it for me? You will be a part of a LARGE group committed to the responsible off-leash rules that make this park such a haven for dogs and their owners. Group Notifications Via E-mail You will be on an e-mail list of over 600 people who receive advisories concerning lost & found dogs (it might be yours); health tips; safety alerts and more.  Join FIDO - make yourself count. Dog-Daze of Summer