POOCH met with the City of Pasadena to work towards resodding of the small and large areas, install hand sanitizers, and move the trash receptacles.

The company behind the Rapid Bath infomercial filmed at the park in February has graciously donated funds for a shade shelter; POOCH is purchasing a second shelter. Both will be installed (fingers crossed) by summer.

[July] Keep Moving

“No Parking” definitely means just that. Tickets are being issued for parking in the cul-de-sac.

[July] Sod Spraying

The city occasionally sprays the dog park with herbicides and pesticides. They coordinate the spraying with the mowing schedule, so that when the area is closed for mowing they can follow immediately with the necessary spraying. The city closes the area until all sprays have dried.

“Fortunately,” says Mike Monroe, the Parks Supervisor, “the need to spray should be rare, about once every three months for basic weed control and only as needed for fungus and insect control. In the unlikely event we need to deviate from the schedule (such as for an extreme fungus outbreak that could kill the turf in a day or two), we’ll provide as much advance notice as possible to the public of a pending or immediate closure.”

It’s a good idea: The weather will be mild and Toyota is holding a Dog Vehicle Safety Event on Sunday, February 22nd from approximately 10am – 5pm.

I was there on Saturday and I’ll admit to being bedazzled by the Venzas — I took a test drive (you can, too) — and how well they’re designed to be dog friendly.

Here are the details: Toyota is focusing on proper safety techniques for transporting dogs in vehicles. They’ll have 3 new Toyota Venzas in the parking area to showcase different harnesses and accessories that you can use to properly secure your dogs. You’ll see them near the entrance to the small dog area (they’re hard to miss).

There will be freebies: Toyota will distribute free collapsible dog bowls and will host pet passenger safety seminars. Toyota will also have a certified pet trainer to provide tips to park patrons every hour. And they’I'll bring along plenty of coffee, orange juice, and donuts.

Toyota will also give each dog owner a free photo and custom videos of their dog. BTW, the videos are fun: A blog of cream cheese is schmeared on a glass panel. While your dog’s licking at it, a video camera on the other side of the glass focuses on your dog. The images and videos will be available for a free Internet download after the event; the site will explain how to use the images as a screen saver.

Many POOCH folks and their pooches plan to attend, and we hope to see you there!

It’s up and beautiful. A tremndous round of applause, and hearty thanks, to Mary Clark-Camargo. Mary spent almost a year designing and creating the sign, using mosaics.

Mary can be commissioned to do a mosaic of your dog. Check her site for details.

Water Stations

The Parks Department installed two water stations. They’re large spots with pea gravel and surrounded with a border.

The large dog area has two, both along the east side, a few feet from
the fence. The small dog area has one, also on the east side, along
the concrete path.

Poop Bag Dispensers

There’s a new poop bag dispenser along the southwest area of the large park; the small dog area has a new one along the south end.

Bulletin Board

The city has ordered a weather proof bulletin board and I’m
guessing it will be delivered and installed in late September.

Dogs and Diseases

We’ve heard legitimate reports of dogs becoming sick after visiting the park (as well as many far-fetched rumors, such as one person – who should know better – claiming a dog was killed in an attack at the park). It’s very disturbing to us – and to anyone using the park.

In an ideal world, the park should be a safe haven. That’s not the reality. Common sense — and park rules — require that dogs have up-to-date vaccinations; however, even that might not stop your dog from picking up a disease. This issue, really, comes down to risk assessment and personal responsibility; unfortunately, no one – the City, POOCH, or PHS – has a 100% risk-free answer.

Responsible Owners

Most of us are, and most of the park’s regulars are, too. But…

We’ve seen children and adults walking barefoot. We watch owners chuckling while watching their dogs “dig” into the water dish; we’ve heard of dopey owners detaching the water dish hose and spraying off their dogs.

Last summer, one person, Pasadena city councilman Paul Little, no less, brought his two big white dogs and immediately plunked down on a bench in the far northwest corner of the park. He was busy reading a newspaper and had to be told that two pounds of poop was available for pickup at the other side of the park.

Since then, Paul has been seen to be on track, picking up poop like the rest of us.

We’re dumbfounded by a woman who walks in with three dogs, instantly turns her back on them and then starts yacking on her cell phone. (We alerted her to her dog’s poop, but really hoped she’d have stepped in it.)

The message? It’s pretty clear. Be smart. Think responsibility. Use common sense.

POOCH Police

We’re not. And we’re as frustrated as you are with some of the unpleasant parts of the dog park: aggressive dogs, smelly trash receptacles, standing water, soggy sod, ill dogs, and inconsiderate owners. But please remember that we’re four volunteers fielding dozens of e-mails (some quite angry), with no powers and, as witnessed with park improvement issues, little influence.