Everything you need to know below
SEE: What does ADOG do
All funds coming into ADOG are used only for the benefit of the Dog Park, dogs, and owners. ADOG’s Board of Directors do not receive any compensation, they are strictly volunteers. If there is something like the boot, shoe brush, or dog stretcher, that both were not mandatory for the Town’s Park Department to pay, then ADOG would pay. Due to a lawsuit with the neighbors due to the barking of the little dogs, ADOG paid for sound barrier fencing. Anything that ADOG can afford, or can fundraise for, if it is in the interest of the dogs and owners, the Membership due are used for those purposes.
The shade structures, the benches, the snake fencing, emergency signage, plumbing repair on the splash pad in the large Dog Park. This is an addition to the earlier benches we put in for seniors and handicap.
Other than a $5 discount for ADOG members when we do the Rattlesnake Aversion Training, there are currently no other discounts that ADOG members enjoy. I will be reaching out to all the new Website merchants and service providers to see if any of them are willing to extend a discount.
As the liaison to the Town of Fountain Hills’ Park Department, ADOG is always in communication with the Town for repair needs and maintenance. When work interrupts the hours that the dog park is open, or to alert owners of particular repairs are warranted, members are notified by email of the interruption of access to the dog park. If there are events, such as dog training, rattlesnake aversion training, or other notable events, the members are all make aware of the opportunities to participate. With our strong Dog Park community, members are made aware of the opportunities that are available to get together, if life changes happen either with dogs or members, everyone is made aware. On the rare occasion that there is an altercation at the dog park, details that warn members or requests for information is sent out through the ADOG email to all members.
There are still a few individuals involved with the Dog Park from before the Dog Park was formed. These people and a number of others soon to be ADOG members created a white paper outlining the pros and cons of a Dog Park and the desert Vista. Dog Park became the first planned municipal Dog Park in Arizona. It celebrates its 25th year in December of this year. During the early times, ADOG members were involved in fundraising efforts for the permanent ramadas, the dog fountains, and much more. Lately ADOG has been involved in the replacement of three shades structures, eight benches that were replacements and two new benches for senior and handicap individuals. We also put in a splash pad in the large Dog Park where dogs could cool off and don’t dog owners could wash their dogs off following a busy day?
When we have volunteer support, where we give out Awards of Appreciation and highlight special guest speakers at our well-known Spaghetti Dinner. We have done Halloween events, every February we host the Rattlesnake Aversion Training, and participate jointly with other organizations to do Microchipping. I do believe, however, that most of the socializing and networking happens in the early morning at both parks and in the evening at the big dog park. There are always people in the Dog Park willing to share stories and experiences.
As the liaison to the Town for the Dog Park, I have close relationships with the mayor, town manager, community services director, and superintendent of parks, so I can easily share the members' concerns and needs. Within the Dog Park, we share many resources and services given our experiences. however, at the behest of Bill Hindman, and through the funding of a generous donor, we are currently building a website that will provide the needed services and resources in one place. We know this will be of great benefit to our community!
There are always on-going projects that need work and volunteers, for instance, the snake fencing needs securing. For many projects or activities, many of our members are quite proactive, initiating and following through with smaller projects. There is always tidying that needs to be done, especially under the ramadas. Projects we are hoping to achieve with the Town are more trees planted to fill in for those that have died as well as trees for additional shade. We have also discussed a sign monument for the Tower Road side of the Dog Park.
Your dues go toward needed items, for the pleasure of the dogs and owners such as swimming pools, brooms, shoe brushes, supply containers, cushions and buckets. However, ADOG has contributed matching funds for projects such as in the case of the 8 benches recently purchased, the bark barrier, the snake fencing itself and supplies.