FALL IS HERE! We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued and unwavering support. Your contributions are essential to our mission, and without you, we would be unable to provide our community with these incredible parks. We invite you to explore the latest updates detailed below.
IKE PARK CLOSED Monday October 9 to Friday October 13
Work involves replacing portions of the lower level fence lines, as well as some annual maintenance work throughout the park.
All gates will be locked and signage posted.
DANGER! BE ADVISED!!
Demolition of fence lines will create open areas of the park throughout the week.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
As is customary for this time of year when the rains are back, our parks contend with inclement weather, resulting in the formation of numerous puddles that contribute to erosion around our gates and walking paths. While we understand that many of our four-legged companions relish the opportunity to frolic, splash, and engage in spirited chases in these watery areas, the same cannot be said for their human caregivers. Our dedicated park managers and volunteers work diligently to address these issues, with particular emphasis on the entrance gates. So please take care and be safe.
cartoon courtesy of raesidecartoon.com
DID YOU KNOW?
Our four dog parks pay tribute to the memory of fallen K-9 heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. The first among them is Ike, who tragically lost his life from stab wounds sustained during the pursuit of a suspect in September 2016. To honor his bravery and dedication, the Ike Dog Park in Hazel Dell was named after him.
Moving east of Vancouver, you'll find the Dakota Dog Park, situated near Northeast 162nd Avenue and 18th Street. This park is dedicated to a courageous member of the Vancouver Police Department's K-9 unit, Dakota, who was tragically shot and killed in 2007.
In Hockinson, the small yet significant Kane Dog Park bears the name of a sheriff's K-9 who was fatally stabbed while on duty in 2011.
Additionally, there's a park in Brush Prairie named after Lucky, a remarkable K-9 companion who gave his life in service back in 1990. These parks serve as a lasting tribute to these valiant K-9 heroes and their unwavering commitment to our community's safety.
Photo courtesy of The Columbian
PARK IMPROVEMENT DAYS To be held the 3rd Saturday of the month – start time as noted.
Oct 21 Kane at 10am
We are asking you to join us to step up and volunteer...because... DOGPAW Needs Your Help.
Sign In at the Volunteer Table - (Look for the green DOGPAW flags) What's needed and What you may be doing: Please bring gloves, pruning tools, shovel/rake, weed whacker, etc., as we may be doing pruning tree limbs, bushes & blackberry vines, pulling foxtails, poop pickup, and spreading landscape materials to fill holes or smooth walking paths.
Dress for the weather & bring something to keep hydrated. Please let us know you are coming to help, or have questions to volunteer@dogpawoffleashparks.org
Yes, you can bring your pet(s), but they still need care taking, even though we're busy tidying up the park.
PARK OPERATIONS UPDATE There are always activities in progress and tasks to complete at each of our parks.
DAKOTA (Pacific) - 1515 NE 164th Ave, Vancouver, WA Our Park Cleanup day achieved great success, thanks to the dedication of numerous volunteers who selflessly gave up a Saturday morning, even in the scorching heat. The potential relocation of the small dog park from the west side to the east side is on hold with County.
A special note of gratitude goes out to our volunteers who diligently removed foxtails from this park.
IKE(Ross) - 5117 NE 15th Ave, Vancouver As mentioned in the earlier part of this newsletter, Ike Dog Park will undergo temporary closure from October 9th to 13th for fence replacement. This essential work includes the replacement of sections of the lower-level fence lines and routine maintenance tasks throughout the park. During this period, all park gates will be locked, and appropriate signage will be posted.
We are actively continuing our fundraising efforts to cover the costs of the remaining fencing. If you'd like to contribute specifically to this project, donations can be made by clicking HERE.
Additionally, a big thank you goes out to our dedicated park visitors, volunteers, and our park manager for their diligent efforts in combating the troublesome Foxtails. Many of these weeds were painstakingly hand-pulled and properly disposed of.
Our Dog Park Cleanup Days at Ike saw the participation of numerous volunteers who contributed to tree removal and the spreading of landscaping materials. Your commitment to the park is greatly appreciated.
Ed, our dedicated Ike Park manager, marked a significant milestone this summer as he celebrated his 80th birthday. Among the well-wishers were Auggie, his loyal golden retriever, along with devoted volunteers and park-goers who came together to extend their heartfelt birthday greetings. Over the years, Ed has poured his time, energy, finances, and love into Ike Park, leaving an indelible mark on this cherished community space.
We'd also like to take this opportunity to introduce Pete, our new Ike Park Operations Coordinator. Pete will be overseeing a variety of essential onsite maintenance and repair tasks to keep our park in great shape. Welcome aboard, Pete!
KANE (Hockinson) - 10910 NE 172nd Ave, Hockinson, WA Nestled within Hockinson Community Park, Kane Park may be our smallest park, but it boasts the most extensive shade tree coverage among all our parks. Despite its size, it remains a popular destination for visitors and their canine companions.
Additionally, we'd like to introduce Gary, our new Kane Park Manager, and Gwendolyn, who diligently refills bags and assists with various park upkeep tasks. Their dedicated efforts contribute to maintaining Kane as a safe and enjoyable destination for all.
Thanks to the collaborative effort with Clark County, we've successfully pruned trees and mobilized dedicated volunteers to clear away blackberry vines, weeds, and debris. These endeavors have significantly improved the condition of our walking paths.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all those who bring water jugs to the park for everyone to use. We remain optimistic about the possibility of a water line extension from the nearby baseball fields in the not-too-distant future. Your continued support is greatly appreciated.
LUCKY (Minkler) - 10100 NE 149th St, Brush Prairie, WA Our recent park cleanup day was a tremendous success, all thanks to our dedicated volunteers who rolled up their sleeves and took on tasks like clearing blackberry vines, filling holes, and ensuring diligent poop pickup. Additionally, we're actively devising plans to enhance our walking paths, which have endured wear and tear, leading to issues like unevenness, narrowing, and erosion. Tackling safety concerns, such as the exposed weed control cloth, is among our top priorities. We're diligently working to improve path drainage and ensure accessibility for our lively park community.
We're thrilled to introduce two new faces to our team, Scott and Sherri, who have taken on the roles of Lucky Park Managers. In addition, we welcome Bill, our new Park Operations Coordinator, who is joining us to help address these challenges and elevate the overall quality of our park.
A special shoutout goes to our POOP ANGELS, Pat and Sandy, who consistently go above and beyond. They do an incredible job of regularly walking the park, ensuring the prompt pickup and disposal of waste, maintaining a clean and pleasant environment for all park-goers.
Furthermore, it's important to note that the county has plans to demolish the house on the NE corner of our park. We'll keep you informed with more information as it becomes available. Your continued support is greatly appreciated!
SHOUTOUTS We hold deep appreciation for our beloved DogPaw community and extend our heartfelt thanks to the following individuals and organizations, listed in no particular order:
Jan Fogg of Homes by Jan, for her generous donation of a significant portion of her real estate sales commissions.
Mountain View Fencing for their work and support on the Ike fencing project.
Bark Ranch in Battle Ground for generously donating gravel and bark dust.
Nancy Miller of PCSI Progressive Concrete Solutions, for her invaluable contribution of manpower and equipment in preparing a gravel pad for our new Lucky shed.
Janet Kenefsky of Greater Vancouver Chamber, who dedicated her Sunday morning to educate our board of directors about the wealth of available resources.
The Rotary Club of Three Creeks, for sending volunteers to support our Lucky Park Clean Up Day.
Participants and Latte Da Coffeehouse, whose Bingo nights allowed us to raise over $2,000 for our community.
Donors who participated in Give Big 2023, collectively raising over $2,300 for our cause.
The Humane Society of SW Washington, for their enduring support and collaboration on booths at events like Walk Run in May and Bark for Life in September.
Anonymous donors who kindly gifted a riding lawn mower and yard equipment to Ike, as well as a glider bench for Lucky.
Julie Mills at Paws Down Pets Dog Training, who graciously donated her time to support our Dog Trainer in Dakota park this summer.
Eagle Scout Niles Cowen and Boy Scout Troop 479, whose outstanding efforts resulted in the construction and installation of a new park bench at Ike.
In loving memory of Patricia L Howell, Brinkley & Emmy, a bench was donated and installed in the small dog park next to a shade tree. Patricia and her beloved pups were regular park-goers for years, and her family wished to honor her memory. We are deeply grateful for this meaningful gift that brings daily joy to our community.
Finally, though certainly not least, we want to express our gratitude to our beloved dogs, the heart and soul of our thriving DogPaw community. We also extend our appreciation to our dedicated board of directors, diligent park managers, tireless volunteers, loyal members, generous business sponsors, and all the enthusiastic park-goers who make our community strong and vibrant.
PAWS ON PATROL The Clark County Sheriff's Office is proud to introduce its latest initiative, "Paws On Patrol." This innovative program is designed to promote crime awareness among walkers and their pets, empowering them to act as additional eyes, ears, and paws while going about their daily walks. Think of it as a neighborhood watch program that's both effortless and completely free to join. Click HERE.
PIZZA FUNDRAISER
Eat Well, Do Good! Make a positive impact by joining us at Rally Pizza at Victor-23 Brewing (Victor-23 Brewing 2905 St Johns Blvd) on Monday, October 16th between 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Indulge in mouthwatering delights while supporting DOGPAW as 20% of your orders will be contributed. RSVP now and help us make a difference! Find all the event details here: https://grouprai.se/s262885
HALLOWEEN PET COSTUME CONTEST
Get ready for our Halloween Dog Costume Contest! Here are the rules:
1. Follow us on Instagram click HERE and Facebook click HERE. 2. Post your dog in costume on our Facebook page. 3. And/Or Tag us in your Instagram post. 4. Your name will then be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate from the Greater Vancouver Chamber, which you can use at any of the 70+ local merchants.
Get your costumes ready and join the fun!
REMINDERS
Please refrain from leaving your valuables unattended in your vehicle. It only takes a matter of seconds for someone to break a window and abscond with your belongings. Your cooperation in helping us maintain the cleanliness and security of our parks is greatly appreciated.
BOARD UPDATE
DOGPAW is thrilled to introduce Micaela Nelson as our new Membership Director and Ron Johnson as the new Volunteer Director. The Board of Directors extends a warm welcome and expresses their excitement for your decision to join the board and commit your valuable time to our cause.
It's important to note that our Board operates entirely on a voluntary and unpaid basis, motivated solely by our collective dedication to the well-being of the dogs in Clark County.
DOGPAW OFF-LEASH DOG PARK LOCATIONS: Dakota: 1515 NE 164th Ave. Vancouver, WA Ike (Ross): 5117 NE 15th Ave. Vancouver, WA Kane: 10910 NE 172nd Ave. Brush Prairie, WA Lucky: 10100 NE 149th St. Brush Prairie, WA
Make a positive impact by joining us at Rally Pizza at Victor-23 Brewing (Victor-23 Brewing 2905 St Johns Blvd) on Monday, October 16th between 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Indulge in mouthwatering delights while supporting DOGPAW as 20% of your orders will be contributed. RSVP now and help us make a difference! Find all the event details here: 
