This month and next we are gearing up for the biggest pet event of the year, Bark in the Park. While Bark in the Park benefits the Humane Society of Missouri, we will be allowed to sell promotional products for our own group. So, we are gathering estimates from local sources for our T-shirts, poster, and brochure.

Here is a preview of our Bark in the Park display. Our new poster is prominently displayed in the middle. A stuffed golden retriever pup, seen in the upper-right corner,is modeling our dog T-shirt.

West County D.O.G.S will have a table at Bark in the Park next to the Dogparks of Greater St. Louis table, for double the dog park fun. Our table will include an informational display about off-leash recreation and samples of our promotional T-shirts and our new poster.

The new poster features Stella, a German Shorthair Pointer owned by Bob Niemeier of St. Louis Disc Dogs. The poster is available now from Cafe Press.

Ballwin, Creve Coeur, Chesterfield, Ellisville, Manchester, Town and Country

All the communities in West County that we speak for have been quiet this month on the subject of off-leash recreation. We expect more dialogue after the elections on April 5. Until then, any help and ideas you have to offer will be appreciated.

Starting on Wednesday, April 13 through June 1, Niki Henzl, head trainer at Happy Tails Pet Hotel and Playland, will offer a class in Beginning Canine Freestyle, or dancing with dogs. This is a unique and fun class rarely offered in the St. Louis area. The cost of the eight week class is $100. No experience necessary. Just come and enjoy a different way to play, train, and bond with your dog while you dance to the music.

Bark in the Park is the biggest dog festival in the Midwest! Each May, more than 2000 residents of greater St. Louis and their dogs converge to compete in dog contests, run an agility course, do a little shopping and, of course, take a trek through the park. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Missouri.

All West County D.O.G.S. meetings are open to the public.

Peer-to-Peer Training this month will explore "Making Personal Contact with Potential Participants," focusing on recommended methods for unscheduled meetings, such as you might experience when hosting a booth at a pet event. This discussion will help volunteers prepare for Bark in the Park especially, but also any of us actively promoting off-leash recreation.

If you would like to prepare for the discussion, the Community Tool Box has a couple of helpful pages. Go to the Community Tool Box link, "Methods of Contacting Potential Participants," http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/en/section_1080.htm, for an overview of the different methods of making contact in general. For more specific recommendations for personal contact, go to the Community Tool Box link, "Making Contact with Potential Participants," http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/en/section_1082.htm.

• Municipal liasons--If you live in one of our West County communities, we could use your voice when we approach your town council or board of aldermen. A municipal liason maintains routine contact with town councils or boards of aldermen and keeps on top of decisions affecting parks and potential sites for off-leash recreation.
  
  
• Brochure distribution--We need individuals to help distribute and monitor the supply of brochures at selected locations in West County. We need one for each of the following municipalities: Ballwin, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, Ellisville, Manchester, Town and Country.

In addition to the ongoing volunteer opportunities, we will need help for Bark in the Park in May. You can help by volunteering for these jobs:

• Greeter. Greeters offer visitors to our table information about the benefits of off-leash recreation and the features of off-leash recreation areas, or dog parks. In addition, they represent us to the general public and encourage visitors to join our group. We have a number of experienced greeters on board already, but if you have never volunteered for something like this before and would like to try, Bark in the Park is a perfect opportunity. It will be well-attended and newbies don't have to worry about being without an experienced partner.
  
  The exhibits will be open from 8 A.M. until 1 P.M. Volunteer for at least an hour or more, if you can.
  
  
• Set up/break down greeter. We would like the first hour and the last hour greeters help set up or break down our exhibit. If you have a little more time to spend, we would appreciate anyone who can give us a hand carrying display boards and other paraphernalia needed for our exhibits. Set up begins at 7 A.M. Break down begins at 1 P.M.

At West County D.O.G.S. we contribute by promoting responsible dog ownership through off-leash play for dogs. The Humane Society and its active members have chosen a more difficult path.

Whatever path you choose, easy or difficult, simple or sublime, be active in that role. Whether you choose West County D.O.G.S., the Humane Society, or just responsible ownership; volunteer time, donate money or supplies, or simply flip a frisbee every day for your special dog. DO what you can.

Email: westcounty@stdogparks.org

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