Serving Brooklyn's Off-Leash Community

Dog Related Events... Next Coffee Bark - Saturday, February 13th was postponed because of weather 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. Other upcoming events (bottom of page)   FIDO Coffee Bark First Saturday Of Every Month... In the Long Meadow beside the Picnic House Hours: 7 - 9 a.m. Enter Prospect Park at 9th Street Walk straight in until you come to the ball fields (on right) Make a left along the meadow. Or enter at the Villa (PPW & 4th St) Go through parking lot and out the back across Inner Drive Picnic House is right there. You'll see the Fido banner and crowd clustered by a brick building. Picnic House bath rooms open at 8 a.m.! What’s Coffee Bark? Rain, sleet, snow or shine, FIDO in Prospect Park sets up a table full of goodies on the first Saturday of every month.  Look for coffee, pastries, dog biscuits as well as relevant information pertaining to off-leash activities and issues. And it's all FREE! As a regular monthly event, Coffee Bark stands as a shining example of all that is great about off-leash recreation in City parks. Over the course of our 2 hour event, many of the hundreds of dogs and their people who take advantage of the Long Meadow, stop by for coffee and chat about the concerns of the day. This is our way of making contact with each and every dog and owner and to let them know what FIDO is all about. With dozens of dogs and people scattered from Grand Army Plaza to the 9th Street Ball fields, the Long Meadow is an amazing sight. People even show up at 7 a.m. from as far away as Western Massachusetts! And at 9am, everyone leashes up and goes home! You got to see it to believe it! Note: Though this event is extremely popular with canine & owner alike, it may not be for everyone. Use common sense!                               We can always use volunteers, especially to help wrap up the morning. A big thanks to our Coffee Bark set-up regulars: Anthony Chiappelloni, Stuart Seit, Michelle Sevik, Dave Singer, Aunt Betty & family, Lynn Radov, Garry Osgood and Chris Hubbard.   We welcome Coffee Bark Sponsors... Sponsoring Coffee Bark not only allows us to maintain this twelve year old monthly tradition, it allows you to personally interact with several hundred dog owners and their families. E-mail bob@exitfive.com for more details "You're sure Coffee Bark is today, Sulu?" Upcoming Events...   Upcoming Dog-Centric Events... Adoption Event Saturday, February 6 Noon - PM 89 Pineapple Walk in Brooklyn Heights 718 855-8686 Towels, Dog and Cat Beds, Sweaters and Coats needed. Brooklyn Animal Foster Care network http://brooklynanimalfosternetwork.org/ STATEN ISLAND COMPANION DOG TRAINING CLUB OBEDIENCE TRIAL Saturday, February 20 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m College of Staten Island, Athletic Center, 2800 Victory Blvd., Staten Island. They sit. They stay. They come when called. Kids? Nope. Dogs! And you can see them show their stuff at the Staten Island Companion Dog Club's 58th/59th Annual Obedience and Rally Trial... At this prestigious show, dogs - and the people who train them - are true stars, experiencing the ultimate in companionship and teamwork as they compete in a variety of classes for obedience titles. Visitors will have an excellent opportunity to view a variety of breeds, to see what dogs are capable of doing, and to learn what they can do to bring out the best in their dog. Only purebred AKC-registered dogs will compete at the show-but that doesn't mean only purebreds can be trained. SICDTC is committed to teaching people how to train every type of dog and offers a discount on classes for mixed breeds and rescues. Founded in 1947, it is a not-for-profit organization where volunteers offer courses in all levels of obedience and in that popular dog sport, agility-an obstacle course for dogs. SICDTC members also provide dog therapy, sponsored by the Staten Island University Hospice Program, and present demonstrations in schools on the proper way to approach, handle, and care for dogs. Schools are encouraged to phone for an appointment. For information on the show, classes, demonstrations, and other SICDTC events, call 718-761-8048 and follow the voice mail instructions. FIDO Seasonal Events May 16th... FIDO Memorial Service For our Departed Dogs... Mid May In the Long Meadow by the Fido Memorial Tree It's located in the Long Meadow on the path by the little pond. If you take the path directly down into the meadow from the Picnic House and make a right at the bottom, it's the seventh tree on the right. Come share pictures, memories, the reading of names, or even a moment of silence for those departed canines who meant so much to us. You can even list your departed pet with FIDO. See In Memoriam for more information. June (sometime late June) Take Your Dog To Work Day see: www.takeyourdog.com/About/ First celebrated in 1999, Take Your Dog To Work Day was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs. This annual event encourages employers to experience the value of pets in their workplace for this one special day to promote pet adoptions. Last Friday In June Pupnic FIDO’s Summer Pot Luck Picnic for Pooches & Their People See pictures: Pupnic 2009 When: was Friday afternoon, June 26th Where: Prospect Park’s Nethermead Time: 5 p.m. until dusk Bring Some Food While we will have a few restaurant donations on hand, we ask that dog owners help out by bringing something as well. Those whose dogs have names begin with the letters A through G might bring an appetizer, salad or bread.  If your dog’s name begins with an H through P, bring a small entrée; and for letters Q through Z, a dessert would be welcome.  FIDO will provide beverages, paper goods, plastic ware, trash bags, water and biscuits for the dogs. Our pot-luck affair will also feature the FIDO Mid-Summer Games in which canine contestants vie to see who can catch the most dog biscuits; who gives the most licks per minute; biggest/smallest foot/ears; plus stupid dog tricks.  Agility equipment should be on hand for additional fun. We will have a permit designated off-leash area Blessing of the Animals End of September or Beginning of October - A Saturday - 7:45 a.m. In the Long Meadown below the picnic house. Sinners welcome! FIDO Bark! The Herald Angels Sing... Our December Howl-a-Day Gathering Where: Long Meadow beside the Picnic House When: December, 2009 Time: 8 am to 10 am NOTE: All dogs to be on leash after 9am Brooklyn dog owners: bring your canine companions and come celebrate the holidays at a morning gathering with FIDO In Prospect Park. Join us for song, coffee& hot chocolate, and hot mulled cider. Santa will hand out chew bones and treats. Deck your dogs in festive attire and gather around for a holiday sing-a-long of your holiday favorites. Fido will provide songbooks with dog-centric lyrics See this year's pix - Bark! The Herald Angels Sing 2009 Don't Forget To Visit The Dog Beach In the Long Meadow below the Ball Fields Off-leash hours only! Prospect Park's Dog Beach Prospect Park Alliance Park Events See their website at: www.prospectpark.org You Got To Have Park Annual Event Happenings including cleanup/fundraising May - all day Who We Are... The Prospect Park Alliance is a public/private partnership with the City of New York, which, through fundraising and advocacy, furthers the restoration and preservation of Prospect Park and the development of the Park as a resource for the people of New York City. The Alliance has been active in the transformation of Prospect Park into one of the most sought-after destinations in all of New York City. The Alliance was instrumental in the restoration of the 1912 Coney Island-style Carousel, transformation of Lefferts Homestead into the first children's historic house museum in the United States, renovation of the Park's playgrounds, and the capital campaign to save Brooklyn's last forest - a restoration of 150 acres of ailing woodlands in the Park. Educational Programs... In addition, the Prospect Park Alliance sponsors a comprehensive educational program emphasizing wildlife and nature as found in Prospect Park both through outreach in-school and parkside workshops - located at the Audubon Center at the Boat House. Boat Tours... During the warmer months, look for the electric boat tour along the Lullwaters and the lake, leaving from the Boathouse every twenty minutes or so - not to be missed!   Winter Sunday - Michael Devereaux