Please note the LOCATION CHANGE

You are all invited to a public meeting to be held in Gatineau (Hull sector) on Thursday May 12th at 6:30pm. The meeting will now be held at the Cabane en bois rond,331 boul. Cité des Jeunes, Gatineau

Have you ever noticed the number of Quebec license plates in the parking lots of Bruce Pit, Conroy Pit, Stanley Park etc ? For years people have travelled to off leash parks in the Ottawa area because of the lack of decent options on the Quebec side of the river. Despite many years of frustrating attempts to convince Gatineau municipal council of the need for a good off leash park, our requests had fallen on deaf ears until very recently. The last round of municipal elections seem to have brought in some people willing to explore the possibilities. Now our challenge is to prove that there is strong community support.

We feel that good off leash dog parks should be part of urban planning and that we shouldn’t have to settle for a ‘parks’ that are more of an afterthought rather than part of municipal development. No matter where you live in the Nation’s Capital, please come out to support our push to get an off leash dog park for all of us to enjoy, one that would be clean, secure and safe for our four legged friends.

Please mention this meeting to your friends that may want to lend their support as well. The more people that show up the better, let’s not give the naysayers the chance to say that there is no demand for it!

You can find us on Facebook at Chiens de Gatineau.

Sent in by Jeanne

As of September 3, 2010, dogs will no longer be allowed to use the Sandy Hill dog park according to a notice posted by the city at the Sweetland/Somerset entrance to the park. We need everyone’s help in order to save this off leash park!

Please call, write, email or fax:

Christine Hartig
City of Ottawa
101 Centre Pointe Drive
Ottawa, ON K2G 5K7

Email: Christine.Hartig@ottawa.ca
Phone: 613-580-2424 ext 2569
Fax : 613-580-2719

For more information, please email sandyhilldoglover@gmail.com
Thanks for your help

A reader emailed asking about dog friendly coffee shops and restaurants.

Do you know of any?

Every wonder how dogs have helped medicine move along? You don’t need to wonder anymore! Check out this article on 10 Amazing Ways Dogs Have Helped Advance Medicine.

Iris ‘n’ Roo is a wonderful website created to have a place for people to share and talk about their love for dogs and how dogs fit into their lives. The website was founded by two friends who met through the worst of circumstances – each has lost their spouses. Through the love of their families, including their dogs, and friends, the website tells the stories of these two amazing women and how they coped and emerged from their journeys as stronger women.

The goal of Iris ‘n’ Roo is to give back and help others

And I add, from the bottom of my heart that it’s been my dogs that have truly been my salvation. They’ve saved my life because they never left me. They were always there for me. They didn’t offer advice at a time when I just needed someone to listen. They always comforted me through the worst of times, usually just by touching me, sleeping with me, or kissing me. They never judged me. They never questioned why I wasn’t just over it by now. They always gave, they never took. They were there through the endless amount of devastating mornings as I woke to the raw realization of my new life and they helped make it safe for me to go to bed as I was afraid to close my eyes to yet another nightmare. I’m not saying I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for my dogs, but I honestly don’t know how I’d still be here if it weren’t for my dogs. ~ Donna

Continue reading →

A reader informed me today that there had been a fire at the Navan Animal Rescue Corporation (NARC) facilities. I quickly contacted them and sadly, it is true.

From NARC founder, Michelle:

Yes, we lost everything in the fire. You can see my blog, it gives pretty much the details.
[The Fire] happened Jan 1st, we need leashes, collars, money to buy back all of our medications for the dogs (dewormers, advantage, etc…) which will cost at least $1,000 or more – I asked them to price it for me so we will see on Friday what the bill is. We are working on getting the mobile home up and running and we need help in installing flooring, drywall, painting, etc… We may need foster homes for new dogs coming in this weekend. We are OK with food as it was in the trailer so didn’t burn with my house but everything else did – treats, plastic crates, towels for doggy baths, face cloths, doggy shampoo, laundry detergent, etc…

This is such a sad story. Some dogs did die in the fire and with all of their resources gone, they are in desperate need of money and the items Michelle listed above. This was also Michelle’s home and she has lost everything too. If you can help in any way possible, please contact NARC by calling 613-834-7005 or email them.