Dog Paw, a non-profit group of volunteers who care for four dog parks in Clark County, will be hosting a fundraiser event at Vancouver’s Pacific Community Park to raise money and public awareness for their efforts.
Dog Paw volunteers maintain Dakota Memorial Dog Park at Pacific Community Park and Ike Memorial Dog Park in Vancouver operational, along with parks in Hockinson and Brush Prairie.
Dog Paw became an official 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 2005 in order to establish off-leash dog parks and to maintain them through volunteer efforts in Clark County.
Beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, at Pacific Community Park, 1515 NE 164th Ave., the Dog Paw is hosting Bark in the Park for both people and their four-legged friends. The event will include a vendor fair and information about the organization, as well as fundraise for the organization’s maintenance costs.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting all of the dog owners that frequent our parks because this event is really for them,” Dog Paw Vice President Jan Fogg said. “This event is meant to bring everybody that’s related to the dog-owning industry to come.”
Fogg hopes the event will raise $10,000 for the Dog Paw organization, adding that they’re already halfway to their goal with the help of new sponsors as of Friday, May 24.
Fogg anticipates 25 to 30 vendors at the event. The dog fair includes information connecting pet owners to local dog supply retailers, veterinarians, groomers, trainers and more information.
In northern Clark County, Dog Paws maintains Kane Memorial Dog Park at Hockinson Meadows Community Park and Lucky Memorial Dog Park in Brush Prairie.
Kane Memorial Dog Park, 10910 NE 172nd Ave., offers 2 acres with open rustic terrain and forested areas. Access to the dog park is available through the children’s playground by following the paved pathway and signs. The path is 0.2 miles with a bench along the way. Dogs must be leashed along the path. Park hours are 7 a.m. to dusk.
Lucky Memorial Dog Park, 10100 NE 149th St., Brush Prairie, offers 7.5 acres of open fields with lots of space for Fido to run, jump and fetch. The park also has access to the Lauretta Noreen Forest Preserve through the main dog park and out through the southwest gate. The preserve includes forest walking trails, and dogs must be on a leash in the preserve, Dog Paws website states. Visitors to the preserve may not drive or walk to the preserve on the private road next to the dog park. Park hours are 7 a.m. to dusk.
To learn more about Dog Paws Off-leash Dog Parks, visit dogpawoffleashparks.org.