Blair County Dog Park Association

06/08/2024

Thank you to whoever mowed the park today or yesterday. It looks beautiful! There was quite a crowd there tonight and I'm sure they all appreciated it as well.

Thanks to Bill and Karen for putting up some new message board on the large shed.

05/17/2024

Two classes are being offered at the Blair County Dog Park beginning in early June by RockStar Canine Behavior Coaching.
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*Total Recall (a 2-hour one time class)
and
*Beginner Obedience/Canine Good Citizen (a 1 hour class/6 week duration)
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Current Dog Park Member dogs are eligible for a $15 discount on the Recall class and a $55 discount on the Beginner Obedience class.

Class sizes are limited to 10 handler/dog teams. Register now!

04/25/2024

SATURDAY -- The weather continues to be uncooperative for us at the dog park. Saturday was our planned annual Clean-Up Day. We had a board of director's meeting last night and we officially called it off due to forecast for rain and cold temperatures in the morning.
As members we plan to go out and start accomplishing tasks that need to be done as weather and time permits. We encourage everyone to do so. There are lots of weeds around the base of the fencing... Some of them are getting quite thick, and need to be removed. If you can help with that, it would be very much appreciated.
Also, many of the original birdhouses are rotting and not inhabitable for birds. If you can remove one or two and discard them for us, that would be helpful. We have five new bluebird houses to install.
Maintenance of the park is a huge issue and it's ongoing. If you can help in any way, please contact Bill Lewis and ask how you can assist. I will put his contact information on an email that I will send out to the membership today.
Thank you for being members of our beautiful dog park.

04/21/2024

https://www.mcheraldonline.com/story/2024/04/18/news/blair-county-dog-park-celebrates-its-13th-season/16653.html

The Blair County Dog Park Association is beginning its 13th season with a lot of reason to celebrate. The dog park, which is located off Agway Road in North Woodbury Township, offers 10.6 acres of scenic, rural land. The association, a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, was recently able to purchase....

04/15/2024

NOTICE:
BILL HAS BEEN UNABLE TO MOW DUE TO THE GRASS BEING SO WET. HOPEFULLY TODAY AND TOMORROW WILL ALLOW FOR DRYING.
Bill asked that if you see him mowing do not go into that section. Use another section for your dogs until he's finished. Thank you for your cooperation.

04/14/2024

Our annual Dog Park Clean-Up Day is coming up fast. Saturday, April 27th beginning at 9:00 a.m.
We received five bluebird kits, 250,000 PA native wildflower seeds and other products from Thrivent Financial. They also gave us 15 t-shirts for the first 15 volunteers to come help out. Various sizes. Thank you to friend of the dog park, Debbie Norcross for making this happen.
We hope we have a good turnout from the membership.

04/09/2024

Bill just told me the park is now open. (Remember: 2024 lock box code is now in effect.)
You will notice we have a Porta-John there next to the new mower shed. Please use it as the bathroom is closed.

04/09/2024

MEMBERS.....READ ALL....Not just the first line, please.

The Dog Park will reopen today at 2:00pm. YAY! Finally.
Yes, good news BUT....we have just had A LOT of rain and the grounds are saturated creating the high probability of damage if members don't do their part to prevent it.

FIRST OF ALL...Wear skid resistant shoes or boots. Your safety is most important.

Secondly...drive into the park SLOWLY. Park in the grassy area to the right of the fencing. DO NOT DRIVE BEYOND THE SMALL SHED. There is to be no parking beyond the shed. See photo.

Once you are in the fenced in areas, take your dog away from the gates. This is where it is the most muddy and will get worse if you and your dog hang out there.

DO NOT permit your dog to run toward the gate and jump at other dogs who are entering. This creates tension and defensive behavior and could result in a dog fight. You could lose your park membership if you allow this behavior to happen.

Go enjoy this sunny day with your dog, but please be mindful and responsible. 🐾🐾🐾

04/04/2024

E-mail [email protected] to request a registration form.
NOTE: These classes are open to dog park members only.

04/01/2024

Rain. Rain. Rain.

Bill was out at the dog park today and it is extremely wet. Here are some photos he took of the main storage shed. He dug a trench to try to divert the water that's pooling under the shed. When the shed was installed we had several inches of shale laid under it in hopes of preventing this problem. This just shows how quickly water collects at the park.

Please do not go there until it has a chance to dry up. The weather is predicting rain throughout the week. We're so sorry but it's just Mother Nature at work.

Thank you Bill for all you do!

03/26/2024

Dear Members:
Although the grounds are still soft, we have made the decision to reopen the Dog Park this Thursday. This is a test run. You can help to keep it open by:

1). Upon entering the park, walk down into the park away from the gate. Do not congregate at the entrance.

2). Maintain control of your dog at all times. Do not allow your dog to rush the gate when a new dog enters. Not only does this churn up the mud at the entrance, it's just not fair to the dog coming in or the owner(s). This is a safety issue.

3). Remember to pick up after yourselves. Do not let toys, bowls, water jugs, etc. behind.

4). No dogs larger than 30 lbs. permitted in the small dog park. No small dogs under 30 lbs. are permitted in the large dog park. Children under 12 are not permitted in the fenced in areas of the dog park.

Thank you for your cooperation and have a wonderful time at the Dog Park with your best furry friend. 🐾💞

03/21/2024

So this negative view about dog parks is going around Facebook right now, with lots of comments backing it up.

Unfortunately, a lot of the dog parks in the country are municipal parks. These are usually open to anyone who wants to bring any type of dog. They don't need an application or a questionnaire to join. They don't have to pay a membership fee. The dogs owners do not have to present proof of vaccination. Males do not have to be neutered. There is no policing or rules to follow. They are basically a free-for-all. I have been to a few and they were, quite frankly, gross. Piles of p**p and even trash strewn around. I wouldn't take my dog to one of those parks either.

But our park is unique. Big and beautiful in a natural setting. Let's keep it wonderful. Let's all make sure to follow the rules. They were established to protect everyone. Let's all make sure to keep our dogs under control at all times. Not all dogs enjoy being jumped on by others or being chased. Let's all remember to take home things that we bring, including dog bowls, toys and water jugs. Let's all try to volunteer if even for an hour or so, every now and again.

Let's keep our beautiful, wonderful dog park the incredible exception that it is. 🐾❤️

03/19/2024

THIS IS A VERY GOOD VIDEO!
The basics of teaching your dog how to "recall", aka Come to you.

All dog park members must teach their dog(s) this important behavior. Not only will it provide a better and safer dog park experience, it can literally SAVE YOUR DOG'S LIFE.

How To Teach PERFECT RECALL - Teaching My Dog To Come Back To Me. Teaching your dog recall is one of the most important things you can do when training you d...

03/19/2024

ATTENTION MEMBERS:
The Dog Park is still closed due to muddy conditions at the gates due to dogs conglomerating and causing ruts and soft grounds due to rain and snow saturation. We will post here when the park will reopen. There will be a member update emailed to all members later today to explain this and what each member can do to help rectify this situation once the park reopens.

IMPORTANT...PLEASE READ:
All dogs must know basic obedience skills. The most important one is RECALL. Your dog must come to you when your call him/her. This is the reason dogs are running to the gate when a new dog comes in. This is a dangerous situation that can be avoided if everyone has control of their own dog.

Membership renewals are due by March 31st. A new key code will be in effect beginning April 1st. If you have not renewed your membership, you will not have access.

Spring Clean-Up Day is coming up in April. Please plan to give a couple hours of your time to help. We are ALL VOLUNTEERS and the more help we have, the quicker the work will get done. See attached poster.

03/14/2024

And THIS is why dogs are better than humans!
Some self important jerk broke into the main gate at the dog park, breaking the latch and requiring us to buy a new one.
The park was built by and is maintained by volunteers. We try hard to keep it beautiful and safe for all members. WE ARE NOT PAID. And then some idiot who feels entitled to something free does this. We are enraged and disgusted.
Idiot!!! We hope you and your dog had a good run. 🤬 (And by the way... we're not blaming your dog. We're quite sure he would have never done something like this.)

03/06/2024

The Dog Park website has been updated. If you would like to print an application to join, you can find it on the website. We would love to have you. The Spring Newsletter is also available as a downloadable file.

www.blaircountydogparkassociation.org

03/06/2024

URGENT MEMBERS:
If you have an email address listed on your membership materials, you should have gotten an email last evening from the dog park. Attached to the email was an application for your membership renewal, the spring newsletter, rules of the dog park and a flyer for our upcoming spring cleanup day. If you did not receive this, Please let us know by sending a message via our website.
Our new membership year begins April 1st. Your renewal must be received to access the park.

Also in the email is information about the muddy conditions at the park and how to prevent this. Please read all information email to you.

Thank you to everyone and have a wonderful day.

03/05/2024

NOTICE:
DUE TO EXCEPTIONALLY MUDDY CONDITIONS... THE DOG PARK WILL BE CLOSED (GATES LOCKED) UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
We have had a very strange winter here in Central Pennsylvania. The snow didn't have a chance to really freeze before it quickly thawed and melted along with rain that came throughout the winter. The already wetland nature of the dog park grounds became further impacted by all of that water. The weather is predicting several days of rain this week and more next week. Please do not drive down to the dog park as even the grounds on the outside of the fenced in areas are saturated. We need time to let everything dry out.
An email newsletter will be sent to the members later today to explain this and to announce some upcoming plans for spring.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

02/08/2024

NOTICE:
Bill opened the park back up again today. There are some soft spots. Please, please, please... Do not drive anywhere other than where the shale is laid. Drive into the park slowly. Park far front and do not drive behind the first shed.
When you go into the gated areas, if it looks soft, do not go in. Go into another section. Do not hang out towards the front. That's when we get the dogs dig their paws in and make mud pits.
If everyone uses their common sense and does the right thing, we won't have to shut the park down again.
And if you see someone who is not doing the right thing or driving behind that first shed, please tell them to not do so. They will ruin it for everyone.
We have a couple of beautiful, warm days ahead. Go enjoy the park with your dog.
Thank you for your cooperation.

02/06/2024

We have some great news to report! After two court dates with the Blair County Assessment department, the Dog Park's property taxes have been dropped from $2,400 to $700 a year!!!!
Thank you to Richard Johnston, of Howard Hanna Real Estate for guiding us in this endeavor. And, thanks to the Assessment committee today, for working with us. 🐾🐾🐾

02/03/2024

NOTICE:
DUE TO MUDDY CONDITIONS AT THE DOG PARK (due to the rapid snow melt), IT IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Please fo not drive into the park grounds as this will damage the newly laid shale.
Thank you for your cooperation.

01/15/2024

The Dog Park has been reopened to members. Members: Please be respectful of the park and the newly stoned driveway. Do not drive into the park too fast and do not drive or park on the non-paved areas.... Only the driveway. If you drive behind the shed you will dig up the ground. Do not drive past the small shed.
The bathroom is not open.
Please be sure to replace the key into lockbox and spin it before you leave
Enjoy and please be very careful.
🐾❤️🐾❤️🐾

01/10/2024

The Dog Park is, once again temporarily closed due to snow accumulation and flooding. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. It has not been plowed and you will get stuck.
We truly appreciate your cooperation and we will let you know as soon as we feel it is safe to open the park again. Thank you.

01/06/2024

MEMBERS..... The park is reopened. The grounds seem pretty well frozen. Please be careful though. Enjoy!
We appreciate your patience during the downtime.

12/27/2023

10/27/2023

The Altoona Mirror included a nice article about our dog park in the Central Pennsylvania Pets section of their yesterday's edition.

10/02/2023

Prayers are requested for member Barry Davis. Barry will undergoing open heart surgery on Wednesday to replace a valve.
We are all hoping for the best outcome and sending strong prayers to he and Ruth.

09/21/2023

This is the link to the news segment that appeared on WTAJ yesterday. It highlighted the gift given to the dog park by members, Barry and Ruth Davis. Click and enjoy!

MARTINSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Blair County Dog Park is celebrating after they received a generous donation from a couple of their volunteers. Barry and Ruth Davis, along with their dog Ariel, …

09/19/2023

MEMBERS!
Tomorrow at 10:30 am WTAJ will be at the dog park to do an interview regarding our new mower donation. It would be nice to have some member dogs running in the dog park areas. If you can make it, please bring your dogs out for some fun.
MEMBERS ONLY!

09/14/2023

URGENT... MEMBERS, PLEASE READ:
It's been reported that people are leaving things behind at the dog park. Water bowls, jugs, toys, leads, etc. Please take home what you bring to the park. Dogs should not be allowed to drink from each other's bowls. They also should not be allowed to play with each other's toys. Dogs can spread disease and illness through secretions in their mouths.

It should also go without saying that if your dog is not well... Diarrhea, listlessness, vomiting, etc., Leave your dog at home until your dog is well.

Another reminder is to pick up after your dog. If your dog p**ps, pick it up. Your dog. Your p**p. It should not be expected for the volunteers to be responsible for this. Dogs can also get ill through other dogs excrement.

Let's keep our park safe for all dogs and all concerned.