Dog Park Shelter Design

As a community volunteer effort, the idea of a small station/cover has surfaced as a project that Greenline Architecture would like to design and help install in Mother Matilda Beasley Dog Park. Their efforts could help facilitate the design on construction and help through the County permit process as possible. The park community would help construct the structure. We understand there is already a collaborative effort of ideas flowing for needs and maintenance; and there have also been discussions of ideas and communications with the County. The purpose of this post is to generate ideas and thoughts, reasonable needs/wants from you the users and members of the park community. The restrictions of the structure are that it can't be too big, low maintenance, and no cost to the County, therefore simple. Thoughts of needs/ideas to date are: *Fixed permeable area at hose bib for the water bowl and possible pool area (to prevent mud puddles); *an area for signage postings; *area to store dog toys, ropes, etc.; *additional dog bag storage; *possible sitting area, ie., built-in benches with small cover; *storage for County as needed (limited maintenance). Please submit any ideas you may have so that as a joint effort we can design something useful for all. If we can gather as much info over the next week, we can get started on design as soon as possible. Hopefully we can work with the County (owners) and have something constructed by next spring! Thanks.

Canine Influenza

"Dog Flu" is in 30 states now including ours. Daisy got vaccinated this week and will get the necessary booster shot in 2-4 weeks. (Dr. Martin at East Side. $19.) The vet says she's already seen some cases of dog flu in her practice and suggests that dogs in frequent contact with other dogs, at boarding kennels or the dog park, should be vaccinated.

Here's some news I googled about Canine Influenza (excerpt):

The canine influenza virus (CIV) is a newly appearing virus in dogs, and it is now considered a part of the respiratory disease complex that includes parainfluenza virus and Bordetella bacteria. Kennels, groomers and veterinary hospitals have required protection against these two pathogens for a long time.

CIV is a highly contagious virus that will infect virtually every dog that is exposed to it. About 80 percent of dogs infected will show clinical signs, which include fever, malaise and prolonged cough. Of those showing clinical signs, some patients will develop a severe form of the disease, which often involves a secondary pneumonia manifested by a thick, yellow-green nasal discharge and high fever.

These cases frequently require extended and expensive hospitalization stays in strict isolation with intravenous fluid, antibiotic and respiratory therapy. In spite of the best treatment regimens, it is estimated based on experience that 3 to 8 percent of these patients may die of the disease and its complications.

The vaccine has been shown to have virtually no side effects and is highly effective in either preventing infection or lessening the clinical signs and duration of infection and virus shedding. Dogs over six weeks of age are protected by getting two injections of vaccine, given two to four weeks apart. (My boldface - Susan)

— John G. DeVries

Just for fun: Intelligent Dogs By Breed

http://petrix.com/dogint/intelligence.html

Ryan, perhaps we should just let poor Abby continue to blissfully roll around in the mud, unaware that she's ranked in the "lowest degree of intelligence" range. :)