Puptown

Puptown Quarterly Meet-and-Greet

Mark your calendar:

Wednesday January 13th
7 P.M.
Fat Cat Bar and Grill

4840 North Broadway

Everyone is encouraged to join us to discuss what 2010 holds for our park. Puptown volunteers and patrons are constantly working to make our dog park the best in the city. Your ideas are critical to make it a success. 

And the food is darn good, too!

Howl-O-Ween Photos

This is just a quick post to let you all know that photos from this year's Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest and Fundraiser are available for viewing.

We'll try to post an official list of the winners soon, but some of them are pictured below: Doggy Gaga, Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf, Lightguard, and Swiffer and Dust Bunny.

Howl-O-Ween, in addition to being loads of fun and goofiness, is Puptown's main fundraiser for the year.  If you haven't become a member yet -- or renewed your membership this year -- please support the park.

Howl-O-Ween 2009: Saturday, Oct. 24

Join us for Puptown's scariest event of the year ...

Date: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 - 4 p.m.
*rain date: Sunday, Oct. 25

Costume Contest
Registration ($5) begins at 1:15 p.m.
Judging begins at 2 p.m. 

Judges
Nancy Myerson
Jill Moyse 
Stephanie Aldort

Prizes
1st, 2nd & 3rd prize for best homemade and store-bought costumes 

Raffle Grand Prize
Restaurant gift certificate

Additional raffle prizes include gift certificates to area restaurants, dog stores and more! Silent auction, too! 

Need costume inspiration? Check out last year's Howl-O-Ween photos.

Please support our generous donors: 

Restaurants 

• DaVinci Group Restaurants: $50 gift certificate
• Wild Pug: $25 gift certificate
• Crew: $25 gift certificate
• Fat Cat: $25 gift certificate
• Fireside Restaurant: $20 gift certificate 

Art

• CityboyForge: Belt buckle custom designed with your dog's image
• Paul Strabbing Photography: Portrait of your dog

Pet Supplies & Services 

• Blum Animal Hospital: Vaccination package
• Collins Canine: 5 training sessions
• The Barking Lot: 2 days of daycare & 2 days of boarding
• U.S. Bones: Gift certificates & bones gift basket
• Urb-Animal: Gift basket
• The Houndry: Dog leash & seatbelt
• Chad Jensen: Free dog grooming
• Bark Bark Club: Gift certificates & box of treats

Music & Movement

• Manigua Academy of Music/Dance: Package of 4 dance lessons
• Essence Pilates: Package of 5 pilates classes

Spa & Beauty

• Continuum Studio: $25 gift certificate (4)
• Sir Spa for Men: $100 gift certificate
• Spornette: $100 hair Brush Set

Other Offers

• Uptown Car Wash: Package of 5 free car washes (5)

Puptown Members' Quarterly Meeting

There will be a Puptown Members' Meeting Wednesday, October 14th, 7:00-9:00 P.M., at the Margate Park Field House.

Participation is essential to the health of Puptown so everyone is encouraged to attend. The Chicago Park District requires Puptown members to meet periodically to discuss policy and maintenance. Puptown members meet the second Wednesday of every quarter.

So far, topics on the agenda include:

• Introductions
• Committee Reports
• Howl-o-ween Planning
• Wallace Memorial Entrance
• Open Q&A

If you would like to add an agenda item, contact info@puptown.org.

Bringing a treat is welcomed but not required.

Howl-O-Ween: Volunteers & Donations Needed

It's our favorite time of year - Howl-O-Ween!
 
Puptown's 9th Annual Howl-O-Ween party and costume contest -- our biggest fundraiser of the year -- is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24. Barbara Kramer (Sam and Guinness's owner), has offered be the coordinator, and she needs our help.

Here's how you can help:
 
Make a donation and promote your business:
If you have a product or service you would like to donate to the silent auction or raffle, let us know. It's a great way to help the park and your business.
 
Volunteer:
Planning and set-up volunteers needed. If you have never volunteered for Puptown, this is a great place to start. You only need to spend an hour or so of your time and you will have that, "I did something good for my community feeling" and make new friends.

Please join in the fun! Contact John Lenti,(volunteer@puptown.org) for more information.

p.s. Missed last year's event? Check out photos from Howl-O-Ween 2008.

Dog Day on the Green - August 2

by John Lenti

The office of Chicago City Clerk Miguel Del Valle will host Dog Day on the Green, a new annual dog festival, on Sunday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the grounds of Soldier Field. This free event will include a Doggie Olympics, photo booths, and autograph signing by local celebrities and their pets.

The festival will be an eco-friendly way for dog lovers to learn more about pet related issues, register their pet with the city and even purchase the new dog-themed city vehicle stickers. Remember to bring vaccination records if you want to register your pet.

Del Valle believes that dogs are important to Chicago and that we all must be better educated on how to care for them. This is a great way to spend a day with your canine friends while strolling the beautiful greens of Soldier Field.

Wag for the Bag, Saturday, May 16 at Puptown

Green Paws Chicago and Zoomagreen.org will present “Wag for the Bag” on Saturday, May 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Puptown.

The purpose of the event is to educate dog owners about the benefits of biodegradable dog waste bags over other plastic alternatives.

Courtesy of Green Paws Chicago and Zoomageen.org, Puptown will be the first off-leash dog park in Chicago to dispense biodegradable dog waste bags to its patrons, fostering the shared mission of Green Paws Chicago and Zoomagreen.org to promote sustainability.

In addition, the event will feature a juried competition of Chicago artists who will present their designs for waste bag dispensers created completely from recycled materials. The dispensers will be on display starting at 11 a.m. The winners will be announced at 1 p.m. Other dog services and products will also be on site.

Puptown volunteers -- join us for a park cleaning at 8 a.m. to make the park look super good for the event. And don't forget to stop by later in the day to enjoy the festivities with your dog!

Revised Date: P-DOG Meeting Tuesday, April 14

Want to mingle with your fellow Puptowners? Share your ideas and concerns? Meet the board members? Then please come to the quarterly Puptown organizational meeting -- now on Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. in the Margate Field House.

We have a very special agenda item: the designation of funds from the David Wallace Memorial Fund. Many of you have generously contributed nearly $6,000 to Puptown in memory of David and his Cairn terrier, Tyler, who were both were killed in a car accident in January. Please be part of this important discussion. Donations will be accepted indefinitely.

Other agenda items include:

    *Financial report
    *Proposals for park improvements such as a second gate and an area for small dogs
    *Upcoming events
    *Park members' suggested topics including elections, long-term planning, and more

If you would like us to add a specific topic to the agenda, please leave a comment here and be sure to attend the meeting.

P-DOG Meeting Wednesday, Jan. 28

The Puptown Dog Owners Group will hold its next quarterly meeting Wednesday, Jan. 28, at the Margate Field House. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

The agenda includes developing our goals for the upcoming year as well as discussion of park maintenance and improvements. Everyone is welcome. Please join us -- Yes, there will be cookies!

Meeting outline:
- 2008 Goals: Complete and Incomplete
- 2009 Goals
- Park Maintenance and Improvements
- Financial Health
- Photo Presentation of Dog Parks in Other States
- Spring Fundraiser
- Howl 2009

Watch Best in Show 2009 to Benefit Sit Stay Read

Mark your calendar for Sit Stay Read's 4th Annual "Best In Show" benefit party!

Watch the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show finals LIVE with fellow dog lovers. Great food, drinks, fun! Tickets still only $50 ($60 at the door). VIP tables $250 (seats 4 guests).

Date/Time: Feb 10, 2009, 7-10 p.m.
Location: Fat Cat, 4840 N. Broadway, Chicago

Click here for more information and to order tickets.

Sit Stay Read is a literacy program that uses dogs to inspire 2nd and 3rd graders from low-income families to become lifelong readers. Children read aloud to specially trained therapy dogs who are there to increase confidence and generate excitement about reading.

Here you can watch Sit Stay Read in action:

P-DOG Meeting Wednesday, Jan. 14

UPDATE: Meeting CANCELLED due to weather. We are tentatively rescheduling for Wednesday, Jan. 28. Confirmation will be posted here and sent to the email list.

The Puptown Dog Owners Group will hold its next quarterly meeting Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Margate Field House. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

The agenda includes developing our goals for the upcoming year as well as discussion of park maintenance and improvements. Everyone is welcome. Please join us!

Meeting outline:
- 2008 Goals: Complete and Incomplete
- 2009 Goals
- Park Maintenance and Improvements
- Financial Health
- Photo Presentation of Dog Parks in Other States
- Spring Fundraiser
- Howl 2009

Puptown Thanks You!

Thanks to all who participated in making Puptown's eighth annual Howl-O-Ween costume contest a great success! This year, 77 good-natured dogs and their incredibly creative guardians participated in front of a crowd of approximately 200 Puptown members, friends, neighbors and bemused passerby.

Our judges -- Alderman Mary Ann Smith, Janis Taylor of the Chicago Park District, and Puptown's very own Stephanie, aided by her faithful companions, Sugar and Shadow -- had the difficult task of choosing the best-costumed, but every dog who came to play went home a winner.

Proceeds totaled nearly $2,000, all of which will go toward park maintenance and future structural improvements. We enjoyed the support of more than 20 area businesses that donated raffle and silent auction prizes and other services. In particular, we thank the Bark Bark Club for its sponsorship and Soggy Paws for providing goodie bags.

None of this would have been possible without all the volunteers who solicited donations, cleaned and readied the park that morning, worked at the event and tidied up afterward. A special shout-out to this year’s Howl-O-Ween Planning Committee members: Ron Caperton, Christine Cupaiuolo, David Goyer, Judy Joyce, John Lenti, Rebecca Mark, Andrea Powers, Jacob Stover, Stacy Szczelina, and Nicole Visnyak, and to photographer Alan Jacobs for donating proceeds from the sale of dog photos. And special thanks to our emcee, Bernie Heidkamp, and graphic artist extraordinaire, Eric Wagner.

- Ellen Szalinski, Howl-O-Ween coordinator

Howl-O-Ween Photos and Winners

Coco Chanel, Wonder Woman and Elvis were all in the house on Saturday for a good cause -- raising funds for park maintenance and capital projects.

The eighth annual Howl-O-Ween costume contest was a huge success, with sunny skies and lots of laughter, especially as "Michael Yelps," sporting a gold medal, came out of his shorts. Too fast for his swimsuit, it seemed.

Also spotted: "Joe Six Pack"; "Aire Jordan"; Snow White; Snow White again; an Ewok from "Star Wars"; and a special appearance by Buck from "Call of the Wild."

We also spied some busy bees; a pig; a lobster; a French sailor; a Chicago hot dog or two; a few felons and several police officers.

Below are the winners and more photos; visit our Flickr Howl-O-Ween page to view all the contestants and a few dogs frolicking au naturel.

Congratulations to all!

Best Store-Bought Costume
First: Jenna (Pirate)
Second: Honey (Wonder Woman)
Third: Shaggy (Dog Fish)

Best Homemade Costume
First: Ellie (Horse)
Second: Sabi (Geisha girl)
Third: Ms. Joey (Elvis)

Photos by Christine Cupaiuolo

It's Almost Here! Join us for Howl-O-Ween Saturday, Oct. 18

Be there or be scared! Puptown's 8th Annual Puptown Howl-O-Ween Party & Costume Contest is this Saturday, Oct. 18. Come join us!

Come early and help us clean the park at 8 a.m. Set-up begins at noon. To help with event preparation, contest registration or raffle ticket sales, please contact Ellen Szalinski, Howl-O-Ween coordinator.

Costume Contest
Registration ($5) begins at 1 p.m.
Judging begins at 2 p.m.

Raffle
Purchase tickets on-site.
Drawing: 3 p.m.
Grand Prize: $300

Additional raffle prizes include gift certificates to area restaurants, dog stores and more!

Silent Auction
Bidding open from 1 p.m. - 2:45 p.m

For a complete description of events and our sponsor list, click here.

P-DOG Meeting Wednesday, Oct. 8

The Puptown Dog Owners Group will hold its next quarterly meeting Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the Margate Field House. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

The agenda includes park improvements and our upcoming fundraiser -- Howl-O-Ween.

Everyone is welcome. Please join us!

Howl-O-Ween Sponsors and Donors Announced

Don't forget to mark your calendar for the 8th annual Puptown Howl-O-Ween party and costume contest on Saturday, Oct. 18!

Pictured here is last year's winning canine duo: Mrs. O'Leary (in the bonnet) and her spotted cow.

In addition to prizes for the best canine costumes, there will be numerous raffle prizes -- including gift certificates to area restaurants and businesses and a grand prize of $300 -- plus a silent auction.

Also plan on plenty of tasty treats for dogs and their owners!

Festivities start at 2 p.m. Come join the fun -- and be sure to thank these great businesses and individuals for their support!

Sponsor: The Bark Bark Club 

Gift certificates and services provided by:
Restaurants
Andie's
Calo
Crew
DaVinci Group Restaurants
Fat Cat
Hama Matsu
Reza's
Tallulah
Tapas las Ramblas
Wilde Pug

Pet Supplies and Services
The Bark Bark Club
The Barking Lot
Blum Animal Hospital
Collins Canine Training
The Houndry
Integrative Pet Care
Loving Hands Dog Massage
Parkview Pet Supplies
Rogers Bark Pet Salon
Ruff Haus Pets
Sam and Willy's
Soggy Paws
US Bones

Etc.
Body Type Fashions
Cook Centers for Medical Skin Enhancement
City Olive
JS Cleaners
Lincoln Park - Primate House - Behind-the-Scenes Tour
MK Czerwiec - Original Lithograph of the “Bean”
River North Dance Company
The Field Museum
Uptown Car Wash
Windy City Adventure Boot Camp for Women
Yoga Now

Safety and Security for Pet Owners Living in Condos/Apartments: Seminar on Sept. 11

This just in: The Chicago Police Department CAPS Implementation Office is hosting a seminar Thursday, Sept. 11, on high rise safety and security for pet owners.

The event begins at 6 p.m. and takes place at the 20th Police District Police Station (5400 N. Lincoln Ave.).

Here's the invite:

The CAPS Implementation Office, along with other city agencies would like to invite you to attend a special forum designed to meet the unique needs of residents and their pets living in condominiums or other types of high-rise residential units.

Speakers will include representatives from 311/City Services, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications; along with animal care professionals who will offer Safety Tips for Pet Owners and Pet Care Providers.

Please contact Marty Cook at (312) 742-0963 or via e-mail to register your attendance.

Save the Date: Howl-O-Ween Oct. 18

Not to rush the end of summer, but we've got a date for the annual Howl-O-Ween dog costume contest and party: Saturday, Oct. 18.

Festivities run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Registration for the costume contest starts at 1:15 p.m.

Howl-O-Ween is Puptown's biggest fundraiser and includes a wonderful selection of prizes, raffle tickets and tasty treats for dogs and their owners. We hope to see you all there, with or without a costume!

Here's info about last year's event to give you a taste of what to expect and plenty of photos to peruse.

Howl-O-Ween is put together entirely by Puptown volunteers. If you'd like to help, please come to our first planning meeting Wednesday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. We'll meet at the Margate Field House.

Or contact Ellen Szalinski, Howl-O-Ween coordinator, at ellen@puptown.org.

Here's a partial list of the tasks involved:

- Soliciting raffle and silent auction prizes
- Distributing posters
- Selling raffle tickets
- Event set-up and staffing

*Rain date: Sunday, Oct. 19.

Trolley Tour Photos

Puptown's first-ever Chicago Trolley Tour was a driving success, according to all aboard, and so much fun that a 2009 tour is already being talked about.

We've added photos taken by David and Ellen to our album list. Just click here to take a look at scenes from the trolley and around the city.

Puptown Summer Social: Chicago Trolley Tour July 24

Tickets are still available for Puptown's Chicago Trolley Tour Summer Social -- Thursday, July 24.

The trolley departs from Puptown at 7 p.m. and returns at 10 p.m.

The entertaining, fully narrated tour -- led by Puptown's own Will Wilson -- will take us past many of the city's greatest sights and treasured landmarks, spanning Navy Pier to the Museum Campus.

We'll enjoy stops in between for photo opportunities and the chance to grab a Chicago hot dog at Buckingham Fountain. Other food and beverages are permitted on board, including alcohol.

Purchase tickets online or bring cash or a check. Tickets are just $15 for Puptown members and $20 for guests. Get on board!

Questions? Please e-mail trolley@puptown.org

Update: Check out the trolley tour photos!

Alderman Mary Ann Smith to Visit Puptown

Alderman Mary Ann Smith (48th Ward), will be at Puptown Tuesday, July 15, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. to discuss constituent concerns.

A member of DAWG, the Dog Advisory Work Group, will also attend with information on their programs, and information will be available about Puptown's fundraising efforts for park improvements. Hope to see you there!

P-DOG Meeting July 9

Tonight's quarterly P-DOG meeting has a full agenda. Below are some of the items for discussion:

- Membership
- Fundraising Events, including Howl-O-Ween and the Puptown Around-Town Trolley Tour
- Facilities: Park Improvements, Landscape Proposal and other safety concerns
- Organization and Bylaws

We're also expecting a couple of guests -- one from Wiggly Field and a local resident looking to develop a dog park off Montrose.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Margate Field House and is open to everyone -- P-DOG members, Puptown supporters and our park neighbors!

Raise a Glass to a Dog Park in Clarendon Park!

Clarendon Park Neighborhood Association hopes to designate a dog friendly area in Clarendon Park to do what Puptown has done for Uptown: enhance a sense of community, provide for the well-being of dogs and their guardians, and improve the safety of the park and surrounding neighborhood.

They're holding a benefit Friday, May 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Driftwood, a very cool dog friendly bar (1021 W. Montrose -- get directions). Suggested donation is $15. 

For more info, contact cpnassoc@gmail.com. And check out an active discussion on the dog park issue at Uptown Update.

Thank You and Welcome Members!

A big thanks to Soggy Paws and Lisa Collins of Collins Canine for helping to make our Membership Kick-Off a success! And a big welcome to our new members!

Our next Puptown meeting is July 9 -- we hope to see members there!

Join the Pack! Membership Kick-Off May 17

Puptown is celebrating its membership kick-off Saturday, May 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

We've got a bunch of fun, free activities planned:

• Dog Facials, featuring the Growl and Meow Foaming Face Wash

• Doggie Footprints (fingerpaint your pup's paw image!)

• Dog Park safety seminars

• Dog training sessions with Collins Canine

• Raffle prizes including Soggy Paws gift basket

Member donations from new and renewing members will support a "puppy guard" to keep our pups and small dogs from escaping through the fence.

No need to wait until May 17 to join -- click here to join or renew online now! Annual member donations are $30 and fully tax-deductible.

Great American Mutt Show - May 17

The 2008 Chicagoland Great American Mutt Show will take place May 17 at Morton West High School in Berwyn. Here's the info from MuttShow.com. (Psst ... that's Puptown's own Spencer there on the left, best in show winner from 2007!)

*************************
The Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC) and the City of Berwyn team up with PAWS Chicago, Chicagoland Dock Dogs, VCA Berwyn Animal Hospital, Tails in Need NYC, The Brookfield Zoo and the Animal Care League to host the second annual Great American Mutt Show for the Chicagoland area.

The event will take place in Berwyn, IL on Saturday, May 17th, 2008 (10am-3pm) at Morton West High School, located at 2400 Home Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402. Also included will be a two-day Dock Dogs (www.dockdogs.com) agility competition (May 17th and May 18th). You can also call us at 708-788-8100 if you would like to signup your dog for the Dock Dogs agility tournament. Participants, vendors, sponsors and volunteers who wish to be part of the show and/or the agility event can register through the Berwyn Development Corporation by calling 708-788-8100.

Doggie Easter Egg Hunt

On a holiday better known for adorable bunnies and cute chicks, the Chicago Park District is welcoming the dogs.

Horner Park's annual Easter egg hunt for dogs takes place March 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Activities include a spring bonnet parade, dog hunt for treat-filled eggs and obstacle course. Treats and refreshments will be provided.

The cost is $5 per dog. What are you waiting for? Hop to it!

Howl-O-Ween 2007

Join us for the annual Puptown Party & Costume Contest, Saturday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. (rain date: Oct. 28)

Everything you need to know about the contest, the raffle and the silent auction can be found below this awesome poster, designed by P-DOG member Eric Wagner. Click for a larger version, or view it at Puptown!

Let's start by introducing our special guest, Steve Dale, host of "Pet Central" on WGN Radio and author of the syndicated newspaper column "My Pet World" (Tribune Media Services). Steve will be on hand to answer your questions and maybe draw a raffle prize or two ...

Speaking of prizes, dozens of pet shops, restaurants and area businesses have donated gift certificates and some incredible packages, so don't forget to buy your raffle tickets! (All prizes listed after the jump.)

Raffle tickets are $5/each or $20/five tickets and will be sold during Howl-O-Ween and at the park on weekends leading up to the event. To sell tickets or to buy in bulk, contact John Lenti: info@puptown.org

Is your dog showing up in costume? Click here (PDF) to print a contest registration form to bring the day of the event. Or just show up and register at Puptown between 1 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. Judging begins at 2 p.m.

Registration is free for P-DOG members; $5 for non-members. Not a member? Join now!

• 1st Place Homemade Costume: Collins Canine $100 Gift Certificate for Group Class or Private Training
• 1st Place Store-Bought Costume: Pet Supply and Services Package from 4 Legs, Sam & Willy's and Soggy Paws
• 2nd Place: Sit! Chicago Gift Certificate for Luxury Grooming
• 3rd Place: Bad Dog Tavern $40 Gift Certificate

Check out last year's photos for inspiration!

Esteemed Judges
Janis Taylor, Chicago Park District Planning Coordinator
Jason Heidemann, Chicagoland Tails Executive Editor
Scott Van Der Weele, former president of Puptown Dog Owners Group

Howl-O-Ween Supporters
Special thanks for helping to make Howl-O-Ween an event enjoyed by all:

• Larry Asimow Landscaping, flowers and decorations
• Jennifer and Dave Luth, printing of all promotional materials
• Allen J. Schild ("Chicago's Pet-Friendly Realtor"), treat bags for all dogs
• Tiny Cakes, bakery items for humans with proceeds going to Puptown

If you'd like to donate an item or services, please email John Lenti: info@puptown.org

Continue reading for all the prizes and a sneak peek at the silent auction items ...

Puptown's Very First Movie Night - Saturday, Sept. 8

What is better that watching a critically-acclaimed movie under the stars?

Doing it with your dog, of course!

Come see Walt Disney's "Eight Below" at Puptown (in Margate Park) this Saturday, Sept. 8, at 7:30 p.m. (rain date: Sept. 9).

Tell your friends and family -- everyone is welcome:

* Bring chairs and blankets

* Children must be accompanied by an adult

* Park district rules apply (no glass or alcohol)

* Donations kindly accepted   

This event is sponsored by the Puptown Dog Owners Group (P-DOG). We're very proud of the members' commitment to the park, and we wanted to host a social event that we -- and our dogs -- could enjoy.

Movie night donations will be used for park maintenance and supplies (remember, we're all responsible for Puptown's upkeep, not the park district). If you're not yet a member, please join us today.

We're especially thankful to Allen J. Schild, "Chicago's Pet-Friendly Realtor," who graciously offered to provide snacks and beverages on movie night. Schild, an agent with Keller Williams in Lincoln Park, has two dogs of his own and specializes in assisting pet owners with finding a home that all family members will enjoy.

We can't speak highly enough of Allen and all he's done for Puptown, so if you need an agent, he's the guy to call (773.968.4100 or allenschild@kw.com). Thanks again, Allen!

Had Enough of the Cold? Play Inside!

It's currently 3 degrees outside. How tempted are you to head to Puptown, where the winter winds off the lake will make you shiver even with all that fleece you've piled on?

We were crazy enough to head out to Lake County's Prairie Wolf on Saturday, which was "warmer" than Sunday. Still, it was like walking across the Tundra.

Save yourself from frostbite this weekend. Puptown Dog Owners Group (P-DOG) has arranged a play date inside the warm and friendly Barking Lot, a fully heated 3,000-square foot facility, with soft mats to run on and plenty of room for us to socialize. You and your dog(s) are cordially invited!

Here are the details --

Date: Saturday, Feb. 10
Time: 10 a.m - 12 noon (stop by anytime within this two-hour window)
Location: The Barking Lot, 2442 W. Irving Park Road
Google map: http://tinyurl.com/y8bx79
* Please remember to bring proof of rabies, distemper and bordatella vaccines.

The play date is free for Puptown members. If you're not a member, it's $5. This is a GREAT deal, arranged for by P-DOG. Normally it's $10 bucks. 

But there's no better time to become a member -- membership is only $25, and all the money goes to maintaining and improving the park (we'll have to buy a serious amount of pea gravel when springtime rolls around!).  Click here to join online or to print out a membership form.

Questions? Contact P-DOG President Tommy O'Connor.

Hope to see you on Saturday!