Puptown

This Week's Adoptable Pets at Found Chicago

Arrowhead
Female, Young
Anatolian Shepherd

Betty
Female, Young
American Pit Bull Terrier

Birdie
Female, Adult
American Pit Bull Terrier

Grace
Female, Young
Rhodesian Ridgeback

Kaylee
Female, Senior
Beagle

Marvin
Male, Young
Boxer

Meatloaf
Female, Young
American Pit Bull Terrier

Neptune
Male, Puppy
Terrier (Unknown Type, Medium)

Ramona
Female, Young
Labrador Retriever

Rusty
Male, Young
Shepherd (Unknown Type)

Zoey
Female, Young
Spitz (Unknown Type, Small)

Contact This Shelter...

Shelter: Found Chicago Phone: (773) 539-3880 Let 'em know you saw the dog you are interested in on puptown.org.

E-mail: adopt@foundchicago.org Let 'em know you saw the dog you are interested in on puptown.org. Website: http://www.foundchicago.org Address: 4130 N. Rockwell St. Chicago, IL 60618

Help this Shelter by making a donation.

Found Puggle. Do you recognize me?

 

The Bark Bark Club needs your help finding the owner of this sweet puggle. She was found on Friday night, March 18th at about 11:30 p.m. near the Senn High School Parking Lot at Greenview and Thorndale.

She does not have any tags or a collar (she borrowed one for the photo).  If you have any information, please contact Kairol at  312-560-3880.

Winter Fun at Puptown

 

No wind or snow can stop these guys from having fun!  A few impromtu photos of our local canine friends were taken this afternoon which will probably bring a few smiles your way. 

Enjoy.

 

Photo of the Week Contest Announcement

Beginning January 2011, we will begin a dog "Photo of the Week" contest.

To enter this contest, simply send in your photos to lloffer@yahoo.com.  Please use "Photo of the Week" as the subject of your e-mail and provide the name and a brief bio of your dog.

• We will then vote on the photos submitted per week. The chosen photo will be featured on the Photo of the Week Contest page and will include a personal bio of your dog.  Voting will end on Sunday a.m. and NEW photos submitted will be posted the same day.   
• We will be accepting photos now for entries.

Every quarter, we will also enter the 4 winner's of each month for "Puptown's Best Photo of the Quarter" contest (2Q2011, 3Q2011, an 4Q2011).  The winner will receive a complimentary coffee mug with a picture of your dog. 

To rotate image of coffee mug, click on picture and hold down mouse button.

Found Dog Needs Your Help!

 
This adorable dog was found on Tuesday 12/7 at Campbell and Peterson. He appears to be a cockapoo, white with some tan spotting. He's under twenty pounds and we're guessing somewhere between 1 and 3 years old and is not fixed.

The Bark Bark Club currently has this poor little guy crashing with them, but because he is not neutered, they can't keep him there for much longer. They are hoping to still find his owner, but is reaching out to anyone that would be interested in fostering or even possibly adopting the little chap.  The dog is a bit timid right now with everything that is going on, but once he warms up to you, he's a really sweet fella!

Please contact the Bark Bark Club to set up a meeting or if you have any information on his owners.

Bark Bark Club
(773) 989-8807
barkbarkclub@gmail.com

Handsome English Mastiff Looking for a Home

 

A client of the Bark Bark Club is trying to help a friend find a loving home for their beautiful Mastiff Asunder.

Due to an inability to sell their condo on the northside and move to a larger residence that provides room for family and dog, current owners need to find a new home for Asunder, a 4-year-old English Mastiff. Asunder is obedient, low energy, and good with children. He is a gentle giant.
 
If interested, please contact Christine at 773.294.8406.

October 2010 Events

October 9 - Park Clean-up  - 8 A.M.

Since the normally scheduled park clean-up was rained out last week, we will be doing the cleaning this weekend. Everyone is encouraged to participate.

October 13 - Puptown Meet and Greet at Fat Cat - 7 P.M.

Every quarter, puptown members gather to discuss park issues and to enjoy a beer.  We will meet at Fat Cat Bar and Grill  (Broadway, just north of Lawrence Avenue).

October 30 - Park Clean-up  - 8 A.M.

To prepare for our annual fund-raiser, we will be cleaning the park. Everyone is encouraged to participate.

October 30 - Puptown's 10th Annual Howl-O-Ween dog costume Contest  - 2 P.M.

Puptown will be celebrating its annual dog costume contest and fund-raiser. Come on out  and enjoy the day.  There will be great prizes, a silent auctions and of course - the most adorable pooches in costume.

Don't forget your checkbook. Money raised goes to maintenance and upkeep of the park.  All donations are tax deductible.

Rain Date is October 31

If you want to help out by donating your time or a prize, please contact info@puptown.org

Puptown Clean-up

Puptowners will be cleaning up the park this Saturday July 31st from 8:00-10:00 am - Puptown Dog park clean up.  Volunteers needed - just show up. 

Dog Fancy Magazine: Puptown Among the Best in the Country

(by David Goyer)

The June 2010 issue of Dog Fancy Magazine listed the top 40 dog parks in the United States and our beloved Puptown placed 5th!!  The article commented that, "despite our small size........we make up for it with big-time community spirit."  Kudos to all our members and volunteers who made this possible.

Remember:

• Keep you membership current
• Help Clean
• Volunteer a few hours every year

Bark in the Park - May 1st - Montrose Harbor

Puptown will be on hand for the annual "Bark in the Park" fundraiser - a 5k/3.2 mile walk (with or without your dog) to raise funds and awareness for The Anti-Cruelty Society, Chicago’s only private, open-admission humane society.

The event takes place in Lincoln Park at Montrose Harbor (exit 4400 north Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, head east to the Lake and look for the tents).

Registration opens at 7a.m. and the walk steps off at 9a.m.

We are joining a few other dog-friendly area volunteers to help get folks more involved with their local dog parks.

Park Closed This Saturday for Powerwashing and New Gravel

We are having our annual powerwashing of the park this Saturday to kick off a new sunny year at our favorite dog park.  We'll also be bringing in truckloads of new gravel -- which we do about every two years. The park will look sparkling afterwards -- a state which we will work hard to maintain (more on that in a later post).

Because they'll be some pretty heavy machinery moving around, consider the park closed -- starting about 7:30 a.m.   Everything should be completed by early afternoon, although we can't give a definite time.

The crew from Larry Asimov landscaping is paid for from member contributions.  If you haven't renewed your membership in 2010, visit the membership page.

Thanks for your understanding and support.

Puptown loses a friend

The Puptown Community is sad to learn that our good friend and treasurer, David is mourning the loss of his pal, Kobe. 

 

Kobe was a special part of my visits to the park - he used to greet me enthusiastically at the gate because I always gave him a good butt scratching:  he liked that.  I also gave him a treat once and he ever forgot that (I think he always expected more).

 

He was stoic and majestic (he looked SO much like a lion). We are going to miss him.

 

Farewell good friend.

 

 
Kobe (09/23/2000-02/23/2010)

 

Quarterly Meeting Memo

Volunteers and patrons of Puptown gathered at Fat Cat this past Wednesday to discuss park improvements and strategies for 2010. It was a great turn out and everyone had a good time - thanks Fat Cat for your hospitality!

The City of Chicago requires Puptown Park Users to meet periodically to ensure that the park is clean and maintained.  Puptown volunteers meet the second Wednesday of every quarter (January, April, July and October).

The following is a recap of that meeting:

• The Wallace Memorial Gate design has been approved by the park district. The Park District will let us know when construction can start.

• A fund-raiser planning committee was formed and will develop a theme for a Spring event.

• Several folks volunteered to take the lead on some other critical issues including:

Repair the door to the shed which is current broken

Prepare 2010 Annual Report to the Alderman

Manage Announcements in the Bulletin Board

Thanks to everyone who helps Puptown be the success that is is.

Puptown meets with Park District Architect

 
We are making progress with plans to re-configure entrance and exits at Puptown. Ryan Wallace (no relation to David Wallace) has been spear-heading this effort. He recently met with the Park District's architect to ensure that Puptown's needs are met.

We are all so thankful to Ryan. He has really shown tenacity when needed. With his permission, excerpts of his meeting notes are as follows:

The new fence to be installed will be a 10' section to divide the entrance in two sections. It is easiest and safest to enter and exit the dog park with the gate opening in the direction of travel (i.e. push not pull). The current outer entrance gate will remain as is. The other three gates will get new hardware in order to reverse the swing such that all gates open in the direction of travel (push). This is the most cost effective way to achieve a double gate with our current set up.

We recommend installing a visual screen on all facades that face the interior of the park and the divider of the entrance. This way dogs already in the park will not crowd the entrance to greet the new-comer (this can be a little overwhelming) and dogs entering and exiting will not see one another.

Recommend an outdoor bulletin boards (made of recycled material!):

http://www.kirbybuilt.com/products/products-by-category.cfm?categoryID=12&gclid=CI2Mhanvmp4CFRPxDAod5UZqlA
http://www.usmarkerboard.com/s/Outdoor-Enclosed-Bulletin-Boards/390
http://www.myvisualdisplay.com/messagecenters.html

We are so excited that the project is moving forward. Please take a moment to share your thoughts. 

Winter at Puptown

We have received word that the water fountain at Puptown has been shut off for the season. Now is a good time to review some tips for visiting Puptown in the Winter:

Bring Water

Pups can get dehydrated in the winter too. If there is no water available, your dog may resort to eating contaminated ice and snow.  Some generous souls make a habit of bringing gallons of water to share --Thanks! The more folks helping out, the better.

Shovel Snow

Soon there will be shovels placed near the entrance. It makes things much easier if we shovel as the snow falls instead of waiting for 4" to accumulate. We try to keep the entrance and a path to the center planting area shoveled. A few good people (Jay, Wes, Brendon et al) really chip in and it's appreciated but everyone should help.

De-icer

We use a dog and earth friendly de-icer and will make it available shortly. Feel free to spread it out as needed.

Winter at Puptown is fun - just bundle up, bring coffee and enjoy the pooches romping in the snow.

Renew On-line -- Get a Raffle Ticket!

Hey Puptown Fans,

 

For this week only, renew your membership on-line and be automatically entered in the Puptown Howl-O-Ween Raffle. Yes, you read that correctly: renew and get a raffle ticket.

 
This year's prizes are Puptown's best ever and there are more chances to win then ever.  You really want to take advantage of this. You do not need to be at the drawing to win -- we will contact you.

Offer expires this Friday (October 23) at midnight -- so don't delay.

To renew your membership, go to: http://www.puptown.org/membership.html

For information on Howl-O-Ween and some of the raffle prizes, go to: http://www.puptown.org/2009/10/howloween-2009.html

 

 

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.

Tragedy at Puptown

A couple of weeks ago a thirty-five pound border collie escaped Puptown, ran onto Lake Shore Drive and was fatally hit by a car. In pursuit of a squirrel, the dog climbed over the protective mesh along the bottom of the fence and squeezed through the pickets. 

The wire mesh has done a great job preventing small dogs and puppies from getting out of the park but everyone should be aware that dogs can still escape. Please watch your dogs carefully and if you think your dog is able to squeeze through the fence, use appropriate caution.

Our thoughts go out to the owner of the dog.

Puptown Improvements: New Entrance and Tree

Some of you may  have noticed that a new tree was recently planted at Puptown. The tree is a River Birch, known for its exfoliating bark, pest resistance and distintive look in winter. Located at the southeast corner of the park, it is a gift in memory of David Wallace and his dog, Tyler. 

Another gift from David's friends and family will be a second entrance at the Northwest corner of the park (adjacent to the shed). As Puptown has become more popular, increased crowding at the entrance has become a problem. To reduce the ensuing risk of dog fights, a second entrance was proposed by the Puptown Dog Owners Group and approved by the Chicago Park District. 

Below are the drawing plans (click to enlarge). The entrance construction should begin soon.

We thank the friends and family of David Wallace for their generosity. The park will be a better place because of them.

Puptown's Quarterly Meeting Highlights: Spay/Neuter Proposal, David Wallace Memorial Fund and More

by John Lenti

Puptown held its quarterly meeting July 8. The Pet Overpopulation and Safety Ordinance was the most-discussed agenda item -- scroll down for more on that. But first, here's a review of other park matters:

David Wallace Memorial Fund: Treasurer David Goyer reported that we have collected $5,985 to date; $600 has been used to pay for the River Birch Tree that the Park District will install this year.

I reported that the Park District is currently reviewing the proposed memorial plaque and its designers are in the process of drafting construction drawings for the new second entrance gate.

Treasure's Report: David Goyer stated that Puptown currently has $11,624 in its account (almost half of which is earmarked for the Memorial Fund). Most of this money will be used to pay for the second gate, which the Park District estimates will cost $8-10,000.

Puptown needs approximately $2,000 per year to cover cleaning and maintenance projects (including gravel replacement), so we should be OK so long as we keep up membership and other fundraising efforts. For more on what membership money goes toward, please check out our park FAQ.

Speaking of membership, if you haven't yet joined the Puptown Dog Owners Group (P-DOG), sign up here. 

Park Upkeep: Cleaning and fundraising continue to be challenging due to a lack of volunteers. Peter Leiser has helped keep the cleaning efforts going this summer (thanks, Peter!), but additional Saturday morning volunteers are always needed. Check the cleaning schedule here. The next Puptown clean-up is scheduled for July 18. 

We are always looking for ways to increase membership and participation and remain open to suggestions. Contact volunteer@puptown.org to discuss how you can help.

Communications: Our new Facebook page has 90 fans and is being used for messages about lost items, park safety and events. We're thrilled to see it has much it has grown in a short amount of time.

Membership: David Goyer reported that the Wag for the Bag event in May netted $65 in t-shirt sales and $215 in new memberships.

I spoke with the vendors who took part that day, and they'd like to do it again. Puptown plans to make this an annual spring event, though we may be looking to come up with a better name ("flea market," anyone?).

Fundraising: Eric Wagner presented the approved hat design. It should be ready to go on sale by mid-July. Keep an eye out for them -- for $25, you can help the park out and look good, too.

On to the spay/neuter proposal ...

We discussed whether Puptown should take a stand on the city's proposed ordinance, which would require all dogs be spayed or neutered (with an exception for breeders). Please read my previous post for more background and information on how spaying/neutering affects park safety.

After lengthy discussion, we agreed to send a letter to the City Council focusing on the impact that intact dogs have on city dog parks. We intend to suggest that the Council look at making the spay/neuter requirement a condition for acquiring a Chicago dog park permit, regardless of whether the ordinance drums up enough support.

The final letter will be posted here in the very near future for comments from Puptown members and the Puptown community.

Prior to the meeting, we had sent a draft letter to our Google group asking for feedback (if you're not on the email list, sign up in the upper right corner on this website). As of this post, I have received feedback from 20 folks. The results are as follows:

• 15 respondents support the City Council proposed ordinance; 5 respondents oppose the ordinance
• 18 respondents think intact dogs should be banned from Puptown, regardless of whether the city-wide ordinance passes; 2 respondents would oppose a dog-park ban

Please add your thoughts in the comments below or feel free to contact me directly. Thanks!

Vox Pupuli: Puptown to Add Second Entrance

by John Lenti

Puptown will soon have a second entrance. Friends and family of David Wallace, a Puptown member who died in January in a car crash that also killed his dog, Tyler, sought a way to honor David's memory and chose Puptown to receive donations. Thanks to their generosity, Puptown has raised enough money to pay for this much-needed improvement.

Additional items for the David Wallace Memorial include a new River Birch tree to be planted in the southeast corner of Puptown and a dedication plaque. 

Dog behaviorists agree that two entrances are an important feature for dog parks because it reduces crowding at gates and the dog fights that can result. The new entrance will be located on the north end of the park. Currently, the Chicago Park District is creating contract drawings for this work.

We were very saddened to lose David and hope these new improvements will keep his memory alive. There will be a dedication ceremony once all the work is complete. Please click here to read more about David or if you are interested in contributing to the David Wallace Memorial fund.

Grab a Green Bag at Puptown

Today's Chicago Sun Times reports on the donation to Puptown of 12,000 biodegradable poop bags. Kara Spak writes:

The volunteers who donated a year's supply of biodegradable bags want dog owners to stop using plastic grocery bags -- which take centuries to decompose -- and try the eco-friendly bags made from corn.

"This is part of a long campaign of re-education to get people to realize those shopping bags are not for dog waste," said John Lenti, a Puptown volunteer.

The 12,000 bags were donated by Mike Schultz, who runs the Web site zoomagreen.org and Green Paws Chicago, an eco-friendly dog-walking service. The dispensers are courtesy of artists from Gallery B1E in Rogers Park.

Stop by the park to check out the new dispensers and grab a bag.

P-DOG Quarterly Meeting: Notes on David Wallace Memorial, Maintenance, Membership Drive and More

We've posted the minutes from the P-DOG meeting held April 14. Please take a look for the latest news concerning finances, upcoming events, park safety and capital improvements: MeetingNotes.April.09

Become a Fan of Puptown on Facebook

Puptown is on Facebook, and you should join us! Here's our new page:
http://cli.gs/Sg2Wre

We've posted the most recent Howl-O-Ween photos. Fans are welcome to add their favorite dog pics and to comment on the wall. Become a fan today!

Puptown Member David Wallace, 1955-2009

David Wallace, a member of the Puptown community, died Jan. 30 from injuries sustained in an auto accident. David was driving to his home town of Warsaw, Ind., when a truck crossed the center line on US Highway 421. His dog, Tyler, was also in the car and died in the crash.

Here is David's full obituary. The visitation will be on Monday, Feb. 2, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Ind. The funeral service will follow at 6 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1720 E. Center Street, also in Warsaw.

Please feel free to add your thoughts and remembrances in the comments section below.

Many have expressed a wish to make a donation to Puptown in David's name. To do so, please click on the donate link, which has been created specifically for the David Wallace Memorial Fund:

If you prefer to donate by check, please include a note that it is for the David Wallace Memorial Fund and send to:
Puptown Dog Owners Group - c/o David R. Goyer
1945 West Albion Avenue, #2N Chicago, IL 60626-3901

David Wallace and Tyler

- Photos courtesy of Chris Macsurack

Sue Forshaw, David's best friend and secretary for more than 25 years, wrote this in memory of David:

David Wallace was full of life and love for his family and many friends. An attorney with offices in Evanston, he was always ready to help and lend a non-judgmental ear to friends and strangers alike.

Everyone who knew Dave knew of his love for Tyler, his little Carin Terrier. Tyler brought such joy to Dave. He spent as many of his free-time hours as possible taking Tyler to the Puptown dog park on Marine Drive in Chicago. He delighted in seeing Tyler run and play with all of the dogs. Tyler was rarely intimidated, no matter how small or large the dogs.

Dave was a great recruiter for Puptown. He was very impressed with how the park was maintained and with the activities that are available to the dog park participants. He met and made many friends there and did his best to tell everyone he knew who had a dog to try the park.

The loss of Dave and his loyal companion, Tyler, has left a large void in the hearts of all who have had the opportunity to know him. Dave would indeed be grateful for any donations made on his behalf to the Puptown dog park.

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

Support Fencing Along Lake Shore Drive

Puptown is collaborating with other community groups to appeal to the Park District to install protective fencing along Lake Shore Drive. Attached is the letter from the Puptown Dog Owners Group, and below is a report that John Lenti, P-DOG vice president, filed after attending a recent Park District budget hearing.

If you'd like to add your voice to the list of fence supporters, or if you have any questions, please email John at info@puptown.org. Thanks!

******

Puptown formally petitioned the park district earlier this month to prioritize the design of a landscape buffer where Margate Park abuts Lake Shore Drive as a capital expenditure for 2009. It was our first budget hearing, and it was very interesting. We were amazed at the human energy that was spent by all the various community groups.

Many groups appeared with t-shirts, illustration boards, testimonials ... it was a true sign of democracy in action. It is our hope that Puptown Dog Owners Group can one day be as organized. We will need to be more active in this process if we want to get some of our bigger projects realized.

We were equally impressed by how responsive the park district was in suggesting solutions and putting  groups together with the right contacts. We were referred to a fellow who is in charge of landscape improvements. We were assured that the park district will begin to work with us on getting this problem solved. It is just a beginning, but we left feeling that we had moved a boulder a few feet up the hill.

To date we have garnered the support of the following groups:

Puptown Dog Owner's Group
Lincoln Park Advisory Council
American Youth Soccer Organization
The Margate Park Garden Club
Hon. Mary Ann Smith

We especially owe Janis Taylor and Brian Loll from the Chicago Park District our thanks for their help in navigating us through this process.

If you would like to add your voice to this cause or if you have questions about it, please let us know at info@puptown.com.

Warm regards,
John Lenti
Volunteer, Puptown Dog Owners Group

Buy Dog Food, Support Puptown All in One

Do you shop for dog food and dog treats online? Then start shopping at US Bones, a Chicago-based company that supports animal groups and other nonprofit organizations by allocating 25 percent of the sale to participating groups. Puptown just signed on as an affiliate.

The food is all high quality and includes brands like Innova and California Natural. US Bones also carries a great selection of bones, health bars and other treats.

How does it work? Simply use this link or click on the logo below to shop, and you'll automatically support Puptown with every purchase. What an easy way to throw your favorite dog park a bone!

Puptown T-Shirts - Join the Pack

We unveiled these t-shirts last month at the Puptown Membership Kick-Off, and they were such a hit we're making them available at every park clean-up.

The cost is only $15, and all proceeds benefit the park. Cash or check welcomed.

Just come by the park between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. on cleaning days -- every other Saturday -- and pick up a shirt in your size (extra love if you also pick up a rake!).

Upcoming summer cleaning dates include: June 28, July 12, July 26, Aug. 9, Aug. 23. For a full schedule through October, click here.

Not only does the logo make a hip statement, but the t-shirts are 100-percent organic cotton and the manufacturing is both socially and environmentally responsible.