DOG DAY AFTERNOON DOG WALK AND
WATERFRONT CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA DEDICATION
CELEBRATES HEALTHY FAMILY FUN THIS SUNDAY

June 25, 2009

Sunday, June 28, 2009, noon – 3 p.m.
Dress up the dogs and kids and join us for an afternoon of fun this Sunday! The Dog Day Afternoon dog walk at starts at noon at Hood River’s Overlook Park and ends at the new Waterfront Community Park. The $10 dog walk entry fee is a donation to Hood River’s non-profit Adopt-A-Dog. Kids 12 and under walk free with a paid adult. From noon to 3 p.m. at Waterfront Park, everyone will enjoy a family fun fair. Join the dog costume, talent or obstacle contests, enjoy live family music, a healthy hot dog barbecue and dedication of the new children’s play area. Proceeds benefit Adopt-A-Dog and Waterfront Community Park Association (WCPA). The event is sponsored by Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital. For more information, visit http://www.hoodriveradoptadog.org or http://www.hoodriverwaterfront.com

Event schedule:

Noon
Dog Day Afternoon dog walk starts at Overlook Park, 2nd & State Street- Hood River and ends at the new Waterfront Community Park, walking along the Port’s new river front trail.

Leading the Dog Walk procession:
  • Mayor Arthur Babitz and his dog Rocky.
  • Ty Erickson, Chief Executive of Providence Hood River with his family and black lab Ollie.
  • Gary Grossman, General Manager of Bi Coastal Media radio, his wife Izetta and their dogs Tucker & Shanny.
  • Barb Ayers, of Providence Hood River with surf bassets Dude and Elvis, recently featured on NBC, adopted dogs that will ride on a parade land board.
  • Hood River juggler (and ski film star) Charlie Cannon and his dog Marley.
  • Esther Smith, Hood River News reporter, walking with a loaner dog (adopted rescue dog) named Colten.

Noon – 3 p.m.
Sunday, June 28 Waterfront Community Park
Family Fun Fair and dedication of Hood River Children’s Play Area

Noon - 2 p.m.
Dog Day events and contests will be occurring at the Park:
  • Photos with Fido and family ($5)
  • Adopt-A-Dog gift booth and raffle
  • Waterfront Park gift booth
  • All proceeds benefit the non-profit Hood River Adopt-A-Dog

Noon - 1:45 p.m.
Waterfront Community Park Association $5 hot dog healthy lunch plate special. WCPA volunteers will barbecue at the park and proceeds will raise money to add more play area elements at the park.

12:45 p.m.
Doggie talent show (suggested donation $5)

1:00 p.m.
Easy breezy dog obstacle course (suggested donation $5)

1:10 pm
Tod LeFevre will demonstrate the park’s new solar bathrooms

1:15 p.m.
Doggie costume contest (suggested donation $5)

2pm
Ribbon cutting and the official opening of the children’s play area

1:30 - 2 p.m.
Local kid bands ‘Order and Chaos’ (boys) and girls band ‘Pink Gravel” play between activities

2:30 - 3 p.m.
Demonstrations by the children’s rock climbing group and a parade of dog winners, followed by more live entertainment.

Dedication ceremony participants:
  • Former Governor Barbara Roberts, Columbia River Gorge Commissioner
  • Hood River Mayor Arthur Babitz
  • Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Jim Parr
  • Hood River City Engineer, Dave Bick

Background on the new Waterfront Park Children’s play area:
Last September, the City of Hood River and WCPA were selected as one of five state projects to receive a $50,000 grant from Oregon Parks and Recreation. This award was designed to celebrate Oregon’s sesquicentennial and to create a unique way to connect children and communities to the natural world. The funds are matched locally with a 50-50 donation which the non-profit WCPA, Hood River Parks and Recreation, local donors and in-kind donations from the City of Hood River. The purpose of the Youth Legacy Grant is to connect children to the outdoors, and increasing their understanding and appreciation of outdoor play.

According to Oregon Parks and Recreation director Kyleen Stone, “ It’s a sad fact that our children spend less and less time outdoors, less and less time in active outdoor play, and less and less time getting to know the natural world. As a society, we are all worse off for it. These five projects represent a small but potent way to combat the trend.”

WCPA has a unique group of volunteer parents that have been working on designing and building this play area that will be completed and opened to the public at a ribbon cutting on June 28 by former Governor Roberts. The goal is to promote children’s health, active outdoor play, a connection with nature and to launch an area open to everyone.

Along with the playground opening, WCPA is collaborating with another non-profit, Hood River Adopt A Dog, to host a dog fundraising walk to the waterfront park. The Dog Day Afternoon event will also promote healthy outdoor family activities at the park. In keeping with the dog theme and family day, WCPA is offering a healthy hot dog BBQ (chicken dogs), veggies, fresh fruit, water and healthy snacks.

Background on Hood River Adopt-A-Dog:
Adopt A Dog Hood River is a non-profit organization staffed solely by volunteers and entirely funded by donations. Volunteers work closely with the Hood River County Sheriff’s department to ensure that every dog housed in the Hukari Animal Shelter receives high quality care during their stay. Since its inception in mid 2007, Adopt A Dog has cared for hundreds of canine shelter guests and found homes or transfer placements for more than 170 dogs. Volunteers exercise, socialize, love and train the dogs so they are ready to be adopted to loving and permanent homes.

Hood River Adopt A Dog serves Hood River County’s residents by providing a variety of services ranging from volunteer programs and training to a stray’s page online gallery of found dogs housed in the shelter. They provide residents a local dog adoption option.

Photos and descriptions of all adoptable dogs are updated regularly at www.hoodriveradoptadog.org. An adoption fee includes five lbs of Science Diet dog food, an implanted ID microchip in case the dog is lost, access to low cost spay or neutering surgery and access to low cost pet medical insurance. All adoptable dogs receive distemper and bordetella vaccinations.

Adopt A Dog customer service for citizens:
  • Give advice and counseling for residents who need help with strays, or reclaiming a dog
  • Answer questions regarding dogs and the shelter
  • Limited assistance for owners who wish to re-home a dog without taking it to a shelter
  • Shelter tours by appointment

Donations fund three types of AAD programs:
  • Care of the shelter and adoptable dogs
  • Adoption outreach and transfer programs
  • Community services, including the volunteer programs.

Shelter hours for meeting dogs vary so visitors are advised to call ahead or set an appointment at 541-354-1083 .