Inua, a 4-month-old Siberian Husky, enjoys time at Ike Park, an off-leash dog park in Vancouver. Photo by Paul Valencia

Volunteer organization raising funds for maintenance of dog parks in the region

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

The mission is simple:

“We want to provide a safe and happy place for people and dogs to run around and be free,” said Jan Fogg, vice president of DOGPAW (Dog Owners Group for Park Access Washington).

That mission costs money.

DOGPAW manages four Clark County off-leash dog parks — Dakota, Ike, Kane, and Lucky — all named for Clark County K-9s who have died in the line of duty.

“We are dog owners, dog lovers, and we love the parks,” said Marty Rutkovitz, the president of DOGPAW.

Jan Fogg, vice president of DOGPAW, and Marty Rutkovitz, president, stand at the off-leash dog park Ike in Vancouver. DOGPAW is raising funds for a riding lawn mower and other equipment to help maintain the four dog parks it manages. Photo by Paul Valencia

Today, DOGPAW is asking for the public’s help in raising funds for equipment for the parks. Organizers are looking to purchase a riding lawn mower for its largest park, plus other supplies that will be used at all four parks. DOGPAW set up a GoFundMe page with the details: Maintenance Equipment Needed for your Parks!

For years, DOGPAW has maintained the parks with donated equipment. The organization had a used John Deere tractor for the Ike park, located at 5167 NE 15th Ave. in Vancouver. That property is two levels across 10 acres. That tractor recently broke down.

“This park is a monster. I would love to see someone with a tiny lawn mower do 10 acres,” Fogg said with a laugh. “The grass will grow back by the time you’re done.”

DOGPAW has set up a GoFundMe to raise money for a riding lawn mower that will be used to help maintain one of the off-leash dog parks that DOGPAW manages. Photo courtesy GoFundMe.

Others have suggested asking for another donated tractor or riding lawn mower. But with the cost to repair and maintain an older unit, board members figured it would be more cost effective to purchase new equipment.

“We need a commercial grade, riding lawn mower that can help us do all of this,” Fogg said. “That’s the main purpose of the GoFundMe.”

DOGPAW board members opted to ask for more than just the cost of a tractor, though. Other parks have other needs. A maintenance shed, weedeaters, and other tools, for example. So the group is asking for $12,000.

The four parks have hundreds of guests— dogs and their humans — every day.

Dogs and their humans visit off-leash dog parks in the region every day. Photo by Paul Valencia

While some humans know about DOGPAW and the organization’s request for a $25 annual donation, many do not know what DOGPAW provides.

All four parks — one is owned by Vancouver and three are owned by Clark County — are public and are free for the public. The governments do provide plenty of support, but oftentimes it is volunteers, organized by DOGPAW, who perform most of the maintenance work.

DOGPAW hopes more park users will start paying the annual donation.

And, of course, give a little more for the fundraiser.

“We are 100-percent volunteer-driven, non-profit organization, and we allocate 100 percent of your donations directly to the upkeep and improvement of these parks,” the GoFundMe page notes.

For more information on DOGPAW, go to: https://www.dogpawoffleashparks.org