Merry Christmas from Frida

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

A new friend

A hearty welcome to Ben and his friend Niki to our group. We always love a new addition. Ben tells me he loves to take Niki to the dog park so he can sniff and play while Niki huddles over a hot coffee with the other people. Now that its getting colder Ben should make sure Niki dresses warm!

Happy romping Ben!

Great Tale about Moving with Dogs

A friend sent me this link. I highly recommend it for anyone who needs a good laugh, or wants to know how to calm an anxious dog.

Dogs Don't Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving

Proposed Tree Planting at Dog Park

I received the following notice today about Colonel Samuel Smith Park off leash tree planting;

"As part of the Trees Across Toronto/Toronto Water tree planting program, Urban Forestry is proposing a naturalization planting adjacent to the dogs off leash area at Colonel Samuel Smith Park. I have attached the proposed planting plan. The proposed plan is intended to increase the urban forest canopy, increase habitat and biodiversity and reduce stormwater.
The planting is proposed for this Fall 2010 pending approvals and utility clearance.
The planting is on the perimeter as there are water tanks beneath the area."

I have also attached the drawing the shows the area concerned. If you have any questions please forward them directly to Councillor Mark Grimes office, Ward 6.

Col Sam Smith Planting Area

New Doggie Care in the Area

A local home is now taking care of our Dogs. See attached Flyer for details.
If you are interested also contact Jaime directly at 905-510-9057.

Doggy Daycare Flyer

Park Opening

Although at this point I have not confirmed it, the Councillor Grimes newsletter has announced the opening of the Colonel Sam Smith Dog Park on August 31, from 5-7pm. Apparently there is some sort of ceremony but at this point we have not been informed of the event. If we hear more we will post details on the blog. Hopefully we can find out something soon and let you all know more.

Hope to see you all there.
Maria

The Dog Talk Project

All are welcome to visit the Dog Talk Project to learn more about this project.
See below for details.

We would like to invite members of your dog group to participate in a new on-line survey research program involving dogs and their people. The Dog Talk Project is a web-based system of surveys that studies a wide range of dog-related topics, including dog owners’ daily activities and routines, dog health care practices, behavior and training, breed preferences and attitudes, the social effects of dogs, and nutrition and feeding practices. We currently are collecting data with seven surveys. Interesting results are regularly updated and posted on our “Results Pages” and are also being used for a book project and for several research studies.

Participation is free and is completely voluntary and is open to anyone who lives with and loves dogs! Participating dog owners have a wide variety of dog interests and professions, and include dog sports enthusiasts, professional trainers and behaviorists, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, breeders, shelter and rescue professionals, dog sitters/walkers, and of course, pet owners who simply love spending time with their canine companions!

Please feel welcome to visit the Dog Talk Project to learn more about this project. If you find Dog Talk to be of value, please invite your group’s members to join Dog Talk and share their dog-related experiences and knowledge.

Fencing is coming

I love the personal touch some of our park users have added. A bench under the only shade tree, a gate at the street side, and a 'Welcome' sign at the side. It really speaks to the good people and dogs who are enjoying the space.

In a recent conversation with the City I was told that fencing is coming. I am not sure what kind or how much exactly, but it is on its way. I was also assured that the City will supply us with proper benches and gating (not that the home made ones have not been well appreciated).

I was hoping for some feed back on other things we could add to make it more welcoming. The idea of some agility equipment and maybe a watering trough (preferably a facet) has been mentioned. Although the City will supply some things, we will need to have a fund raiser to add other items.

Please drop me an email or send me a note about ideas for the park and options for fund raising. I would love to hear your ideas. Maybe a summer meet and greet at the park for members - and others - with sponsorship from local pet stores and maybe a major supplier? Anyone have a connection?
LET ME KNOW!
and have a safe and happy summer.

Open invite to local Planning meeting

Dear Members of the Lakeshore community:

You are invited to attend Lakeshore's fourth Community Planning
Conference. This special event will take place on Saturday May 1st,
2010 at the 'New' Toronto Police College (70 Birmingham Street) from
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Keynote Speaker will be John Sewell, former Mayor of Toronto.

The Lakeshore is composed of a mosaic of community groups, businesses,
agencies and individuals. Come hear what these individuals and
community groups are doing to improve the Lakeshore, more importantly;
come tell us what is most important to you. What should we do to
improve the Lakeshore, what are your priorities, how do we make a
great community even better?

Participants will take part in discussion groups on various topics:
arts, heritage, environment, economic development, governance,
planning, parks, transportation, housing and community safety. The
discussion group titles are suggestions only, if you have a suggestion
for a better topic please let us know. The objective for the day is
to identify what makes a liveable community, and decide on at least a
strategy on how to move forward together.

We will provide breakfast, lunch and daycare. Come meet your
neighbours and help plan for an even more liveable community.

You can register for this conference:
a) visit our website at: www.lakeshoreforum.ca or,
b) call 416-252-9701 ext. 795

Please circulate this flyer to your neighbours and community group
members, everyone is welcome.

RSVP as soon as possible,

Carole & Andrea
Tel: 416-252-6471

Support Bill 222 NOW!

Re-printed from Speaking of Dogs Newsletter.

NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo is fighting to overturn the BSL that discriminates against our good “pit bull’’ friends – and any dog that may look like a “pit bull.’’

This form makes it very easy for you to register your support for Cheri. Just pick your MPP from a list and fill in your coordinates.
The sample is in the link. Sample Letter

The web site also contains valuable information.
More info here: Broadsides Blog

You Have a Voice!
You have the power to make a difference for those who can’t!


My Thoughts.
I think this is a great bill and hope that everyone takes the time to write you local MPP. In our area (Etobicoke-Lakeshore) it is Laurel Broten. Drop her a line and make you voice heard.
Maria

Open Letter about Coyotes

Recently a resident of New Toronto emailed me and said he frequently took his small dog to Sam Smith park. He mentioned that over the winter he'd heard reports that coyotes were in the park and also that coyotes had snatched or attacked dogs in other parts of Toronto.

As an animal lover, he was wondering wonder if they can be humanely trapped and transported somewhere up north? Because as he said it may only be a matter of time before a small dog is attacked in Sam Smith park.

So the question is how are other small-dog owners coping with this?
Is anyone else avoiding Sam Smith?

My Response;

According to the Toronto Wildlife Centre they say that most coyotes will not approach a human. I assume they mean that a small dog is not a target if they are on leash or with their owner. That being said, a coyote attacking a cat or small dog is completely within normal activity. I guess that means keep your dog on leash and your cats indoors if you are concerned. Essentially, they offer no other real solutions because as the website points out, wild animals are wild and as long as they pose no threat to humans they will not be trapped or removed from the park.

I hope that helps and all our dogs, big and small, stay safe.

Best of luck
Maria

Comments from our Members

It is always great to hear from our members- so feel feel to drop me a line and I'll try to post it for everyone to enjoy. Photos are also welcome.


From Ott's Mom 'n Dad

"Our first time @ the park today & we met some great owners and their Pets! Otto had a great time chasing his tennis ball w/o his owners worrying about the 'Federales' coming to take him away......Thank you to Maria and Jane for establishing this!. Jane - Tx for pointing out some of the sharp stuff (cans, etc) on the ground that we need to watch out for. Was hoping to meet Frida or Memphis. Maybe nxt time? Ott is sleeping like a log as I type this.... Till nxt time, Regards all."

Dogs and cats at risk as epidemic kills raccoons
Published On Thu Feb 18 2010
Raveena Aulakh Staff reporter

If you see a raccoon lying on a sidewalk in the middle of the day, call Toronto Animal Services – and keep your dog on a tight leash.
The animal is likely sick and dying, and could infect your pet with a lethal strain of distemper, an epidemic that has killed hundreds of raccoons and skunks in the GTA since May.
"It's not transferable to humans but there is definitely a high risk to unvaccinated cats and dogs," said Eletta Purdy, manager of Toronto Animal Services. "It's not rabies but it kills quickly."
Distemper is a potentially fatal viral disease similar to measles that affects animals, especially dogs. Puppies and older dogs are more susceptible to the disease, which is spread by food, water, body fluids and feces. Cats are not as susceptible.
Distemper hits dogs in two phases: initially, they experience vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration, excessive salivation, coughing and/or laboured breathing, loss of appetite, weight loss and even pneumonia.
If the animal survives, the virus winds up in the brain. "That's when you see the neurological signs," said Doug Campbell, a pathologist at the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre in Guelph.
"The dog will be wobbly on its feet, the teeth will be chattering."
While most dogs are vaccinated against distemper, if an unvaccinated dog gets infected, its chances of survival are still quite good, Campbell said.
"It's the raccoons and skunks who won't survive this flu."
The outbreak among skunks and raccoons started in the Etobicoke area in early spring last year, Purdy said.
"It is now moving to the south of the city and I anticipate it will move to the others parts of Toronto, too."
Smaller epidemics killed dozens of raccoons and skunks in the early 1990s, but this is one of the biggest and most widespread outbreaks, she added. "This strain has knocked out quite a few raccoons."
Animal Services hasn't compiled numbers yet to compare 2008 with 2009, but Purdy says there was a significant increase in the number of calls to pick up sick or dead raccoons and skunks last year.
Researchers don't yet know if it's a feline or canine distemper strain that is infecting the skunks and raccoons, but the disease has spread quickly because these wild animals range over wide areas.
"It could also be that a (sick) animal was transported from another area and it infected others," said Nathalie Karvon, executive director of the Toronto Wildlife Centre.
"It's hard to say how it spread, but it has killed hundreds every year," she said. How long an infected animal survives depends on its strength, she said.
While the city says it has seen a spike in the number of cases since last spring, Karvon said the new strain is at least four years old. "We've been battling it for a few years."
The wildlife centre, near the Downsview Airport, receives more than 30,000 calls every year concerning wild animals. Karvon couldn't say how many were related to raccoons and skunks.
Winters are tough on vermin scrounging for food, said Ralph Toninger, senior project manager with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.
The population of raccoons and skunks will take a hit, but it's nothing to worry about, said Toninger. Coyotes were hit by a mange outbreak some years ago and many died, he pointed out.
"But they will make a comeback," he said.

Off- Leash Signage up

Just a few days ago city workers put up signage along the west side of the South Kipling road (south of Father Redmond Highschool and the bus turnaround) and at the upper and lower ends of the 'dog park'. I am including a photo of the signs, with two dogs that apparently can't read (joke!)


The north end is not so clear but if you squint you can see the red line I drew to give you an idea of the area.
What I also saw was a marked increase in the number of people enjoying the site. Great!
Just remember to pickup after Fido!


The minutes to the Dec. 7th Meeting are posted on the Friends of Colonel Sam website for those of you to read that could not attend. What is clear by reading the minutes was that I must have been at another meeting- there were so many points on the notes that I either missed or mis-interpreted it is scary. Anyway, what I did hope the city got from the meeting is that although we are ecstatic that the site is opening we are disappointed that it is such a small segment of a very large unused plot of vacant land, and that we as dog owners want it to be eventually fenced for the safety and security of everyone concerned.

Hi Memphis

This is a long overdue tip of the hat to Memphis. His greeting was delayed because, like every one else, I was busy. No excuses.
Anyway- a great big hoorah to Memphis seen here with his feline pal (sorry I can't find her name). The two look like great friends. Anyway- with the opening of the new off-leash area happening in the not too distant future I look forward to seeing Memphis there!

Welcome to the club!

Off- Leash park set to open

According to the Etobicoke Guardian the opening of the off-leash site is imminent. As you can all guess, we are happy to hear the news. We still are hoping the city goes ahead with our wishes and fences the area, especially as it borders the school running track, and the busy park road. As yet they have not indicated if this is in the works or not.
We plan to keep on this issue and report back as we hear anything more.

Till then, enjoy the mild winter weather on those long dog walks.