FIDO - Fairmont Interested Dog Owners

Meeting - February 16, 2011

2011-02-14T18:12:00.001-05:00

There is a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 16th, 7:00 P.M. at the 8th Street Confectionery. We'll be electing officers and appointing board members, as well as discussing the options for making our park handicap accessible. Hope to see you there!

Puppy Mill Awareness by: Sharon Spevok

2010-11-02T10:06:00.005-04:00

A puppy mill is a dog breeding facility with the sole purpose of churning out litter after litter for profit. Typically, these animals have inadequate veterinary care, exercise, diet and shelter. Due to the frequent poor breeding conditions, puppies in these mills often suffer from health and/or social problems. Theses dogs are sold in pet stores, auctions, and through the internet.

Puppy mills are a serious problem as breeding for profit has dramatically increased. Thousands of puppy mills exist in the United States as well as overseas. Anything to make a dollar has become the idea, and the innocent animals are suffering for it. It takes you to put a stop to it. Let's help educate people so we can help stop the horrendous practice of puppy mills. If you're looking for a companion, do your research on reputable breeders visiting where the dog is raised or consider a rescue/shelter dog. The Humane Society of the United States has tips on how to avoid buying puppy mill dogs. For more information visit
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34751720
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/dogs_rescued_from_west.html

Just one of the many breed rescue groups is Lucky Star Cavalier Rescue. I had the rewarding experience of fostering a precious rescued cavalier who was recently adopted by a wonderful family in Pennsylvania. I spent months working with him to overcome his fears. He is on the path to recovery and now accepts the touch of a human hand. Please view the video posted below.

Puppy Mill Rescue - video

2010-11-02T09:54:00.002-04:00

"TAIL"-Gate Party!

2010-08-27T18:37:00.002-04:00

Come out to our next event at FIDO's Backyard! Show your team spirit by wearing gold and blue to celebrate the opening of football season for WVU at our "TAIL"-Gate Party! Hot dogs, chips, pop, and dog biscuits are free to everyone! Dress your pooch up and share in the fun.

Thursday, September 2nd - 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Hope to see you ready to cheer on the Mountaineers!

Editorial-TimesWV: Recreational dog park at East Marion fine enhancement to area quality of life

2010-06-10T22:25:00.002-04:00

As the cool evenings of spring stretch into the warm nights of summer, many pet owners likely will be eager to take Rover out for a leisurely walk.But instead of a quick stroll around the block, more and more people are treating their pets to a visit to recreational dog parks, which are becoming increasingly popular destinations for pet owners and their pooches. In fact, these popular facilities aren’t just reserved for large cities anymore, and a simple search for “dog park” online yields more than 2 million results.Now Marion County can lay claim to its very own facility, “FIDO’s Backyard.” Named after the group that organized its creation, Fairmont’s Interested Dog Owners, the park opened to rave reviews during a grand opening last month and is the latest addition to the county’s park system.The park offers a fenced-in area that is “offleash,” meaning owners can let their dogs off their leashes to run around and play with other dogs. And just as dogs come in all shapes and sizes, so do the parks designed specifically for them. FIDO’s Backyard covers multiple acres in a wooded area in East Marion Park. The area is a mixture of open fields and woods, where trees provide shade in the summer and protection from the elements and fields give room to play games.The $15,000 facility was paid for through state and county funds — $2,000 from the state and $5,000 from the Marion County Commission — as well as $8,000 in donations from the general public.Members of the Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission (MCPARC) helped by transforming the formerly heavily forested lot into a dog park, and numerous volunteers also lent a hand. Dave Garcia, president of FIDO, said that without the volunteers — who contributed financial support as well as hard labor — the park would not have been possible.Everyone who was involved in the process should be praised for his or her hard work and dedication to this project, which not only boosts the overall look of the park, but also gives new opportunities for local residents to get outside with their pets.As Marion County Commissioner Burley “Butch” Tennant said, “This is a nice place for people to bring their dogs — a great addition to our parks system.”But perhaps Richard Walton, a member of the MCPARC board, said it best when he said, “This park is another quality-of-life enhancement for Marion County.” Clearly, the new facility is the latest example of the good that can result when the community works together.

County's dog park "fantastic" for area; $15,000 park 'great addition' to system BY J. Miles Layton - Times WV

2010-05-31T22:42:00.003-04:00

Every dog has its day, and that day could become a little better thanks to Marion County’s new dog park.“There’s no question, this is absolutely fantastic for the community,” said state Sen. Roman Prezioso, who was enjoying the park alongside his black 80-pound Labrador retriever named Leonardo.On Sunday, dogs and people alike attended the ribbon cutting of “FIDO’s Backyard,” the latest addition to the county’s park system. The multiacre park is located in a wooded area near the basketball courts by Pavillion 5 within East Marion Park.“This is a nice place for people to bring their dogs — a great addition to our parks system,” said Marion County Commissioner Burley “Butch” Tennant.Cheri Pourbaix, of Fairmont, brought her little brown, longhaired dachshund named Newton to see the new park. Newton politely declined an interview because he was too busy taking in the scenery. But on Newton’s behalf, Pourbaix said, “Oh yeah, he loves it. He loves this new park.”And love the park Newton should because it offered an enormous fenced-in area where dogs could be dogs. The area will be “off-leash,” a place where owners can let their dogs off their leashes to run around and play with other dogs. But the dogs must be controlled and must stay in the designated area.“The park allows dogs to get acquainted with other dogs in a non-threatening environment,” said Dave Garcia, president of Fairmont’s Interested Dog Owners (FIDO), a group that organized to create the park.Garcia said the park was inspired by Stanley’s Spot in Morgantown. That popular dog park, smaller by comparison, is a fenced-in area located off the rail trail where dogs large and small meet. The new park relied heavily on volunteers in terms of fundraising and hard labor to make it a place that dogs like Newton would bark about.Garcia said the park cost about $15,000. The money to pay for the park came from a $2,000 state grant and $5,000 from the Marion County Commission, with the remaining share of $8,000 offered up as donations from dogs’ best friend, people.“The volunteers have been great — without them, this would not have been possible,” Garcia said.Garcia had high praise for Dan Talbott and Mike Koon, of the Marion Parks and Recreation Commission, for transforming a heavily forested lot into a dog park.“They performed miracles in transforming an old, grown up area into a fantastic dog park,” Garcia said.The Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission (MCPARC) will maintain the park. Talbott, MCPARC executive director, said the area will be a mixture of open field woods, which will offer benefits to pet owners utilizing the facility because the trees would offer shade in the summer and some protection from the elements, and the fields will give them room to play catch and other games with their dogs.MCPARC board member Richard Walton said, “This park is another quality of life enhancement for Marion County.”

FIDO's Backyard

2010-05-20T18:54:00.003-04:00

Our dog park's name is official: "FIDO's Backyard"

We are preparing for our Grand Opening Celebration to be held on Sunday, May 30th. Gates will open to the park at noon with a special ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:00 P.M.

We have scheduled a work day for Saturday, May 22nd, to get the area ready! MCPARC workers will be there around 7:30 or 8:00 A.M. Come for the morning or just sleep in and come for a little bit to help out.

Hope to see you Saturday!

Work has begun!

2010-04-06T20:16:00.002-04:00

We are excited to share that work has begun on the fencing at the park! Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, April 8th, at 6:00 P.M. at the dog park site. We'll be checking out the progress of the work being done, assessing what else we can do to make the area ready for its opening, and plan for a grand opening celebration. Hope to see you there!

FIDO News

2009-10-03T09:45:00.003-04:00

The latest news is that we are waiting for the fencing and signs to be completed. Our grand opening celebration will follow soon after those park necessities are finished. We'll keep you posted as we know anything.

Meeting on August 25th

2009-08-22T09:48:00.002-04:00

Dear Dog Lovers,

FIDO will be having a meeting on Tuesday, August 25th, at 7:00 P.M. at Pavilion #5. The pavilion is located at East Marion Park (Wave Tek) and is near the dog park site. We hope to see you there!

Summer 2009

2009-06-26T11:13:00.002-04:00

Work has been mostly completed at the dog park site as MCPARC and FIDO volunteers cleared away trees and brush. We hope to have the area fenced sometime in July when the fencing materials are received. Once the signage is obtained and posted, the park will be open for public use.

A FIDO meeting will be held in the future in order to plan for an official opening ceremony. Thank you to all of our supporters as we continue to move forward with the dog park!

Three Rivers Festival Parade & News

2009-05-21T20:20:00.003-04:00

FIDO was represented well in the Three Rivers Festival parade through the streets of Fairmont by Kahlua, Majic, Deke, and Brewster. Thanks to Megan, John, Sonja, David, and Kelly for escorting the dogs and getting the word out about the dog park.

A lot of work is being done to make preparations for the fencing to be put up soon. If all goes well, the park will be open in June. A work day is scheduled for Saturday morning, May 23rd, from 9AM until around noon. Bring your work gloves if you are able to help clear some brush.

Our next FIDO meeting will be a cookout held on an upcoming Saturday afternoon. More information on that later.

Next Meeting April 27th

2009-04-25T10:59:00.003-04:00

Please plan to attend our next meeting to be held on Monday, April 27th, at 7:00 P.M. We will meet at Pavilion #5 at East Marion Park which is near the dog park site. Leadership Marion is hosting a Cash Bash on May 16th at Westchester Village and half of the proceeds will be going to FIDO, with the other half going to the United Way. Please consider purchasing a ticket - we will have tickets available at the meeting or contact me at kellyjogarcia@yahoo.com.

Hope to see you at the meeting! It should be a nice evening to explore the site as well.

Meeting postponed until April 13th

2009-04-05T15:41:00.004-04:00

Due to inclement weather, our next meeting will be held on Monday, April 13th. (Originally scheduled for April 6th). We will begin at 6:30 P.M. with a site walk to see how much progress has been made in clearing the wooded area. The business meeting will follow at 7:00 P.M. at Pavilion #5 which the area closest to the site. We hope to see you there!

Unique park for dogs By: Mallory Panuska

2009-04-01T12:01:00.002-04:00

‘Unique park’ for dogs
FIDO members working to secure funding, clean up areaBy Mallory PanuskaTimes West Virginian
FAIRMONT — Marion County dog owners are getting closer to having a local place to take their furry family members for recreation. Members of the Fairmont Interested Dog Owners (FIDO), a group formed recently to create a dog park in county limits, have secured three to four acres of property at East Marion Park for the endeavor. Members of the Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission (MCPARC) also helped the group get this land for the project, which is located behind the softball field at the East Side recreational facility.And now, with spring on the horizon and the weather warming up, FIDO members are making efforts to secure funding and begin cleaning up the area.FIDO frontman David Garcia explained that the park will be shaped like a figure-8 with a mixture of open space and woods. “I think ours is going to be unique in that we have a flat area and a wooded area,” Garcia said. “it’s really going to be a unique park.”Garcia said the group, which is made up of about 20 core members and a total of about 80 others who attend the meetings, borrowed ideas from a dog park in Morgantown.He said the open space will be for the dogs to run around and play fetch and mingle with other dogs, and the wooded space will be for the owners and their pets to walk and hang out in the shade. He said there will be a large portion for big dogs and then a smaller portion dedicated to little dogs so the breeds can be separate. And all around the park there will be signs posted with a set of rules, Garcia said. These rules include making sure the dogs are supervised and under control and also ensuring that if a dog gets out of hand or is not compatible with the other dogs that the owner must apprehend it.Garcia said that he doesn't anticipate too many issues because the park will be neutral territory, and most dogs only get territorial in their own domains.In total, Garcia said the first estimate for the park came in at $21,500, with the main expense being a $16,000 fence that will be put up around the open portion. Last week, Garcia approached the Marion County Commissioners on behalf of FIDO and requested funding help for the fencing. And as dog owners themselves, the commissioners said they were in favor of the concept of creating this type of park.“I’m sold on the whole idea,” Commission President Randy Elliott said. “There are dog owners in this county who go to Morgantown to go to a dog park. It’s a great thing that we don’t have in this county, that now we can have.”Elliott said he and the other two commissioners would look into FIDO’s request and decide what kind of help they can give.Garcia said the group is also hosting an elimination dinner with the United Way on May 16 and is also planning to apply for some other grant funds.In addition to the fencing, Garcia said the group is also looking to purchase signs and benches and also wants to set up a place for the dogs to have fresh water as well as places for waste disposal.If all goes well and the funding comes in, Garcia said he hopes to have the fence up and the park ready for use around June. Garcia said FIDO is planning a work day to clean up some brush and trees at the site in the near future and that anyone who wants to help is encouraged to do so.

FIDO T-shirts!

2009-03-28T10:20:00.000-04:00

At the last FIDO meeting, we discussed ordering t-shirts which could be worn during work days at the park and to fund raisers supporting the group. We have been working with Acorn Graphics in Fairmont to design the shirts. Here are the details:
- Shirts will be the color Sand - which is a light tan color
- Size available are youth sizes and adult sizes up to 3XL
- On the front, we propose the 4x4 FIDO logo on the left chest (where a pocket would be but the shirts don't have pockets)
- On the back, we propose a 12x12 design (which is standard size) which would have a big paw print in the middle, the FIDO webpage underneath the paw, and the phrase "More Than a Walk in the Park" in an arch over the top of the paw print. The phrase on the back is certainly up for suggestions so if you have any, please feel free to email the group or myself (wendy.spurling@gmail.com) with your ideas. If we are able to put together an order for 30-35 shirts, the cost should be around $8.00 a shirt (ballpark), or a little more if we order less shirts. We're just going to focus on t-shirts for right now, but hats and other items may be close behind if this goes well. If you are interested in ordering a FIDO t-shirt, please let me know what size and how many of each size so we can get a count for the April 6 meeting. We would like to have the t-shirts for the Cash Bash fund raiser on May 16, so we would like to place the order immediately after our next FIDO meeting, so please have your orders to me by April 6 either via email (wendy.spurling@gmail.com) or phone (412-719-9305).
Thank you!!
- Wendy Jo Spurling

"FIDO goes before Marion County commission to bark for dog park funds BY: Jim Bissett for the Dominion Post

2009-03-28T10:02:00.002-04:00

Happy panting and tireless Frisbee-fetching, yes. Leashes, no. Those will be the only rules Marion County's canine population will have to abide by in the county's first-ever dog park, which is scheduled to open this summer. The group that will oversee the operation, Fairmont Interested Dog Owners (FIDO) came out during an evening session of the Marion County Commission on Wednesday to bark for park funds. The park's area takes in three acres in a northern quadrant of East Marion Park, which is just off the city's East Side. David Garcia, the group's president, asked commissioners for $8,000, which is about half the total cost for the fencing that will allow dogs to roam off-leash. The park will be part of the Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission's (MCPARC) network, Garcia said. "We're pretty excited about it," he said. "So many dogs are tied up in the yard, so this is a place where they can really run." As in running in social circles, said Garcia, the proud owner of a golden retriever named Brewster. "The dogs will be able to socialize and get some exercise," he said. "And when you get a bunch of dog owners around, you've got an instant bond." Counting fences and new signs, Garcia said, the technical cost of the park will be $21,500. Operating it under MCPARC means the group won't have to apply for nonprofit status. The park will be a mix of hilly, wooded trails and flat expanses free of trees, he said, and the area FIDO marked had been unused previously. Having a park catering to a canine clientele in the county means owners will no longer have to drive to Morgantown and other locales in order to see Spot run, Garcia said. The county will fetch an answer for FIDO next week, Commission President Randy Elliott said, adding that he and his fellow commissioners are all dog owners. "I don't have to tell you you're preaching to the choir with us," he said to Garcia. FIDO also wants to get the city of Fairmont involved, which might not be barking up the wrong tree, since Deputy Mayor Bill Burdick (the proud owner of Katie, a black lab) is also a member. For information on the organization and the park, visit www.fairmontinteresteddogowners.blogspot.com. Commissioners, meanwhile, are on a short leash this week. They'll meet Friday morning to sign off on he county's roughly $10 million operating budget for fiscal year 2009-'10.

FIDO on WBOY News

2009-03-21T20:59:00.001-04:00

Check out this link to a news story and clip about the dog park. We had lots of help that day and have made great progress!

http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=54950

We need your help!

2009-03-17T22:16:00.000-04:00

As we are already halfway through March, we are really needing to get the site area cleared. David and Steve walked the site this past Saturday to determine what needed to be done. They began work clearing the area with help from a great bunch of MCPARC volunteers. Now we really need help from our FIDO members.

Please look ahead on your March and early April calendars - every Saturday morning that it doesn't rain will be an opportunity to help. The outlook is good for a nice day this Saturday, March 21st - we will begin at 9AM. Also, David and I will be at the park tomorrow, Wednesday night, beginning at 5:30 P.M. until dark. If you can come for a couple of hours or only one, please plan to help out. We have put in a lot of hours in planning for our dog park; let's be sure to put in the sweat equity as well.

The only thing you have to have when coming out to help at the site is a thick pair of gloves. If you own a chainsaw, weedeater with blades, or scythe please bring it along.

If you could let me know when you plan to help, it would be great to know who to expect. Thanks for considering putting in a little time for our dogs.

First Work Day Planned

2009-03-13T18:46:00.002-04:00

Our first work day for the dog park will be held on Saturday, March 14th, at 9:00 A.M. Please bring work gloves if you plan to help out. Feel free to come and check out the property if you are not able to pitch in at this time to get a glimpse of our vision for the first dog park in Marion County.

March Meeting

2009-03-09T09:11:00.001-04:00

Our next meeting for FIDO is Monday, March 9th, at 7:00 P.M. in the J. Harper Meredith Building. We will be discussing our progress and planning some work days at the property. Hope you can make it!

Section of East Marion Park Approved as Site for Dog Park

2009-01-25T20:31:00.001-05:00

BYMALLORY PANUSKA TIMES WEST VIRGINIAN FAIRMONT — A section of East Marion Park was officially approved as the future site of a countywide dog park last week. Dan Talbott, executive director of the Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission (MCPARC), explained that the park will be located in an area that measures between three and four acres behind the softball field at the East Side recreational facility. MCPARC is working in conjunction with the Fairmont Interested Dog Owners (FIDO), a group promoting construction of the park. “We’ve been working with a group of really, really great people,” Talbott said of FIDO. “We are working with this group in helping them help their cause.” Currently, an engineer is working on the specifics of the project, which will ideally be either a completely or partially fenced-in area where responsible pet owners can bring their dogs, Talbott said. He said the area will also be “off-leash,” which he explained is a term used all over the country that refers to an area where owners can let their dogs off their leashes to run around and play with other dogs. But the dogs must always be controlled and must stay in the designated area, he added. Talbott also said that the area will be a mixture of open field woods, which will offer benefits to pet owners utilizing the facility because the trees would offer shade in the summer and some protection from the elements, and the fields will give them room to play catch and other games with their dogs. Other benefits can be found within the social aspect of the park, Talbott said. “A dog park is more than taking your dog for a walk,” he said. “It’s a social thing. It helps the owner get exercise as well as the pet. It’s just good for the community.” FIDO’s next meeting was to be held this weekend, and Talbott said members will be discussing fundraising efforts for the park as the next step in moving the project forward. He added that the group will also need to solicit the City of Fairmont to consider passing a special ordinance to allow for the park to be constructed at that location because it is within municipal limits.

MCPARC Meeting

2009-01-20T20:30:00.002-05:00

David and Dan presented information to the MCPARC Board of Directors this evening. Thanks to several of our FIDO members who were in attendance to show support including Aaron Pollock, Stephanie Wilson, and Wendy and David Spurling.

After some discussion, the MCPARC Board approved our proposal of using the property at East Marion Park with the following provisions:
1) a survey be done of the area
2) the city approve an ordiance for an off-leash area
3) a detailed report of the projected costs

Thanks again for all of your support. You can still send in donations to MCPARC or pledge for later. We will continue to keep you posted. Our next official meeting will be held on Monday, February 9th, 7PM in Room 104 of the J. Harper Meredith Building.

East Marion potential location for dog park

2009-01-15T16:26:00.000-05:00

By Paul FallonTimes West Virginian
FAIRMONT — The proposal to build a dog park in the area moved one step closer to reality Monday night. One of the major obstacles that must be overcome for the dog park to be constructed is locating property. And members of the group promoting construction of the dog park, Fairmont Interested Dog Owners (FIDO), are asking that a portion of East Marion Park be used for the proposed dog park.The particular portion of land is approximately three acres and is located behind the softball field, said Dan Talbott, executive director of the Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission. MCPARC is sponsoring FIDO. “We think this is a really good spot for the dog park,” Talbott said. A dog park is a fenced in area where people can take their animals to play. The dogs can be let off the leash once they are inside the fenced-in area. The proposed site is close to water, which is a necessity for a dog park, said Dave Garcia, the lead member of FIDO. Garcia added that additional parking can be built near the site. “It’s a really nice place, and it’s centrally located,” Garcia said of the site. Garcia added that the site was also wooded in areas and open field in other. This would benefit pet owners utilizing the park because the trees would offer shade in the summer and some protection from the elements. The clear fields would also give the pet owner the opportunity to play catch with their pets, among other games. Although the group is asking for that particular piece of property, no concrete decision has been made. Therefore, the site for the park may change in the future if problems with the East Marion Park location arise. Although members of FIDO have possibly located a site for the park, they still need funding to help construct the facility. “Fencing is going to be the most expensive thing we’ll have to buy,” Garcia said. “It has been estimated that we’ll have to buy about $15,000 worth of fencing to enclose that area.” Anyone wishing to donate money to help fund the dog park may do so by sending a check to: MCPARC, 319 Monroe St. Fairmont, WV 26554. Checks should be made out to MCPARC but designated for FIDO in the memo line. Talbott pointed out that donations are tax-deductible.

Another Step Closer

2009-01-15T16:17:00.004-05:00

The group has taken another step closer to making the dog park a reality. A motion was made and passed that the East Marion Park site (behind the softball field at Wave Tek) be pursued as our intial dog park in the county. A presentation will be made to the MCPARC Board of Directors on Tuesday, January 20th, at 6PM at the J. Harper Meredith Building, fourth floor. Plan to attend and show your support if at all possible.

If you are interested in making a contribution to FIDO, our suggested levels of giving include $25 individual, $50 family, and $250 founder or business (to be recognized at the park), although any amount would be appreciated. Make checks payable to "MCPARC" with a designation in the memo for "FIDO" and send to: MCPARC, 319 Monroe Street, Fairmont, WV, 26554.

The next FIDO meeting will be held on Monday, February 9th, at 7:00 P.M. in Room 104 of the J. Harper Meredith Building.

We Are Official!

2008-12-08T21:23:00.002-05:00

A meeting was held on December 8th to elect officers, appoint committee chairpersons, and adopt the bylaws for FIDO. A PowerPoint presentation was given to share pictures and informaton about potential sites. More discussion will be held at our next meeting to be held on Monday, January 12th, at 7:00 P.M. in Room 104 of the J. Harper Meredith Building. If you have any other ideas from potential sites, please bring information about them to that meeting.

Marymoor Dog Park - Dream Big!

2008-11-03T21:52:00.004-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oabd7xNpcuw

Please take five minutes to enjoy this YouTube video featuring a 40 acre dog park. Hosted by "Radar" of M.A.S.H., it's a great clip that reflects what a wonderful place our dog park could be.

Meeting Scheduled for November 3rd

2008-10-28T19:54:00.002-04:00

Thank you for your initial support in the development of a dog park in the Fairmont area. The recent article in the Times West Virginian and subsequent meeting on October 21st has generated lots of interest.

Those attending the October 21st meeting weathered a cold and dark night. Cliff Harvey, the president of MDOG from Morgantown, gave us lots of good information to start formulating a plan for our dogs and owners. An e-mail from Cliff indicated that Stanley's Spot in Morgantown is closed right now in order to do some repairs. Also, he wanted to send his best wishes and good luck as we get started.

The next meeting scheduled for the FIDO group has been scheduled for:

Monday, November 3rd
7:00 P.M.
Eighth Street Confectionary

Kathy Riggi has kindly offered to let us meet at her place of business which is located at the corner of 8th and Virginia Streets. We will be looking over proposed bylaws as we get organized. Additionally, prospective sites will be discussed and a committee formed to visit some possible areas for consideration.

John Veasey's Notebook - 10/27/08

2008-10-27T17:18:00.001-04:00

Received a call from David Garcia, who said that everything looks good thus far for the dog park following Tuesday evening’s meeting. “We had around 22 people attend the meeting,” he said, “including (commissioner) Randy Elliott and (city councilman) Bill Burdick. “There’s a lot of interest in this project, and I think it will make a difference for Fairmont,” David said. Arsena McIntire says she believes the dog park is a “great idea for Marion County.” She has a 3-year-old German shepherd named Hondo who enjoys playing with other dogs but says "our leash laws prohibit that."

Times WV newspaper article - October 2008

2008-10-26T22:26:00.003-04:00

Place for ‘FIDO’
Meeting for county dog park tonightBy John VeaseyTimes West Virginian
FAIRMONT — Are you interesting in helping develop a dog park for Marion County?A meeting for those interested is scheduled here tonight.It will be held at 7 p.m. at the No. 1 pavilion at East Marion Park.“We’re calling our group FIDO (Fairmont interested dog owners),” Dave Garcia, who is promoting the venture, said.“We want to create a fenced-in area for dogs to enter and play and have a good time,” he said. “We would have one area for large dogs and one for small dogs.”He said “it’s like a park for kids, but it’s for dogs. Morgantown has one by Decker’s Creek. And I’ve been told there have been no problems there.”Garcia said he is working with MCPARC executive director Dan Talbott on plans for the Fairmont dog park.“We would like to find a location with one or two acres,” he continued. “It could be near Rails to Trails or it could be built in one of our county parks.”“They’re definitely good things,” Talbott said Monday. “It is another opportunity to find a place for leisure activities.“Just like our youth today like many different things, older people have a need for social recreation. There are a lot of people who spend a lot of time with their pets.“Because of the leash law that Marion County has, there is not a lot of opportunity to let their dogs run,” Talbott continued. “So this gives us an opportunity to give them an alternative.“I think it’s a pretty neat idea,” he said. It was when Garcia was taking his dog Brewster to the park in Morgantown that the idea hit him.Why not try to get something developed in Fairmont such as Morgantown has? And the university city may soon have another one if the Board of Parks and Recreation commission and the Morgantown Dog Owners Group (MDOG) get their way. Garcia said that the dog owners can sit around and socialize when they bring their dogs to play.People with questions may call Dave or Kelly Garcia at 367-1184.E-mail John Veasey at jcveasey@timeswv.com.

Dog Park article - September 2008

2008-10-26T22:26:00.001-04:00

Group for creating dog park in MarionBy Paul FallonTimes West Virginian
FAIRMONT — Pets are an important component in many people’s lives.Scientific evidence indicates that people who own pets live longer than those who don’t. And now officials with the Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission are exploring a way for pet owners and their four-legged friends to have a “doggone” good time. The agency will be holding a public meeting to discuss the possibility of creating a dog park somewhere in the county. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday in Room 104 of the J. Harper Meredith Building, said Dan Talbott, MCPARC executive director. “We inviting all interested parties to attend,” Talbott said. A dog park is a fenced-in area where people can take their animals to play. Since Marion County has a leash law, Talbott pointed out that it is hard for pet owner to take their dogs out and let them run free. However, dog owners will be able to let their animals off the leash once inside the fenced-in dog park, Talbott said. “The concepts of dog parks have been around for awhile,” he said. In fact, Monongalia County already has one dog park, and officials with the Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners and the Morgantown Dog Owners Group (MDOG) are in the process of creating another one, Talbott said. A group of Marion volunteers dubbed Fairmont Interested Dog Owners (FIDO), led by David Garcia, have stepped up to establish a dog park somewhere in the county. Garcia came up with the idea to build a dog park in Marion County when he started taking his dog Brewster to the park in Monongalia. While letting his beloved dog play with the other animals, Garcia began to wonder why Marion County did not have a similar facility. “We’re looking at doing some fundraisers,” Garcia said about finding financing to construct the park. He said the park in Monongalia County has two fenced in areas, one for small dogs and one to accommodate the larger of the species. However, he pointed out that although the parks are built specifically with dogs in mind, there not the only animals who benefit. “People can sit around and socialize when they bring their dogs to play,” Garcia said. He added that all sorts of activities can be held at the dog park. He pointed out that if built, are pet owners can come to the facility to participate in Walk with Your Dog Day. He also noted that members of FIDO can collaborate with area animal shelters. The shelters could bring the animals housed there to the park in order to showcase them to would-be owners. “We can do all kinds of fun things with a dog park,” Garcia said. Talbott added that he also believed a dog park would greatly benefit residents in the county. An avid outdoorsman, Talbott pointed out that in today’s society, people tend to live much more sedentary lifestyles. Building a dog park gives people yet another reason to get outside and move around, he said. Talbott said finding a suitable location for a dog park would be one topic discussed at the meeting. He added that he would like to see an area resident possibly donate land to MCPARC where the dog park could be built. “How much money we need for this project depends a lot on where it’s placed,” Talbott said. E-mail Paul Fallon at pfallon@timeswv.com.

Upcoming Meeting

2008-10-13T19:12:00.002-04:00

FIDO is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, October 21st, 2008, at Pavilion #1 located at the East Marion Park in Fairmont, West Virginia. It is the large pavilion located to the right of the entry into the park. The meeting will begin at 7:00 P.M. and be attended by members of MDOG - Morgantown Dog Owners Group. This group has successfully developed one existing dog park called "Stanley's Spot" along Decker's Creek and is nearing the grand opening of a second one at Krepp's Park. Their experience and insight will provide much needed information as we explore the possibilities for such a facility in Marion County.

Please plan to attend and show your interest in promoting a recreation facility for area dogs and dog owners.

Getting Started

2008-10-05T20:52:00.000-04:00

Our group had a public meeting on October 2, 2008. We are starting out with a small but enthusiatic group of people who are willing to work to pursue the goal of getting a dog park established in the Fairmont/Marion County area. Look for petitions in local pet stores and veterinary offices to sign to show your interest in the development of the dog park. We hope to show officials of the City of Fairmont that there is interest in the community for this type of recreational facility.

Contact MCPARC's office for further information. 363-7037