| Celebrating Canines & Community! | December 2012 |
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Greetings!
It's truly hard to believe we are in the final hours of 2012! We've certainly had a jam-packed year. We added Christina Clemente and Linda Gardiner to our board this year and they have proven to be amazing & committed additions! Also new to the Klub in 2012 is our photographer, Colleen Pope of My Firkin Dog. Colleen has tirelessly attended our events all year and has provided wonderful photographic memories for our website. Be sure to contact her if you want copies!
2012 also brought the opening of the fabulous new Phyllis Rawlinson Dog Park. TRH did a truly wonderful job on this park - completely different from the Tower Hill Park and special in it's own way. This year also included a few unexpected events. In March the K9 Klub was notified of a nomination for a Character Community Award in 2012. To be included among such accomplished groups and individuals also nominated was truly an honour. In July we were contacted by the folks at Global TV and were featured on the Making a Difference with Susan Hay segment of Global News. September brought about tree planting around the Tower Hill park with TD Tree Days. In October we were asked to take part in a cable TV discussion about Dog Parks on Trending in York Region.
The fate of the Tower Hill dog park remained foremost in our minds in 2012. In late 2011 we were blessed with the Council decision for Tower Hill to be studied for a year following the opening of the new park at Phyllis Rawlinson. At the same time it was determined that Town staff would meet with the parties involved to mitigate some of the neighbour's concerns in the meantime and monies were earmarked for that purpose. Meetings were held and suggestions were made but it became painfully obvious that the only mitigation deemed acceptable by the Residents of Moraine Ridge Drive would drastically change the footprint of the existing park. These "solutions" were not acceptable to park users, T.H.O.R. or the K9 Klub, so in June, back to Council we went. After reviewing the Staff Report and hearing many delegations, Council voted unanimously that no monies would be spent on mitigation and the park would remain open, as decided in 2011, for a 12 month period following the official opening of the new park. The 12 month period, in addition to time needed for staff report preparation, will take us into late 2013 or early 2014 before we go back to Council chambers.
Don't make the mistake in believing the residents opposing the park are quietly waiting for this grace period to expire however. The residents are actively emailing Council & Town Staff with complaints, writing letters to the editor and regularly using a sound deterrent device located in one of the nearby backyards. Their use of this device, by the way, is of interest to the Town. Should you witness it's use, please call Bylaw Enforcement at 905-771-0198 to report the incident.
As always we ask that you be respectful to the residents in respect to noise levels and discourage even occasional barks at all times but particularly early in the morning. With the arrival of the snow, please also be meticulous in picking up after your dog so we can minimize the risk of Giardia in the park come Spring thaw.
Thank you to our members, supporters and sponsors for making 2012 such a successful year and we look forward to an even better and busier 2013!
Oh, and our New Year's Resolution? To get the Newsletter out in the middle of the month!
Stay warm and see you at the parks!
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Winter Paw Care for Dogs
Winter can be especially hard on a dog's paws. Unprotected from ice, snow, and slush, and bitter cold, their paws need special care in winter. By taking a little extra time to keep your dogs' paws well-groomed, you can minimize problems with cracked, sore pads, blisters and infections.
The products used to clear the ice and snow that accompany cold winter weather can be a real hazard for dogs. Rock salt and most chemical de-icers can irritate a dog's paws and turn a winter walk into a painful ordeal. Stay away from heavily salted areas as much as possible when walking your dog.
 Inspect paws after walking in areas treated with salt and other de-icers. Check between toes and examine the foot pads for cracks in the skin. Look closely at any inflamed areas for splinters, embedded gravel, etc.
Snow, especially wet snow, clings to long haired dogs as they run and play in the snow. When snow or slush from melting ice and snow on sidewalks sticks to the hair beneath a dog's paws, lumps of ice, often mixed with rock salt and gravel, build up between their foot pads and toes. Walking hurts.
Always wash paws with warm water after outdoor play and winter walks. Even if there's no trace of cracks, irritation or any damage and no snow and ice to remove, it's important to wash away all traces of salt and other de-icers so a dog can't lick it off later. Never let a dog try to chew away any lumps if ice and snow sticking to its paws or hanging from its fur. Ingesting rock salt or chemical de-icing products can have a toxic effect. There are pet-safe ice melting products available. Use one of them instead of rock salt for de-icing side walks and driveways. The National Animal Poison Control Center also suggests using sand or cat litter as an alternative. They won't melt ice, but they'll provide added traction. After washing, apply Vaseline or Bag Balm to foot pads to soothe irritated paws. Apply again just bef ore walks or outdoor play time to protect paws. Snow and ice collecting under paws will be less of a problem for long-haired dogs if the hair on their paws is properly trimmed. Cut long hair growing from between the pads or each foot. Using a sharp grooming scissors, cut hair so that it's even with the pads. If there are any mats between the pads, very carefully cut the mat out, leaving as much of the hair below the mat as possible. Cut hair from between the toes even with the surface of the foot. Next... trim hair from around the edge of the foot. On dogs with long feathering on the back of their front legs, trim any excessively long hair so it does not drag on the ground.
It's important to keep a dog's nails trimmed all year long, but absolutely crucial in winter. Untrimmed nails can lead to splayed feet, sore nailbeds, and even torn nail. When nails are extra long, the toes spread apart when walking, leaving more space for snow and ice to build up.
Warmth and Protection for Paws
 Doggy boots are not just a novelty for pampered pets. Even paws covered in heavy fur get cold when they get wet. Exposure to ice, snow and salt can hurt even the toughest paws. Well-made boots can keep a dog's paws warm and dry in rain, ice, and snow and protect them from the harmful effects of salt and de-icers. For most dogs, it takes a little time to adjust to the new sensation of walking in boots. You might want to have a camcorder ready for a funniest pet video moment... a high-stepping comedy act... the first time a dog walks in boots. To get used to wearing them, put boots on all 4 paws and have your dog just follow you around the house with a handful of treats for encouragement or go on very short walks. Double-check the fit and make any adjustments if needed. Next day, try to get your dog interested in a favorite fun activity like chasing a ball or a favorite toy for about 10 minutes while wearing boots. Again, double-check the fit and make any adjustments if needed. Make sure the boots stay in place as they are supposed to be worn. Practice enough to know that your dog is willing to wear them for a reasonable length of time before going on any long walks. Whenever your dog is wearing boots, check frequently to make sure they're not too tight. Never leave a dog who is wearing boots unattended.
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Sundays at 10am (weather permitting) Fido Fit Walk along the Saigeon Trail.
Meet at the entrance of the Tower Hill Dog Park at 10am. Check our Facebook page for cancellations.
February 1st, 2nd & 3rd Richmond Hill Winter Carnival
Event Website
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K9 Klub To-Do List
In no particular order, these are some of the suggestions from our members:
- amenities input for new dog park
- Pooch Party 2013!
We encourage you to email us your ideas . We can't do it all at once and projects will require additional fundraising.
Should you have any fundraising ideas, we'd love to hear them!
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To Our Corporate Sponsors
On behalf of the Richmond Hill K9 Klub and our canine friends we wish to thank you for your generous donations and ongoing support.
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We always have information to share so keep an eye out for future newsletters and notices. Thank you for your support.
Full Membership in the Richmond Hill K9 Klub is currently $20/year and entitles you to attend member only events, official general meetings of the Klub, vote on issues, stand for nomination and election to the board of directors and generally get involved in the politics and growth of the Klub.
Celebrating Canines & Community Sincerely,
The Board
Richmond Hill K9 Klub
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