Welcome to the Moreau Dog Park Initiative Website

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS!       MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE UPCOMING FUNDRAISING EVENTS! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Questions & Answers about a Dog Park in the Town of Moreau

Please send your questions and concerns to cheryl@moreaudogpark.com. Your question and the answer will be posted here.

1. Where will the Moreau Dog Park be located?
   Answer: The Dog Park Committee is in favor of a location within the Moreau Recreation Park on Route 32. However, as of May 2008 we are in the process of creating a temporary dog park to get us started. Location: Previous "Jehovah's Witness Church", Rte. 197, S. Glens Falls - next to the fire department.
   
2. Can non-Moreau residents use the dog park?
   Answer: The Dog Park Committee is in favor of allowing all responsible dog owners to use the dog park. We are seeking your support! 
   
   We want to hear from you if you are from a neighboring community and would like to use the dog park! Other communities are creating dog park committees and we will all work collaboratively.
   
3. How can I help to create a dog park in the Town of Moreau?
   Answer:
   a. Complete the on-line survey located under "How You Can Help"
   b. Attend Volunteer Meetings every 3rd Thursday at the Moreau Town Hall! WE NEED YOUR IDEAS AND SUPPORT!
   c. Attend Moreau Town Board Meetings and let your voice be heard! 
   c. TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS!
   d. Become a volunteer! Help with information distribution and event coordination. We have lots of fundraisers that you can help with!
   e. Write letters to Board Members, elected officials, businesses, organizations
   
4. Who will be responsible for maintaining the dog park?
   Answer: Dog parks throughout the country (estimates are that there are thousands) are typically supported by their users and their communities. The primary responsibility for keep the dog park clean and safe is up to those who use it!
   
5. What will the dog park cost?
   Answer: The Dog Park Committee anticipates that a nominal yearly fee will be required - about $30 - but that is hard to say at this point. This is about what other dog parks charge registered users when they license their dogs with the community. Proof of vaccinations would be required to register as a dog park user.
   
   The Dog Park Committee is also prepared to do any necessary fundraising for fencing and other needs for the dog park. Annual fees will defray any maintenance costs.
   
   Many residents have indicated concern about raising taxes to create a dog park. No one wants their taxes raised! The Dog Park Committee does not foresee/endorse raising taxes to create a dog park in the Town of Moreau. Our goal is and we anticipate that the dog park will be self-sustaining and perhaps put the Town in the "plus" column financially as we encourage dog owners to register their dogs with the Town.
   
6. What are the liabilities concerning using a dog park?
   Answer: Currently, there are dog owners and their dogs who use the Moreau Rec Park. There is no designated area for dog owners to exercise their dogs so dogs and people share the same park facilities. The Town currently has their own liability insurance for those who use the Moreau Rec Park. Registered dog park users will sign a form that indicates that they use the dog park "at their own risk". A sign at the dog park entrance would remind dog park users of this as well as their other responsibilities. This is standard practice in local dog parks (Clifton Park and others) as well as other parks across the country. 
   
   Nationally, statistics show that a park user has a greater chance of being injured in a ballfield than being bitten by a dog in a dog park. Also, statistically, those who are bitten are more likely to be people who know the dog (owners) than strangers.
   
7. I don't own dogs. How does a dog park benefit me?
   Answer:
   a. Dog parks in a community make a community more attractive to potential new home buyers who are looking for community facilities for their families.
   b. Statistics have proven - a well-socialized, exercised dog is a dog who is a better neighbor, less likely to be aggressive and less likely to bark. They become better canine citizens and neighbors.
   c. Dog parks promote responsible dog ownership in a community through registration, networking with other dog owners and educational events.
   
8. How can I learn more about dog parks?
   Answer:
   a. Do a Google search on "dog parks" and read about the thousands of dog parks throughout the country, in urban, suburban and rural settings.
   b. Visit a local dog park - Clifton Park, Saratoga, Niskayuna, Bethlehem and more.
   c. Watch "The Dog Whisperer" on the National Geographic Channel. Learn about dog behavior and appropriate dog park etiquette.