LBPOST.com: Rover Redux: K-9 Corner Opens A Week After Lincoln Dog Park

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Rover Redux: K-9 Corner Opens A Week After Lincoln Dog Park

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The Beatles hit �Here Comes the Sun� provided an appropriate soundtrack to the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the city�s first off-the-grid dog park on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Vendors, organizations, residents and dogs enjoyed a romp through K-9 Corner. The park features eye- and paw-pleasing landscape, a two-tiered water fountain with a spout for humans and a refillable bowl for dogs, a main door that leads to a foyer area and two doors into the park, and synthetic grass with a filtration/drainage system so that the dog can water it without any ill effects, and a solar grid that will provide all the lighting for the park.

�This is a prototype for future parks in the city,� said Jarrod Osborne, the general manager for Solar Systems, whose company was the contractor for the lighting. �It�s the first Long Beach effort and the first off-grid park in general. The system will provide the energy to light the park 24/7, dusk plus six hours.�

Front view of K-9 Corners. 1st District Council Member Robert Garcia is looking into the foyer, and the solar grid can be seen at the upper right. Cory Allen, Garcia�s district manager, is front left.

The park is a grassroots community effort that began before 1st District Council Member Robert Garcia ran for election. Garcia, who was then president of the North Pine Neighborhood Alliance (NPNA), and two fellow alliance members, Cynthia Ojeda (now president) and founding member Andreas Herr, noted a neglected corner at Pacific Avenue and Ninth Street during a walk.

�We said, this would make a great dog park,� Garcia said.

K-9 Corner was conceived during one council administration and continued into another to come into beingr. Then-1st District Council Member Bonnie Lowenthal assisted NPNA in leasing the land from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. With the assistance of the Redevelopment Agency�s director, Craig Beck, the NPNA worked out a design. After much hard work, the park opened on Sunday. Garcia thanked all the stakeholders in the park, including Lowenthal, Beck and David White from the RDA Parks and Rec director Phil Hester and the entire NPNA.

Councilmember Garcia and K-9 officers. The dogs are partners to the K-9 officers.

�It takes a village to put together a dog park,� Lowenthal said.

The community chose the name K-9 Corner to honor the backyard garden-variety family dog and in particular the K-9 officers and their partners who take friendship to a brave, noble level. The officers were on hand to enjoy the festivities, as were organizations and offices such as Long Beach Animal Control Services (ACS), Friends of Long Beach Animals (FOLBA), the NPNA, the Long Beach Police Officers Association (LBPOA), and a number of vendors. And dogs and their owners, who were grateful to see what Garcia had referred to as a blighted area turned into a park for dogs and their families.

�I�m going to come every day,� said Santos Mendez, who lives across the street.

Several Long Beach officials and volunteers visited K-9 Corner with their dogs and families.

From left: vice mayor Val Lerch, community activist Justin Rudd, LBPD Deputy Chief Robert Luna and son Asher, and city manager Pat West and Allie West.

FOLBA president Shirley Vaughan with Carol Howe, Laurie Kolodziej, and Jules Kolodziej.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Assembly Member Lowenthal presented Garcia with a certificate from the state. The ribbon was cut, and the wild rumpus began.

There were games and contests. Bonnie Tyes-Brown�s Chico won for his action trick of jumping into his stroller, and Araceli Valenzuela�s Reggie won the fashion show, with his stylish Bow-wowhawk.

�I love it!� said Debra Ward, a 20-year property owner whose house is near the park. �I hope that it proves to be an upgrade to the entire area.�

�We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. In return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made.�
� Margery Facklam, award-winning children's science author

Virtually Pets: Adoptions

This is Misty, whom we met at the opening of K-9 Corner. Misty is a 13-year-old brown-and-white longhair Chihuahua whose owner had to give her up when he became too ill to care for her. Misty is a lovable sweetie who loves to be cuddled. She�s been spayed and has had all her inoculations. Please come and get her at Animal Care Services, 7700 East Spring St., (562) 570-PETS.

This 2-month-old female rabbit is looking for a forever home. She�s too tiny to display at a pet shop, but you can come get her at the SPCLAA, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach. Our Rodent Lady, aka Judy Griffith, says that the bunny loves snuggling in her scarf and kissing her. Name her�she�s yours! Visit the SPCLAA to discuss spaying.

Pet Projects

Oct. 3, Haute Dogs Interfaith Blessing of the Animals
We could all use a blessing whether we have fur, feathers, scales or skin. St. Francis�s Day brings Justin Rudd�s Haute Dogs and animals of all sorts to the shady waterfront park for a most wondrous event. Ministers from many faiths will bless an even greater array of animals (they�re expecting dogs, rabbits, pigs, lizards and exotic animals from the Aquarium of the Pacific and a professional wildlife education organization. Dare we say it? Oh my!). The event also features ugly- and cute-dog contests, pet adoptions and vendors. For all the details, visit http://www.hautedogs.org/blessing.html.

Oct. 9, Compassionate Cuisine
Come to the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at CSULB for a celebration of World Vegetarian Day, with tastes of delicious vegetarian cuisine from many nationalities and ethnicities�all cruelty free. There will be music�including the Irvine Young Symphony, which played at the Beijing Olympics�raffles, special guest presentations and more. Reservations required�$35 per person includes food (there is a charge for beer and wine). Visit compassionatecuisine.net for information and reservations.

Oct. 18, Long Beach Walk for Farm Animals
Take your compassion to the streets with other concerned Long Beach residents and their friends to raise awareness about the plight of farm animals as well as vital funds for Farm Sanctuary�s rescue, education and advocacy work. Your $15 registration fee entitles you to a limited edition 2009 Walk T-shirt, designed by Herbivore Clothing Company Founder Josh Hooten. To reserve your shirt, make sure to register by September 25. If you can�t join the Walk, please consider a donation. Visit walkforfarmanimals.org. Farm animals need people like you to spread the word about what�s happening to them on factory farms.

Ongoing�Pet Literacy at ACS
Pet Literacy is a City of Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) program at the P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village. The program promotes humane treatment, socialization of animals, creating a connection between animals and humans, and literacy through reading aloud to the animals. Wednesdays�Sundays, 2�3 p.m., 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach

Happy Tails Books
A few weeks ago, Pet Post printed a request from Kyla Duffy, the editor of Happy Tails books, for stories about rescued dogs. This book and several others are available at happytailsbooks.com/media. A significant portion of book sales is distributed among several dog rescue groups.

Comments

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Rob
I have a dog and would bever go to that dog park. Already more teenagers than dogs vist that park. What a waste of money. Let's not fix the parking situation, or the fact people drive so fast down 10th street like it's the freeway, causing at least 1 accident a week. Why not put up a cross walk or something. Lets start fixing problems that make everyones life in the a district a little better.

Dave in Alamitos Beach
I can think of nothing that makes people's day-to-day lives better for such a small amount of money. Having dogs and people use the park increases quality of life for the neighborhood and promotes, well, neighborliness. How can we get one of these in Alamitos Beach? I'd say 4th & Cherry is the epicenter of dogs in the City. Since we now have a parking lot instead of an empty lot there, how about a dogpark instead of an underused strip mall on the Northeast Corner? Suja? Anyone?

Birdman of long beach
What a heart warming story Judy & Kate wrote. The residents of long beach should be proud that long beach cared enough about its animals to build such a fantastic park. So much money is spent on everything else and its our pets that make our life complete and this is for them. Im sure most of the people with complaints most likely do not even have animals so of course the park means nothing to them. Our pets treat us better than anything in the world and we owe it to them to show our appreciation and it takes so little to make them happy. Most people are forced into such small living quarters now because rents are sky high and the biggest majority do not even have a yard for there pets to play in or get the excersize they need. The parks are a genius idea and we could never have to many of them. thank you, Birdman of long beach

Judy C.
UPDATE ON MISSY who is still waiting for her forever home: Missy, in the above photo with Long Beach Animal Care Services, is still waiting for her forever home! She is micro chipped, spayed, immunized and ready for a loving guardian/family! She is good with school age children and other dogs! Please inform everyone you know about her and lets find Missy a loving, responsible home, ASAP!

Pet Post

Judy and Kate unleash thoughts on pet care, animal rights and welfare, adoption and animal-related events in the area.

Judy lives in Long Beach with her husband, Dan and their three canine family members. Judy has been an active volunteer with various animal welfare work and issues since 1998, primarily focusing on pet overpopulation and humane education. She is a proud mother and grandmother, and loves spending time with her family. Kate is a 15-year Long Beach resident, and has a passion for anything involving animals or words. She is an active member of Friends of Long Beach Animals and believes that owner responsibility is the key to solving animal issues. She lives with two fat foundling felines.