Serving Brooklyn's Off-Leash Community
FIDO is committed to ensuring that Prospect Park is a safe and healthy place for dogs; that responsible supervision of dogs will ensure enhanced opportunities for off-leash activity. Now more than ever, with the victory of legal off-leash, it's all about keeping control of your dog. Please make a serious effort to monitor your dog's interactions whether it be on the sidewalk or in the park itself
Next Coffee Bark - Sat, September 6th
What's Coffee Bark?
News ...
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FIDO Celebrates 10th Anniversary!
All Pix by Rina DeychAugust 2nd's impending rain held off in respect for Fido In Prospect Park's Tenth anniversary celebration, complete with three generations of past and current presidents.
The Presidents...
L to R: Tony Chiappelloni, FIDO President; Jane Cameron, FIDO's first President; Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President and dog lover; Mary MacInerney, recently retired FIDO President.
Our Coffee Bark table groaned under the weight of free treats and free give-aways while NYS Senator, Eric Adams, spoke of his admration for FIDO In Prospect Park at length, reminding us that responsibility dog ownership as well as adoption makes for a healthy community; that if brown dogs, beige dogs, German Shepherds, Poodles, and Retrievers can enjoy the park together, then we humans should also be able to share our community in mutual esteem and brotherhood/sisterhood.
NY State Senator, Eric Adams
Last but certainly not least, FIDO introduced our new t-shirt which invites Prospect Park's dog owners to "Come Run With the Pack!"
Prospect Park - the Crown Jewel of Urban Off-leash
What made FIDO in Prospect Park viable ten years ago was that a committed bunch of dog owners gathered together with Park administration to work out the basic off-leash rules that were essentially the rules we know today. The trick was to live by them. By becoming a MEMBER of FIDO, dog owners felt empowered to apply peer pressure to those who still "didn't get it"! Having control of your dog at all times is basic; it's still our number one priority today.
If you are serious about responsible off-leash, we ask that you become a member of FIDO. We currently have about four hundred members which was certainly enough to inspire some twenty thousand plus dog owners one year ago to make their voices known through petitions and letters when the City beat back the lawsuit by the Juniper Hill Civic association to end off-leash privileges. Instead off-leash privileges became off-leash law!
Let's double our membership. Membership means you have a say in all manner of things "off-leash". Membership is a commitment to your fellow dog-owners as well as other park users. Membership is for one year; the amount is simply whatever you can afford from a few dollars on up. You can even join on-line.
What's in it for me?
Until everyone gets serious about standing up as a LARGE group committed to responsible off-leash rules, we're going to lose more and more off-leash space.
You've seen it in the Nethermead - warning tickets handed out EVERY day a few weeks back. This could be just the beginning! Think about it - then go to our website; join FIDO; make yourself count: www.fidobrooklyn.org
And don't forget to sign the Nethermead Petition below...
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FIDO video portrays Prospect Park's off-leash advocates*
*Advocate - those who makes a meaningful contribution toward the benefit of Prospect Park and its users groups.
Nethermead...
5 to 9 on-line Petition
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Sign our off-leash petition! Support the return of weekday off-leash privileges in the Nethermead and explore the possibility of a Nethermead Dog Run in the vacinity of the hilltop water fountain. Over the summer, we have gatherered 900 signatures. Once we reach 1000, we will set up a meeting with Park's Commissioner Benepe and Prospect Park Alliance's Tupper Thomas.
Remember, the signature is mightier than the blog!
Support responsible off-leash hours in the Nethermead; on weekdays between the hours of 5 p.m. until 9 a.m.
See link below:With the coming of legal off-leash last year, Prospect Park's afternoon Nethermead privileges were traded for a "one rule fits all" type city policy that meant off-leash would only occur between the hours of 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. where permitted.
Afternoon off-leash in the Nethermead is not something Prospect Park's dog community demands as an "extra" over everyone else in the city but a return to a responsible weekday policy carefully worked out with the Prospect Park Alliance over ten years ago.
Legal off-leash in the Nethermead on weekdays from 5 p.m. until 9 a.m. insures that we have an exercise area well away from the afternoon athletic events in the Long Meadow. It provides dog owners with a hillside in the Nethermead where people and dogs can socialize without interfering with others.
If we hadn't had the Nethermead weekday afternoon privileges and the respect of Prospect Park's dog owners, there would have been no model for responsible city wide off-leash which is now one year old.
Sign the "5 to 9 On-Line" Nethermead Petition
Fair Warning...
It was NEVER, EVER off-leash policy to allow dogs in the Nethermead on Weekends after 5 p.m. You will be ticketed!
You may receive warnings after 5 p.m. on weekdays and those who protest or make a stink will be ticketed as well. City Law states that all off-leash is to be from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Park policy is that when those in authority ask you to leash up, even during off-leash hours, you MUST comply.We have to live with these new "regs" until the benefits of allowing the Nethermead to be an after work off-leash area is once again recognized.
Please see off-leash rules below
Important Stuff ...
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Does your dog have a Rabies Tag and City Dog Tag?
Fill out a form with the City Health Department on-line or check the box to download a pdf form that you can mail in: Dog LicenceFido always has dog licence applications at Coffee Bark. See your veterinarian for rabies tags.
Off-leash Rules ...
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See Official Parks Department Rules
We share the Park with lots of others: people, birds, critters, and plants. It's a big park but heavily used. Please remember these few points - it can save you a bunch of money (like $100 per dog!) and be sure to tell your friends:
Leash Up - with the new off-leash rules (9 pm to 9 am) it is also mandatory that you leash your dog upon request of a person of authority whether it's off-leash hours or not. It makes good sense and may defuse a situation that would otherwise cost you a fine for whatever the perceived reason. Note: the old 5 pm Nethermead privileges have been officially discontinued for the time being.
BALLFIELDS
The ball fields are officially OFF LIMITS no matter the season, hour, on-leash or not. This is a NEW ruling by the City Parks Department that came with the legalization of a city wide off-leash policy - a kind of one rule "fits all" policy. Ball fields extend from the horse corral to the 9th Street path beside the Tennis House. Pee Wee teams in action? Give them another fifty yards of extra room: dogs and balls don't mix!FAQ: Does ball fields include the center swath of grass down the middle? Is it OK to be on-leash on the ball fields?
A: Off means OFF. Park Policy says that dogs must be on-leash even while going around the ball fields until you reach the Ninth Street path leading to the Dog Beach. This also means that dogs on leash are NOT allowed on the swath between ball fields.
DOG BEACH
Dogs are NEVER, EVER allowed off leash in the water after off-leash hours. We know it's tempting, especially on weekends, but there are far too many passersby & children - many of whom would rather not encounter off-leash dogs. Be considerate of others!
PARK WORKERS
There may be workfare crews cleaning up picnicker's garbage before 9am, though mostly during summer months. They have a job to do which shouldn't have to include sweeping up OUR dog poop! Be aware that some of them would rather not meet off-leash dogs, so we should make an effort to keep our dogs away at all times.
HORSES
Horses are spooky critters and any encounter with dogs may lead to serious injury to the rider. DO NOT think introducing your dog to a horse will lead to a "fun" relationship. Avoid the bridle paths, PLEASE!Wooded areas, pathways, bridle paths and roads are never OK for off-leash. Running your dog in the horse corral is a BIG no, no and the bridle path near the Nethermead is a particular sore point with the horseback riders - dogs could run across the road and hassle the horses. Anticipate trouble - KEEP Your Dog Away!
SQUIRRELS
It's against everything Fido stands for to let your dog chase them - and it's a big, big NO as far as the Park Rangers are concerned. Letting your dog pursue squirrels is having a dog that's out of control - a major serious issue.NESTING AREAS - (woods as well as along waterways)
Dogs must be on leash in these areas anyway. There are park users who are nervous about encountering off-leash dogs within the confines of a trail. Your dog must be on leash, ALL the time!PLAYGROUNDS
Please Don't!Moms with Dogs & Toddlers:
Stay alert. There's always the danger of a little one being toppled by exuberant playful dogs... Remember that the water at the Dog Beach gets VERY deep, VERY quickly. It is NOT a toddler pool!USE COMMON SENSE!
You're welcome to list your dog on our web pages as well in a special Memorial Tree Book to be kept at Prospect Park's Audubon Center
Where Are My...
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Where Are my Fido E-mailingsYou're a bonifide member of Fido but have never received any e-mail?
We batch e-mail Fido alerts/notices from time to time so if you haven't received any of these, we're either on your spam list or you've changed your e-mail address in the past three years. Certainly you haven't let your membership lapse - have you? Often we are unable to make out the handwriting on the membership applications - all the more reason to renew your membership on-line. See the "join Fido" button on our menu.
If you think you're current then let Holly (Membership) know at holly_rob1999@yahoo.com
Note to Yahoo/Verizon Members:
We get a great number bounced back to us - chance are we're in your spam list of blocked e-mail. Go to the blocked mail folder and look for an address entitled "bob@exitfive.com". He sends out our batch mail since fidobrooklyn.org is blocked at the server level for mass e-mailing...
e-mail fidobrooklyn@gmail.com
Our Phone Number
(voice mail)
1-888-604-3422
Snail Mail
FIDO 230 Seventh Avenue, #157 Brooklyn, NY 11215
