ANNOUNCING: The Pet Talk Memorial Picnic Grove at the Findlay Dog Park

[Rachel]

A number of fund raising projects around here have used bricks which are engraved with the name of the person/animal being remembered and dates, etc. Then these bricks are laid in a path or court yard area. Still it takes someone in charge willing to organize and facilitate, which is obviously the problem involved in any effort.

[lbaker]

When the first "memorial" was being collected I sent some $$ (Binx was very near and dear to my heart) but my Cheekie one had just died too and I mentioned I was contributing for her as well. I think that is when Phred added something about "all our beloved pets" or however it's worded on the current bench. Count me in this time and I would be contributing for my Badger, Collar and Thunder even if just in my heart. Wonderful idea.

[Cincy'sMom]

Phred, I don't think anyone is disputing your ideas, but I think there is some confusion about what all we are looking at investing in. Some posts have talked about tress and tables, but there have been a few others that have mentioned a board and plaques that could be added by people.

I guess in my dream world, I'd like to see both done. I think a couple more trees and another table would be great out there, asit is limited currently. But like someone else said, there are many of us that go regularly, and if we keep adding trees, we will run out of room for the dogs to play (just my family along as 11 dogs..we'd have our own little forest!)

So going forward, also adding a board, where we could each donate a small plaque when out pets' time comes, seems like a good way to keep this going in years to come.

[Cinder & Smoke]

A number of fund raising projects around here have used bricks which are
engraved with the name of the person/animal being remembered and dates, etc.

Then these bricks are laid in a path or court yard area.
Still it takes someone in charge willing to organize and facilitate,
which is obviously the problem involved in any effort.

Pet Talk's own Catsnclay sent me a PM last night offering to make Bricks or Stones to
use in the Dog Park - at her cost for materials. THANKS, Catsnclay!!
I tried suggesting the idea of "selling" bricks as a fund raiser for the Dog Park several years ago. The Park District just doesn't have the manpower to organize, order, and then install the bricks ... not any easy task out in the wilderness!

* The brick area must be well drained (the dog park isn't)
* A carefully built-up and prepared base is required
* A secure border is required - to keep the bricks tightly grouped
* "Routine Maintenance" = cleaning, weed control, sand replacement - is required

NONE of these things are easily done by a small work force with a limited number
of bricks being sold per month.

I "own" a few bricks scattered around the country ... they have their place -
but they also have some problems in certain applications. THIS would be a "problem application".

Memorial Bricks are a great fund raiser when you have the potential of selling many hundreds
or thousands of bricks in a finite amount of time. Order once or twice, hire an experienced contractor
to professionally install everything, and it's DONE in 6-12 months.

The Parks District is really being kinda "nice" to allow more Trees and Tables -
since each one is another "obstacle to mowing" and requires more hand work -
which increases the costs to maintain. I suggest we stick with "improvements" that
carry an almost automatic blessing from the Powers That Be.

[lizbud]

This is great reading so many good ideas for this project. RobiLee,
wonderful idea about Angus too. I'm sorry I didn't think of that before.

Making it more inclusive, and adding dogs as we go along, sounds very good
to me. It could be a neat place for all of us.

P.S. Phred, thanks for the ballpark figure, & other options.

[shais_mom]

Count me in - I really like the idea of the Pet MEMORIAL dog rather than just narrowing it down to a couple of names. If that is the case then the park would soon be very full of trees if we planted them for every member that goes there who will lose a dog someday. I think this makes more sense and feelings aren't hurt.
I love the idea of bricks also however they would be used.