The City of Kirkland has been selected as a semi-finalist in PetSafe’s Bark for Your Park – Dog Park Giveaway Contest. The winner of this contest will be awarded $100,000, which would go towards construction of the city’s first off-leash dog park at the location approved by the Kirkland City Council. Kirkland was nominated by KDOG (the Kirkland Off-Leash Dog Group), which has been leading the work on the future park. The City’s Park Director, Jennifer Schroder, and Kirkland Dog Off-Leash Group (www.kdog.org) received a letter from PetSafe today inviting Kirkland to participate in the semi-finals by creating a short video highlighting Kirkland’s potential and support for the new dog park. This letter also noted that PetSafe is excited and impressed with Kirkland’s efforts to create a dog park. KDOG wants to thank everyone who submitted their comment of support in Stage 1 of the contest.

A site for Kirkland’s first dog park was approved in November 2010, but no City funding will be utilized to build this park. KDOG volunteers have been working on a park plan, rules and signage, and constructing a fundraising campaign. KDOG welcomes all residents to help us build a great new amenity for Kirkland. Join our group on www.meetup.com (search under “Kirkland” and “Dog”. There is a great demand for a legal place to socialize with our dogs in Kirkland. The next step for Kirkland and KDOG will be submitting the video which will be reviewed by the PetSafe judges. Based on their response, Kirkland may be selected to move ahead to the final round of the contest. Kirkland dog owners have waited over 10 years for a dog park to open in the city. With the new park site designated for the Totem Lake Area, it will be a welcome asset to the local businesses in the area. For more information about KDOG and to donate to the project, go to www.kdog.org.

PetSafe, headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee produces products for dog containment, safety and training (www.petsafe.net). In 2008 PetSafe began a collaborative effort to make its hometown of Knoxville, Tenessee the most pet-friendly community in the United States. Since then they have constructed 6 dog parks in that area, celebrating the human-animal bond. PetSafe launched the “Bark for Your Park – National Dog Park Contest” to further their dedication to the relationship between pets and their owners. PetSafe also provides support to animal welfare groups for the care and rehabilitation of homeless pets, making them more adoptable. For more information about the “Bark for Your Park” contest, go to www.barkforyourpark.com.