MORRISTOWN, N.J., August 31, 2005 - Earlier this summer, MARDOG (Morris Area Responsible Dog Owners Group) was invited to participate in the American Kennel Club Responsible Dog Owner Day. MARDOG is pleased to support this event at the Morristown Festival on the Green to be held on Sunday, September 25th, 2005. Come join the fun and stop by MARDOG's Booth with your four-legged companions and support Morris County public off leash dog parks.
"MARDOG is committed to maintaining an ongoing education program in the community" said Alison Deeb, MARDOG president and founder. "Through our collaboration with the prestigious American Kennel Club, we will have an opportunity to reach out to many of our Morris Country neighbors during the Festival and let them know that a permanent pet playground for their canine companions exists in the beautiful Lewis Morris Dog Park."
Gift bags, certificates, canine consultants and many other interesting items will be available at the MARDOG Booth this year including gifts from select sponsors [List participating sponsors here].
The dog park at Lewis Morris has established itself as one of the jewels of the park system. It attracts dog lovers and their canine companions from as far away as Boonton, Jefferson and Washington Township. It is doubtful that there is a ball field anywhere in the park system that sees the constant, daily, repeated use of so many Morris County residents.
MARDOG originally started as a grass roots effort in December 2001 in the Town of Morristown, New Jersey. MARDOG, Inc. was officially organized as a non-profit corporation on August 4, 2002. On March 13, 2003, MARDOG presented a formal written proposal to the Morris County Park Commission in support of one or more public off leash dog parks in Morris County. On April 7, 2003 MARDOG received its 501 c-3 status from the IRS. On November 15, 2003, a temporary off leash area was established at Lewis Morris County Park in Morris Township, New Jersey and it was given permanent status by the Morris County Park Commission on October 14, 2004.
In addition to working with the Morris County Park Commission and the towns of Morristown, Morris Township and Madison, MARDOG has assisted and educated other towns in Morris County with the development of dog parks in their towns. Other towns include Roxbury, Parsippany and Rockaway. In addition, MARDOG serves on the Morris County Park Commission Task Force for the off leash area at Lewis Morris County Park. MARDOG is committed to supporting the dog park at Lewis Morris and establishing dog parks throughout Morris County and supports the establishment of dog parks or runs in every town.
Currently, MARDOG has 1,200 members and 250 sponsors. Any person who supports the mission of public off leash dog parks can become a member. Membership is free. Any individual or corporation who would like to make a tax-deductible donation may contact info@mardog.org for sponsorship opportunities. MARDOG does not receive any state or federal funding and relies solely on individual donations, corporate funding and fundraising events to sustain its organizational efforts.
For general information about MARDOG, please visit our web site at www.mardog.org