A Howlin’ Good Time
(
River Park off-leash news
November 1, 2007
UPCOMING STUFF
9th Annual Dog and Owner
Christmas Party
Who: Everyone and their dog
What: Fire pit party for dogs & humans
When: Saturday, December 1
6:30 - 10:45pm (gates close at
11:00)
Where: Sandy Beach Fire Pits (by the
lower parking lot)
Why: Become better acquainted with
dogs and their owners
BYOE: Bring your own everything —
snacks, beverage, companion
of choice
Note: Sandy Beach is an on-leash
area
Clean-up Efforts
Now that darkness falls so early in the
evening, the park will likely become less
clean. Please make every attempt to pick
up extra feces and garbage until regular
clean-up days resume in spring.
If we have a mild winter, FRPS will hold a
clean-up day with very little notice. Hope
you’ll support it.
Please feel free to share this
newsletter with friends. If at any
time you no longer wish to receive
communication, just let me know.
Candice Lee
287-1029 (home)
703-1671 (cell)
leesmale@telusplanet.net
WHAT ARE COYOTES DOING IN RIVER PARK?
Coyotes are just a
natural occurance in
the city. It’s normal
to see them in
parks, golf courses
and even in our
neighbourhoods.
Attempts to rid them
by poisoning and
such are futile because they’re extremely
adaptable and will multiply quickly to
preserve their existence.
So it’s not surprising that there have
been a few sightings at River Park lately.
Thankfully, the long grass has been cut,
reducing the coyotes’ natural camouflage.
The north end remains uncut and this is
the area where recent sightings are
occuring.
These animals typically eat rabbits, mice
and squirrels, but when food sources
are low, they will also eat garbage,
compost, bird feed, pet food and even
dog feces.
These animals are very smart, adaptable
and territorial. Coyotes regard small
animals as prey and large ones as
predators. In River Park, they may consider
your dog a threat. To eliminate the threat,
they may try to entice your dog away
and / or attack it.
So what should you do when you see one?
Be the aggressor
• Maintain eye contact at all times
• Make yourself appear larger (open
your coat and hold your arms out to the
side and wave them)
• Throw sticks, rocks or another object
at them
• Shout using a deep voice
• Stamp your foot at them
))
))
(
!
Remove yourself from danger
• Leash your dog and leave the area
• Back away slowly while maintaining
eye contact
• Move toward buildings or human
activity
• Never run – they consider this
submissive behaviour and will likely
chase you
Reduce encounters
• They appear more frequently in
residential areas during in winter when
their food supplies are lower. Help
reduce encounters and keep them out
of your neighborhood by eliminating
improperly stored garbage and any
food sources from your yard.
• Help keep them away from the off-
leash park and your yard by picking
up your dog’s droppings - this eliminates
feces as a potential food source.
Awareness and assertiveness is your best
defense. As coyotes are here to stay, we
have to learn to live with them.
For more info contact:
Sustainable Resource Development
http://www3.gov.ab.ca/srd/fw
The Urban Coyote
http://www.city.mississauga.on.ca/animal control/
html/wlpro/wlprocoyote.htm
Wildlife in the City
http:/www.city.toronto.on.ca/animal_services/
wild.htm
Calgary Fish and Wildlife Coyote Hotline
297-7789
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 Friends of River Park
MEMBER PROFILE
Isn’t this a familiar sight for many of us?
If you don’t know Fraser K, head on
over to River Park and you can find
him twice each day with his pack –
Wylie, Nugget and Houston. He might
even have another dog or two in his
care. You see, besides his full-time job,
Fraser is also a dog walker.
Fraser has been on the River Park off-
leash email list for a few years. He
enthusiastically hopped on board the
Friends of River Park team to maintain
cleanliness in the park. No one is more
passionate about picking up poop.
Thanks to Fraser for his commitment to
keeping the park clean. He is a fine
example of taking ownership in River
Park to help preserve off-leash access
for our four-legged friends.
T hank Y ou
You
xoxo
xoxo xo
xoxo
Officially, 46 people signed up to support
the River Park clean-up event on October
14! Fabulous weather and freshly mowed
grass made the task so much easier.
It’s wonderful that City of Calgary Parks
people, Gary Cook and Steve Halla, got
the grass mowed on the east side, just in
time for the clean-up! At the end of it
all, most people reported they found very
little garbage and feces.
With our promotional signs, t-shirts,
hats and the amount of people supporting
this effort, we created quite a presence in
the park. A few people who didn’t know
about the clean-up, asked for a garbage
Healthy, Home-made
DOG TREATS
Home-made
biscuits are a
great alternative
to store-bought
treats for your dog
and they make
lovely gifts. This
is an easy, afford-
able recipe, using ingredients you
probably have in your pantry. Got some
spare time? Go ahead and spoil your
furry family member.
1/3 cup softened margarine or butter
3 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup powdered skim milk
1/4 tsp garlic powder
3/4 cup room temperature water
1 beaten egg
2 1/2 tbsp vegetable flakes
1. In a large mixing bowl, cut margarine
into flour using a pastry cutter and set
aside. Add vegetable flakes (coarsely
ground in a blender).
2. In a small bowl, combine milk powder
and garlic powder in water. Whisk in egg.
3. Make a well in flour mixture and
gradually stir in wet ingredients until well
blended.
4. Knead dough on floured surface until
dough sticks together. Roll dough 1/4 to
1/2 inch thickness. Cut out shapes and
bake 50 minutes at 325 F.
5. Cool completely and store in container
with loose fittling lid.
bag and offered to pick up while on their
walk. We’re always grateful to gain new
support for our group. It’s so important
that we take ownership to keep River
Park clean. After all, we are the highest
user group in the park.
Special appreciation to Lorraine W
from Signal Hill Veterinary Centre
who generously arranged the donation
of 24 boxes and bags of dog treats.
Also, thanks to 2 Friends of River Park
leadership team members for donating
flashlights to promote picking up feces
when it’s dark outside.
Every aspect of this event truly shows
a commitment from everyone to work
together to make this park a wonderful
place for all users. Thank you so much.
River Park Update
Enhancements
Thanks to the City for all of the work that
has occured in River Park this year. Here’s
a quick update on progress:
Turn-arounds
As promised, the City created gravel
pads around each of the three main garbage
bins to allow the large garbage trucks to
move in the area without damaging the
grass.
New Bins
A larger style replaced the smaller ones.
Bulletin Board
It’s coming! Before installation, the City has
to decide whether they’re going to erect the
bulletin board using normal post holes or fill
them with cement.
With Cat’s parents’ blessing, it will be placed
near their daughter’s memorial site that
includes the water fountain.
Poop Bag Dispensers
The City plans to install them early in
November. Cardel Homes will supply
biodradeable bags for a year and a half. At
that point, Cardel will complete their three-
year contract with the City of Calgary to
provide bags for dispensers in city parks.
While it’s exciting to finally get the bag
dispensers, please remember to bring your
own bags. The dispenser bags are meant
to help people who ran out of bags or simply
forgot to bring one.
Caring For Your Pet
For the Health of It
Did you know the 24-hour Animal Care
Emergency Centre and Western Veterinary
Specialist Centre (offering referral-only,
advanced care veterinary services) are
now located in the same building at 1802 10
Avenue SW? Many vet clinics across the
country refer animals with acute, specific or
puzzling medical situations to WVSC.
Should you ever have an emergency and
need to find them quickly, they’re on the west
side of 14 Street. If approaching from the
south, please note you can’t turn west onto
10 Avenue. Instead, turn east on 12 Avenue,
north on 13 Street and west along 11 Avenue
up to 18 Street.
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