MCDOG Morris County Dog Owners Group existed as an informal entity long before it became formally organized. It started as dog owners and their best friends at the dog park at Lewis Morris County Park began to recognize familiar faces and pooches and both began to interact. Seasoned patrons would notice the blank looks on the faces of newcomers and would offer a helping hand and advice as to how to introduce new dogs into the group. Conversations would ensue. Ideas would evolve. Suggestions would be made.
The Lewis Morris Dog Park was initially constructed by the Morris County Park Commission (the Park Commission) as a temporary facility to gauge the need for such a park. The need for this facility was championed by the Morris Area Responsible Dog Owners Group (MARDOG) to whom all patrons of that park owe a debt of gratitude. However, despite best intentions, research and preparations, both the Park Commission and the patrons had to jointly journey up a learning curve as to how the facility should be run and improved.
The Park Commission saw the value in the cumulative experience and expertise of several members of the dog owner community and in or about December of 2004 began holding meetings of a Task Force - Off Leash Area (FOLA). One of the duties of the FOLA was to funnel comments and requests from the public up to the decision makers.
At about the same time, the patrons of the park began to recognize that while their voices were many, their impact was slight. As a former parking lot, a large portion of the Lewis Morris facility is paved. The small unpaved areas were quickly torn apart by frolicking paws. There were pleas for on-site water and a small dog area. The temporary fence began to show signs of age.
In 2001, a boon was granted to Morris County by the State of New Jersey in the form of approximately 300 acres of what had been the grounds of Greystone Psychiatric Hospital. The effect of this grant would be to address some of the demands of the Morris County populace for ball fields, other badly needed facilities and open space. Dog park patrons saw this as an opportunity to get a first class facility for their four-legged friends. The time to formally organize was approaching. A group of dog park patrons began to rally around the Greystone news. The Park Commission was given the task of developing the site by Morris County. The Park Commission proffered a plan to develop the site in phases. Phase I of the development plan addressed some long held needs of Morris County, but DID NOT include a dog park. The funding just was not available.
The Morris County Park Alliance, an independent fund raising affiliate of the Park Commission, recognized the demand for an enhanced facility for dogs and their owners. In early 2008, the Park Alliance committed to raise the necessary funding for a dog park at the Greystone site, somewhere in the area of $80,000.00 to $100,000.00. To accomplish this, they would need the support of the park patrons.
Organization activities began to take shape. On May 24, 2008, dog park patrons marched behind a Park Commission banner in the Morris Plains Memorial Day Parade. A Park Alliance Committee began meeting with concerned patrons to establish a Dog Park Fund Raising Committee in June. Partially rained out picnics were held at the Lewis Morris dog park on August 10 and August 15, 2008. An email list was started. Volunteers helped man the Park Commission booth at the Morristown Fall Festival. Contributions were solicited and taken in the name of the Park Alliance (which is registered under IRC 501(c)(3)). A core group of volunteers came together. A pet blessing event was arranged and at the end of October, 2008, a fund raising kick off march was held to the site of the new dog park, no longer dubbed Greystone, but Central Park Morris. Pet photos with Santa were taken on December 14, 2008.
Professionals have been investing their time without compensation, all rallying behind the cause. A true popular movement was started.
However, some of the patrons saw the need for being more than a mere fund raising arm of the Park Alliance. The email list became a tool for disseminating information and for bringing patrons together with common purpose. Members began to CARE about each other. Members began to CARE about each other's dogs. Ideas now had a forum for consideration. The movement needed something. The movement needed MCDOG.
An organizational meeting was held on December 2, 2008, at which a Board of Directors was elected. MCDOG Morris County Dog Owners Group, A New Jersey Non-Profit Corporation, was incorporated on December 29, 2008.
It is expected that application for IRS 501(c)(3) status will be filed in the first half of 2009. Currently, MCDOG is conducting no fund raising activities of its own. All efforts are being concentrated on the initial monies needed to get the new park and running. This initial fund raising effort will be only the first step covering the erection of a fence, gates, an entrance, some poop stations and possibly a few benches. Additional fund raisers are planned for the future with an aim to create a facility that is first rate in all regards.
The park will be a full service Canine Activity Center with areas for holding seminars and instructional activities.
If you are interested in becoming a part of MCDOG, take the time to register for membership.