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The leashes come off today at the Roanoke Dog Park, a fenced-in, 1-acre playground for pooches in Highland Park in the Old Southwest neighborhood.

The official opening is 5:30 p.m., but from what I understand there are already pups frolicking in the park now.

A friend sent me an e-mail last night saying that at least one pooch was running through the park dragging his leash that was still attached to his collar.

While it's understandable that a pet parent may want to leave the lead on the dog to make it easier to catch the playful pooch when it is time to leave, this is not a good idea. The loose leash can get tangled around a bench or one of the hydrants. It can also look like a toy to another dog and cause an unwanted scuffle.

So, while you do need the leash to get in and out of the park, make sure to unclasp once you are inside the fence. The park is not that big; you will be able to round up your pup when the time comes.

OK, I am off my soapbox now. See you at the opening tonight.

If you've strolled through Highland Park lately, you had to notice that the fence is up for the Roanoke Dog Park.

I got an e-mail from park committee member Christa Stevens yesterday saying that the park will officially open Thursday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m. as long as the concrete work is completed on time.

She also wrote that the park committee is still trying to raise money and will be at the Grandin Village Community Market this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. selling Star City Coffee's Good Neighbor blend and engraved bricks for the park's entrance area.

The bricks can feature the name of a pet, an individual, a family or a business and will be placed at the park's entrance in what Stephens said would be the second phase of construction for the park.

A text-only brick is $100; to have a corporate logo engraved is $150. The coffee sells for $10 per pound, and Stephens said they will also be selling dog park bumper stickers and T-shirts.

Hey readers! Break time is over and the Wag is back. And not one minute too soon to let you know how you can add a click of support to the Roanoke Dog Park.

Follow this link to vote for Henry, a rather adorable pup, in the Bissell Most Valuable Pet Photo Contest. If Henry wins, he would earn $10,000 to help build the city's first public access dog park.

Voting is as simple as adding your name and e-mail address (with the promise of no mailing lists or spam) and one click of the mouse.

Look at that face. How could you say no to that face, huh? Today is the last day you can vote for Henry. All he wants to do is play in the park with his friends.

Lots of pet-related news to share with you today:

Big savings for small donations:

Black Dog Salvage, the architectural salvage store located at 902 13th Street at the Memorial Bridge in Old Southwest, is now a permanent drop-off location for pet food donations for the Roanoke Valley SPCA.

The RVSPCA collects donated pet food to distribute to needy families through Manna Ministries and Meals on Wheels. The expected need for families in the Roanoke area is 40,000 pounds per year.

To kick-off the food drive, the store is offering a 25 percent discount on all merchandise to customers that donate 6 or more cans or 8-pound or larger bags of food at the Black Dog.

The store is chock full of relics and antiques from commercial salvage and it's also the home of the Memorial Bridge Marketplace that features home and garden accessories from vendors and local artisans.

Call 343-6200 for more information.

Quick Take Pets

Photographer Kevin Hurley is offering 20-minute portrait sessions for pets for a sitting fee of $49 today and tomorrow. Hurley will donate $25 of each sitting fee to three local non-profit groups: the Roanoke Valley SPCA, St. Francis Service Dogs, and the Roanoke Dog Park.

The studio is located at 1360 Maple Avenue SW. Call 345-3055 for an appointment.

Adoptathon at PetSmart

The Roanoke Valley SPCA will have adoptable pets at the PetSmart store at Valley View on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Doggy curfew in Campbell County

Finally, if you live in Campbell County, you should be aware that you are required by county ordinance to keep your dogs confined to your home or yard for a five-week period, beginning April 13 and ending May 15, from sunrise to sunset, Monday through Friday.

According to the public safety news release, the ordinance is intended to assist in identifying and capturing stray dogs.

Beagles and other hounds engaged in lawful hunting, the news release says, are exempt while they are hunting or training, but they need to have proper identification, specifically the owner's name and telephone number, attached to their collars while they are out.

During the confinement period, any such wayward beagle or hound picked up as one of the usual suspects will be returned to the owner without penalty.

By Mason Adams

Here's a link to today's editorial supporting the dog park. Needless to say, we are pro-dog park  here at the Wag, and we hope everyone who is passionate about this issue will turn out for tonight's meeting.

Now is the time to bark about this, folks. If we want a safe, fenced-in, public dog park for Roanoke's pooches, we have to speak up.

There is yet another hurdle to clear in getting the city's approval to locate the proposed Roanoke Dog Park on one acre of land in Highland Park.

City Council will hear an appeal of the Architectural Review Board's approval of the location and design of the Dog Park at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in the council's chambers at the municipal building.

Dog park supporters are encouraged to attend and add their voices to the discussion. This is the chance, folks, to make a real difference in our community. 

I know there are many vocal supporters, and some vocal detractors, among the neighborhood residents, and since they are the folks most directly affected by this proposal they should indeed have a voice in this decision.

But this is a public park, open for use by anyone, so don't feel that because you are not a resident of Old Southwest that your opinion doesn't matter. If you support the fenced-in, off-leash park being located in Highland, show that support by attending this meeting.

Concerns about the dog park range from loss of green space to aggressive dog behavior to problems associated with noise and doggy waste.

But the green space won't be lost; it is one acre that will get the same care as the rest of the park. And dogs that exercise and learn to be social are far less likely to be aggressive than dogs with too much unspent energy and no contact with other people and pooches.

The park will be open from dawn to dusk, so there won't be barking all night. And I am pretty sure people are more likely to clean up after their pooch with "mutt mitt" stations handy and the eyes of other dog park users watching. 

If you can't attend the meeting, let the council members, David Bowers, Sherman Lea, Gwen Mason, Alvin Nash, Anita Price, Court Rosen and David Trinkle, know where you stand by sending them letters or e-mails.

If you have an opinion about the park or want to share your experience with public dog parks in other areas, please post a comment. Even if you are not a supporter, this is a chance to build on the discussion.

Cold, dreary skies postponed the fundraiser for the dog park originally scheduled for last Saturday. But every dog should have his day, so here is the latest schedule:

Sunday, Oct 5 - Dogs for Dogs in Highland Park from noon to 4 p.m.

A day of fun is planned for the entire family, including four-legged members (dogs are welcome on leash, please). Cash donations will be accepted at this event, and official dog park T-shirts ($15 each) and dog park bumper stickers ($5 each) will be sold. A schedule of the day’s activities includes:

• Dog Park Informational Showcase – noon to 4 p.m. Residents of the Old Southwest neighborhood and greater Roanoke community are invited to learn more about plans for this fenced, off-leash, public dog park. Information will be provided on fencing materials, gating, benches, waste receptacles, landscaping, and more. The proposed one-acre site within Highland Park will be roped-off so residents can visualize the dog park’s dimensions.

• Buddy Wash and Nail Trim – noon to 3 p.m. For a $10 donation, dogs will be bathed, and for an additional $10 donation, veterinary professionals will provide nail trims.

• Dogs for Dogs – noon to 2 p.m. Enjoy a lunchtime meal of hot dogs, chips, and a soft drink for a $5 donation. The Roanoke Dog Park Steering Committee thanks Kroger for their generous donation of food and supplies for the “Dogs for Dogs” fundraising event.

• Dog Kissing Booth – noon to 3:00 pm. For a $1 donation, get (or give!) a kiss from Rudy the Dalmatian, otherwise known as "The Kissing Bandit."

• Roanoke’s Greatest Dog Talent Show – 3 p.m. Everyone believes his or her dog is the world’s greatest. By making a $5 donation, proud pet parents finally have the opportunity to prove it. Contest categories range from “Best Trick,” “Best Dressed,” and “Mirror Image” (person and dog who look most alike), to “Biggest Dog,” “Smallest Dog,” and “Best in Show” (overall crowd favorite). Prizes, including dog park T-shirts, pet treats, and pet store gift certificates, will be awarded.

It's raining cats and dogs, so, the dog park event scheduled for this weekend is going to be postponed. Look forward to Sunday, October 5th instead. Same dog channel, almost same dog time, different dog day. Here's the original posting, minus the date change:

Sunday, Oct 5th - Dogs for Dogs in Highland Park from Noon to 4 p.m.

A day of fun is planned for the entire family, including four-legged members (dogs are welcome on leash, please). Cash donations will be accepted at this event, and official dog park T-shirts ($15 each) and dog park bumper stickers ($5 each) will be sold. A schedule of the day’s activities includes:

• Dog Park Informational Showcase – Noon to 4 p.m. Residents of the Old Southwest neighborhood and greater Roanoke community are invited to learn more about plans for this fenced, off-leash, public dog park. Information will be provided on fencing materials, gating, benches, waste receptacles, landscaping, and more. The proposed one-acre site within Highland Park will be roped-off so residents can visualize the dog park’s dimensions.

• Buddy Wash and Nail Trim – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For a $10 donation, dogs will be bathed, and for an additional $10 donation, veterinary professionals will provide nail trims.

• Dogs for Dogs – noon to 2 p.m. Enjoy a lunchtime meal of hot dogs, chips, and a soft drink for a $5 donation. The Roanoke Dog Park Steering Committee thanks Kroger for their generous donation of food and supplies for the “Dogs for Dogs” fundraising event.

• Roanoke’s Greatest Dog Talent Show – 2 p.m. Everyone believes their dog is the world’s greatest. By making a $5 donation, proud pet parents finally have the opportunity to prove it. Contest categories range from “Best Trick,” “Best Dressed,” and “Mirror Image” (person and dog who look most alike), to “Biggest Dog,” “Smallest Dog,” and “Best in Show” (overall crowd favorite). Prizes, including dog park T-shirts, pet treats, and pet store gift certificates, will be awarded.

To volunteer - email Lauren Ellerman at lellerman@frithlawfirm.com.

This entry is lifted directly from the NewVaConnects blog, with a few AP style edits because I just can't let my journalism degree go to waste.

Saturday, Sept. 27 - Dogs for Dogs in Highland Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A day of fun is planned for the entire family, including four-legged members (dogs are welcome on leash, please). Cash donations will be accepted at this event, and official dog park T-shirts ($15 each) and dog park bumper stickers ($5 each) will be sold. A schedule of the day’s activities includes:

• Dog Park Informational Showcase – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents of the Old Southwest neighborhood and greater Roanoke community are invited to learn more about plans for this fenced, off-leash, public dog park. Information will be provided on fencing materials, gating, benches, waste receptacles, landscaping, and more. The proposed one-acre site within Highland Park will be roped-off so residents can visualize the dog park’s dimensions.

• Buddy Wash and Nail Trim – 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For a $10 donation, dogs will be bathed, and for an additional $10 donation, veterinary professionals will provide nail trims.

• Dogs for Dogs – noon to 2 p.m. Enjoy a lunchtime meal of hot dogs, chips, and a soft drink for a $5 donation. The Roanoke Dog Park Steering Committee thanks Kroger for their generous donation of food and supplies for the “Dogs for Dogs” fundraising event.

• Roanoke’s Greatest Dog Talent Show – 2 p.m. Everyone believes their dog is the world’s greatest. By making a $5 donation, proud pet parents finally have the opportunity to prove it. Contest categories range from “Best Trick,” “Best Dressed,” and “Mirror Image” (person and dog who look most alike), to “Biggest Dog,” “Smallest Dog,” and “Best in Show” (overall crowd favorite). Prizes, including dog park T-shirts, pet treats, and pet store gift certificates, will be awarded.

To volunteer - email Lauren Ellerman at lellerman@frithlawfirm.com.