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in this issue:
Letter from the Editor
by Chris Franko
Ch…Ch…Ch…Changes
I guess you could say that every season marks some kind of transition, but for me, none does so more viscerally than fall. I know what he means when Bowie sings, “turn and face the strain.” Blame it on a lifetime of “back-to-school” triggers that force my thoughts back into sharp-focus. Add to that our rapidly shrinking amount of daylight and suddenly, time matters again and the leisurely dog days of summer have given way to Daylight Savings Time.
So just as our pups perk up on those first few chilly fall mornings, I realized, too, thanks to my new-found autumn lucidity, that this issue is all about transition. To begin, PUPS itself is evolving as you’ll read below in Amy Hecht’s “My Spot on the Bench,” and while we’re sad to see her stepping down, it’s a great chance for someone else to step up and lead the pack. And in the context of our rapidly changing neighborhood, you’ll also find a little update on some of the changes on the way at Ft Greene Park that will surely affect us all.
We also shine the spotlight on someone who’s dedicated to making a change for the better. Allison Cordona spent several weeks last month as part of the ASPCA’s animal rescue effort in the Gulf coast and she’ll share some of her experiences with us.
And one final note on change: Don’t buy into media scare tactics regarding the flu (you know which one I’m talking about), but do pay attention to any unusual changes in your dog’s health and behavior. And be sure to call your vet as soon as you do. We’ll all thank you for it!
MY SPOT ON THE BENCH
For eight years, I've been sitting on the bench in Fort Greene Park during off-leash time, a succession of dogs by my side. Bingo was there for all eight; now it's just Carly. And who could forget Sophie, the scourge of the park squirrel population, not to mention other indiscretions? Dogs are an integral part of my Fort Greene life, and I value the time I spend in the park amongst a community of like-minded individuals.
That's why six years ago, when PUPS Prez Kath Hansen asked if I'd like to help with a dog owner group she was forming, I said yes. Since that time, we've accomplished so much: six PUPkins, four calendars, built a web site… numerous holiday coffees, poop pick ups, dog washes, stoop sales… welcomed Nancy Peterson aboard as Secretary, held an agility event, attained our not-for-profit status. The trash cans. The dog fountain. The poop-bag dispensers. And yes, we fought to maintain our precious off-leash hours. Well, six years is a long time, and so as of October 1, I am resigning as VP and from the PUPS board.
This means there's an open "spot on the bench" and PUPS needs someone with fresh ideas to fill it. There are so many new people and dogs in the park since that day six years ago. One of you has the ideas and energy it takes to make PUPS an even stronger organization. But will you do it?
If you believe dogs are an integral part of your life, you will. If you value this community of dog-owning park users, you will. And if you recognize the importance of keeping the off-leash privilege we have worked so hard to maintain, you will.
I know, you're also busy: you have a full-time job, a social life, a family perhaps, and of course, a dog. Or two. So do I. But as they say, many hands make light work. And honestly? This isn't the Rockefeller Foundation. All you really need is an email address and a willingness to participate. It's worthwhile. And it matters. As is all too often perceived, PUPS is not just me or Kath or Nancy. Your continued involvement is tantamount to the success of this group.
As for me, I (generally) practice what I preach. I will remain involved, only less visibly. And of course, I'll still be sitting on the bench, a dog by my side.
(Email here for more information: on the board, on volunteering, or if you have ideas about how to move this organization forward.)
TO THE RESCUE…
It was hard last month to avoid being affected by the horrifying images of a ravaged New Orleans. One Fort Greene resident, Allison Cordona, sprung into action and put her love of animals to work as 
a part of the ASPCA animal rescue mission.
I spoke to Allison not long after she returned from the Gulf about her experiences. Here are some highlights from our conversation about the rescue effort and her role in it:
PUPS: Most of us have only seen the images on
television. Could you give us a brief description of the conditions you witnessed?
AC: The entire experience was surreal: There were uprooted trees, cars tossed around like toys and water everywhere. When we went into peoples' houses we could see lives interrupted -- people left to save their lives, pocketbooks still on counters, dishes in the sink.
PUPS: What exactly was your role in the rescue mission?
AC: I was on a small boat with three other people and we conducted searches in the Uptown, Lakeview and Lower 7th & 9th Ward sections of New Orleans. We would place animals in crates in the boats and then bring them to a staging area where they were loaded into a van for the trip back to the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center [in Gonzales LA, a town about 50 miles north of New Orleans where The ASPCA's disaster response team is stationed].
PUPS: How many animals have been rescued so far? And what happened to the animals once they’re rescued?
AC: Approximately 6,500 animals so far. When the animals arrived at Lamar-Dixon they were decontaminated, given an exam by a vet, microchipped, then photographed and logged into a database. Owners can look for them on Petfinder.com and Petharbor.com and every possible effort will be made to reunite them with their owners. But if they can't, the animals will be placed up for adoption.
PUPS: What would you say was your most difficult rescue?
AC: We rescued five beagles that were living in an uprooted tree. The water was chest high and we had to climb over sheds, kennels and wire crates to even get near the dogs. And even though we were wearing dry suits to protect us from the contaminated water, it was pretty creepy to wade through dirty brown water that smelled awful. The poor things were so scared and skinny and kept climbing higher into the tree. My teammate managed to get three of the beagles, but it was up to me to get the remaining two. I was able to grab one and hand him to my teammate even though he kept trying to bite me out of fear. But, the last beagle kept swimming away from me. I finally I managed to corner him in a low-lying tree and grab him with a long catchpole. I felt so relieved. My heart had been pounding in my ears the whole time.
PUPS: What can PUPS members do to ensure the effort’s success?
AC: The ASPCA has a disaster relief fund that will provide grants directly to the shelters in the hurricane areas. For more information on those and to donate, visit www.aspca.org. Also, the ASPCA is working to create legislation that would ensure that people and pets are kept together during disasters. Many people did not evacuate during the hurricane because they could not take their pets with them and they would not leave them behind.
PUPS: I just want to let you know how much I appreciate your efforts and admire your bravery.
AC: I am grateful that I was able to help in some way and that the ASPCA played such a vital role in this operation.
A NEW ARRIVAL
PUPS would like to congratulate Fort Greene Park's wonderful Park Coordinator Kara Gilmour on her new baby. Due to arrive by late October, Kara may have her new bundle of joy in hand in time for the Great PUPkin! We wish her and her husband the very best, and look forward to seeing Kara back in the park come springtime.
In the meanwhile, PUPS would also like to welcome to Fort Greene Park our first full-time manager in years. The NYC Parks Dept. has decided to once again appoint a full-time manager, and his name is Jeff Sandgrund. He comes to us from Partnerships for Parks, where he's been doing great work for several years now. We applaud the Parks Dept. for making this decision and welcome Jeff to the park. He should be in the park sometime in October.
7th ANNUAL GREAT PUPKIN
Time to start thinking about a costume for your dog! The 7th Annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest will be held Saturday, October 29 from 12:00-1:00 in Fort Greene Park (rain date Sunday, Oct. 30). Dogs in Halloween finery will compete for amazing prizes before our celebrity judges, among them NBC-TV's Jan Hanson. Last year nearly 100 dogs competed! Registration starts at 11:30, so be in the park by then and look for the registration signs. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS to help register dogs, do traffic duty, and help put up signs in the neighborhood. Every year this contest is more popular, so please contact Kath Hansen at wenley@mindspring.com if you can help in any way.
PUPS THANKS THE PARKS CREW
On September 15th PUPS held a breakfast for the Parks Department staff as a "thank you" for all their hard work during the busy summer season to keep Fort Greene Park clean. PUPS members stopped by the Visitor's Center to grab a bite to eat, to drink a cup of coffee and to express their appreciation to Park Manager Kara Gilmour and the cadre of workers who were responsible for clean-up this summer. City Council member Tish James also dropped by to acknowledge the staff. PUPS sent a letter to NYC Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe commending the staff and asking for his continued support for Fort Greene Park.
THANKS TO AMY
I just wanted to say a huge thanks to retiring PUPS board member Amy Hecht for everything she's done for PUPS over the years. You may not know it, but Amy created the PUPS website, designed all the calendars we've published, and was the driving force behind getting the poop bag dispensers put up in the park. A sought-after graphic designer, she designed the PUPS logo and has in fact been the designer for all our media over the years. She also worked with a lawyer to get PUPS official nonprofit status. Even during the difficult period when she lost both her dogs Bingo and Sophie to cancer, she continued volunteering her time to PUPS.
Though Amy's going to be focusing her energy on other projects now, we will still see her in the park with her dog Carly. Please thank her for all her good work in keeping your dog's off-leash time legal in the park.
Don't forget you can now donate online. Keeping the popular poop-bag dispensers stocked is a continuing operating expense that needs your support. It costs approximately $16.00 to fill each dispenser. If you use these bags, or just want to contribute, please make a donation so we can continue to provide this service. PUPS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit so your dollars are tax-deductible. Donate now at www.fortgreenepups.org or mail a check to:
Fort Greene PUPS, Inc.
PO Box 103
542 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217