PUPS was formed in 1999 when a few people saw the need to band together the dog owners that frequented Fort Greene Park. What started as a few volunteers quickly grew to about fifty that year.

Our first big event was The Great PUPkin, which drew large crowds at the park's Halloween Festival, and continues to do so every year. With the new millenium, PUPS grew exponentially: launching our first web site, sponsoring a variety of both fun - and fundraising - events (see our photo gallery) and becoming an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, thereby making your donations tax-deductible.

To prove our dedication to the parks beautiful grounds, and to reinforce our policy of self-enforcement, PUPS bought, painted and donated 8 trash cans, and had two poop-bag dispensers installed. PUPS has also been a key participant in the NYC Parks Department's It's My Park Day, helping organize volunteers to clean the park, plant new gardens, and work on drainage projects.

PUPS involvement with the greater Fort Greene Park community was realized with the launch of our enewsletter PUPDate and annual thank-you breakfasts for Parks Department workers to show our members' appreciation for their hard work.

Firmly established as responsible dog owners, we pressed for - and received - a dog-friendly water spigot. This promptly became a bone of contention because of the poor drainage and PUPS began lobbying for a proper dog fountain. 5 years later, with the help of Councilwoman Tish James and the blood, sweat, and tears of many volunteers, this finally became a reality - and a major accomplishment - in 2008.

But the best was yet to come. While we are certainly proud of the above accomplishments, PUPS' greatest achievement was as a key player in the 2007 citywide effort that saw the 9 PM-9 AM off-leash courtesy rule codified into law. Among other things, we contributed $500 to help pay legal and other expenses associated with this effort and created a commemorative Off Leash Rules! T-shirt in recognition of the new law.

We are now a 400+ member-fueled organization. 10 years later and still going strong, we continue put on the annual dog costume contest, publish PUPDate, host coffees in the park, volunteer on It's My Park day, help out local shelters and other dogs in need. And keep those dispensers filled! And police ourselves to be responsible dog owners.

With your continued support, the next 10 years will be successful as the first.