Hi Park Pals!

• The first basket is a TRAINING BASKET worth almost $200. It will feature a six week Canine Good Citizen training session at Manhattan Training Center in Des Moines with AKC instructors Veda Viles and Gina Osbourne. Also included is a punch card from SIMPLY PAWS and lots of training items and treats for you and your pooch.   Tickets are $1.00
• The second basket is a SPA BASKET worth $80.00 dollars that features a Splish Splash Doggie Bath gift certificate, loads of doggie grooming items, treats, and plenty of toys.  Tickets are $1.00
• Our PREMIUM BASKET contains a gift certificate for ALDERBROOK RESORT on Hood Canal (worth $295.00). This basket is worth $450.00 and contains a Marlene’s gift card, dog treats, toys, a metal art doggie and two plaques, just to mention a few items. Tickets are $5.00

Thanks to our Raffle Sponsors!

• Alderbrook Resort and Spa
• Mud Bay Splish Splash Doggy Bath
• Biscuits Pet Grooming & Daycare
• Marlene’s Market & Deli
• Pet Pros
• Tuesday Morning
• Simply Paws
• Manhattan Training Center
• Centennial Kennels

Please come and support Park Pals and French Lake Park. Your dogs are welcome and there are many, many activities and entertainment, for you, your dog(s) and the whole family! The dog trot starts at 9:30am.

As we mentioned last week, Park Pals is attending Auburn’s Petpalooza on Saturday, May 18th from 10:00am until 5:00pm.

Park Pals Raffle!

The best part is we’ll be raffling off some truly amazing prizes at our Petpalooza booth! So far we’ve received donations from:

• Alderbrook Resort and Spa
• Mud Bay 
• Splish Splash Doggy Bath 
• Biscuits Pet Grooming & Daycare
• Marlene’s Market & Deli
• Centennial Kennels
• Pet Pros
• Tuesday Morning
• More to come!

If you’re interested in donating a raffle prize please contact us! Otherwise, we’ll see you at Petpalooza!

P.S. If you’re interested in volunteering for Park Pals at Petpalooza please sign up here!

Park Pals is attending Auburn’s Petpalooza this year and we need volunteers!

About the Event:

• Date: Saturday, May 18, 2013, 10:00am until 5:00pm
• Place: Auburn Game Farm Park: 3030 R St SE, Auburn, Washington 98002

Get more information about the event and tickets here.

What would we like the Volunteers to do?
We need 10-15 volunteers who will be willing to wear a Park Pals t-shirt, giveaway tennis balls, collect email addresses, and encourage people to buy raffle tickets.

Are you interested in volunteering?
Awesome! Please fill out this form and we’ll get in contact with you.

Join Park Pals Volunteers and help us clean up French Lake Park (again)!

If you can, please bring the following:

• Gloves
• Hip waders for pond cleanup!

We’ll be selling memorial bricks, collecting donations and giving out snacks and coffee.

Click here to RSVP and invite your dog-loving Federal Way friends too!

The Park Pals February Work Party was a big success due in no small part to our awesome volunteers! Thank you to everyone who came to lend a hand!

We are one step closer to building a rain shelter at the Federal Way French Lake Off-leash Dog park!

Read the full story in the Federal Way Mirror.

Also, if you would like to help out with future Dog Park initiatives there are many ways to do so including donating your time and/or money!

Park Pals volunteers had lots of fun working with Santa! We were at Petco and Simply Paws. Charlie Dennis, owner of Sweet Pea Photography, volunteered to be the photographer at these events. He took wonderful pictures that sometimes included human family members as well as canine ones. Our most unusual family group included a “house” goat!

All proceeds from the Santa events benefit French Lake Park. Petco will give Park Pals a donation for the work done by our volunteers.

Tribute bricks at French Lake Park

The first bunch of tribute bricks has finally been installed at the park entrance! Although we had ordered bricks last winter, the quality of those bricks and engraving was inconsistent so the board decided to use a different supplier and ordered replacements. That company will do the engraving in the future.

Each brick represents a special meaning or memory to the purchaser and/or patrons. Some of the bricks commemorate parties that were instrumental in seeking legalization for an off-leash park at French Lake.  

Kevin Morris was one of the people who participated in convincing the City Council that Federal Way needed an off-leash park. He foresaw that a non-profit organization would be beneficial to raise funds for park improvements and was one of the original incorporators of Park Pals. He loved his half Shepherd-half Great Dane,”Butt Butt”. Butt Butt was well trained, but often reminded many of us of Scooby Doo. Both are gone, but will be remembered fondly by those of us who patronized the park in its earlier years.

The name “Park Pals” was inspired by Mandy, an Airedale, whose people took her to the park daily. She loved to visit the pals she made at the park, especially those who gave out treats! When the group needed a name to identify those who supported getting the park declared legally off-leash, Park Pals was suggested by Mandy’s person.

The tribute area will grow as more bricks are purchased. The bricks will be a beautiful and lasting tribute to your friends and beloved doggie companions!   All proceeds from new brick orders will go toward our next project to benefit French Lake Park and its patrons.

A new bench has been installed in the park. It’s located in the southeast area. Park Pals Board purchased the bench with funds generated from donations and fundraisers.

Thank you, patrons! Hope you enjoy the new bench.