Contest fetches funds for Bark Park

COSTA MESA — This year went to the dogs at the Costa Mesa Bark Park with its dog of the year contest Saturday, when it named golden retriever Miss Ginger its grand prize winner.

Bark Park volunteers thought it only appropriate that this year they name one such dog in celebration of this year being the Year of the Dog on the Chinese calendar. The contest was part of the park’s winter fundraiser, Howl-i-days 2006.

The park relies solely on donations to keep it running, a fact volunteers say many people who frequent the grounds don’t realize.

“The majority of people think we’re paid for by the city, but it’s not the case” said volunteer Patt Bell, who was selling personalized holiday cards. “We’re completely self-supported, and it’s absolutely essential people know that.”

Huntington Beach resident Lisa Baker, Miss Ginger’s handler, understands the importance of continually donating and participating in fundraisers for the park, which she uses often.

The professional dog trainer, who won a weekend in Big Bear for Miss Ginger being top dog, stressed the importance of giving or volunteering at the park because it is essential to socializing dogs and acclimating them to people and other animals.

“It’s extremely important, I can’t even express in words how important it is to donate,” Baker said while petting the 3-year-old retriever. “It’s used to keep the park going, to keep the grass alive and put in a water fountain.”

Keeping the grass alive is exactly what volunteers hope proceeds from Saturday’s fundraiser will help maintain.

Bark Park Foundation President Patricia Allen said next spring she hopes the foundation will be able to replace the grass, which on Saturday seemed to be fading to brown.

It’s expensive to maintain the park, she said. Little-known costs that some may take for granted add up at the end of the year, she said.

The park goes through 300,000 poop bags every year at a cost of $3,000 to $4,000. Each quarter area of landscaping can cost close to $50,000, Allen said, holding her dog as he fell asleep in her arms.

Bill Holiday helped organize the event and said he got involved, like many others, for his dog, Annie.

“My pet is the best pet of the century,” Holiday said proudly.

But the park isn’t just for dogs and their owners.

Costa Mesa resident Tom Kluczynski and his 18-month-old daughter, Riley, traipsed around the small dog area for fun. Kluczynski said his family can’t have a dog where they live, but Riley loves them, so they visit the dogs sometimes.

“She has a good old time when we come visit the little dogs,” he said as he watched Riley run around, pointing, laughing and shrieking with delight as dogs ran by her.

“And this way if we ever do get a dog, she’ll already be acclimated to dogs.”

He pointed out that many people who frequent the park seem to know each other and that it becomes a social spot not only for the dogs but for their owners too. As his daughter attempted to throw a tennis ball for some of the dogs, he too mingled with some of the dog owners, including Costa Mesa resident Luisa Rodriguez and her two 1-year-old Jack Russell terriers, Morena and Manchas.

The park is continually looking for donations to help support its operations fund, Allen said. One way they tried to boost those Saturday was by setting up a holiday card portrait set for dog owners to take pictures of their dogs, which then will be customized on holiday cards they can send to friends and family. People were welcome to get in the photos with their extended family members, or the dogs could be the stars of the photo shoots.

During the summer they hold another fundraiser called Bath-stille Day, which is a dog-washing event. Each event has vendors selling their doggie goodies and food being grilled up.

There’s no need to wait till next year’s event to donate, however. The foundation accepts donations every day and sells shirts, sweatshirts and hats at its boutique, which they try to set up once a month. The apparel is also available online. Donations can be made online or mailed in envelopes available at the park.

For more information, visit www.cmbarkpark.org. The park is on Arlington Avenue and Newport Boulevard in Tewinkle Park.