From the Barkyard!!!

We would like to thank all of you for enjoying the Barkyard with your canine friends.  Also thanks for picking up after your dogs and clearing out old toys and litter.  What would we do without you?

Watch our website and Facebook page for news on our upcoming Fundraiser!

There is a resolution before the Common Council of the City of Buffalo, sponsored by Richard A. Fontana, asking that parks close at sunset. The Barkyard would be affected by this new rule, as many users visit after work, when it’s dark. Please contact Richard Fontana’s office at 716-851-5151, or by email at rfontana@city-buffalo.com, to voice your concerns.

Thanks,
The Barkyard Board of Directors

May is National Dog Bite Prevention Month. Treat man’s best friend with kindness and teach your family how to identify signs of stress in your dog. Let’s prevent dog bites!

The Barkyard will be the venue for a Bully Breed Awareness event, April 30, 2011. For more details, contact action@animalallieswny.org.

Please note: The Small Dog Area will be closed during this event.

The Board of Directors of Buffalo Off Leash Area Inc., operators and overseers of the Barkyard, would like to thank everyone for their support over the past year. 2010 was a terrific year for the Barkyard. We saw a great increase in our user base and people continue to come from near and far to use our beautiful park.

Representatives from the Barkyard marched through slush in the first annual Powder Keg Parade, and participated with our pooches in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, taking home the trophy for Best Community Float. Watch for us again in this year’s parade. We continued to be a part of the many wonderful events around town, including the marketplace at Pride Buffalo, as well as two fundraising events for the SPCA of Erie County: Wine & Wags and Paws in the Park.

2010 was also the beginning of the Barkyard’s 1st annual Mitzvah Day—a park project day shared between the folks at Westminster Presbyterian Church and Temple Beth Zion. Last year they painted the old benches and the new kiosks—they’ll be back again this year for another project.

The Barkyard also held a dog bite prevention seminar at the Falk School as part of our education program, and held a successful fundraiser at the neighboring Buffalo Yacht Club. Most excitingly, we spoke with representatives from Hamburg , Lewiston and Chautauqua County regarding their interest in creating off-leash areas in their communities. I am very happy to say that Hamburg has already broken ground and Lewiston is up and running!

We are only a few weeks into the New Year and we have exciting news to report: We now have a shelter for inclement weather. It will keep us cool in the summer and warm (or at least less cold) in the winter. We have big plans for the interior, to be announced later this spring.

The Barkyard is also excited to launch our Friends of the Barkyard membership program. To continue to run the park and make necessary improvements, we need your help. Please remember that we are a not-for-profit group that runs solely on donations from pet-loving individuals like yourself. We can’t do it alone, so please consider becoming a Friend of the Barkyard.

Thank you again for continuing to make Buffalo’s first off-leash area a great success.

Joseph Lonzi
President
Buffalo Off Leash Area, Inc. (The Barkyard)

The Barkyard will have a booth at this year’s Paws in the Park, September 11, 2010 at Beaver Island State Park. Stop by, say hello, and pick up a sticker or a t-shirt to show your support!

Buffalo Spree voted the Barkyard as the 2010 Best Place to Hang Out with Your Dog. The award was presented at the Best of WNY 2010 Party (benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upstate New York Chapter) on June 24, 2010 at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, NY.

The Barkyard will be on-hand at the Pet Emergency Fund’s Run for Rover, this Sunday, July 11th, at LaSalle Park. Visit us at our booth during the event, or at the Barkyard afterward. We’ll be available to answer your questions, and we’ll have Barkyard T-shirts and stickers available. See you then!!

As you may have noticed, there is construction taking place in both sides of the Barkyard. We are very excited to report that the Buffalo Water Authority (managed by American Water) is installing water lines for fountains which are expected to be in place before Summer 2010.

Work is taking place as weather permits, so we can not predict when either (or both) areas of the Barkyard may need to be temporarily closed. We appreciate your patience, and ask that you pardon any inconvenience (and mess) while these improvements are in progress.