WPCNR Main Street Journal. June 16, 2004, UPDATED WITH PIX, 10:30 A.M. E.D.T.: Mayor Joseph Delfino launched a new quality of life initiative Tuesday, announcing that the city would build a Dog Run Park for citizens to let their "best friends" loose in a controlled environment. The park will be located on the Southeast side of Delfino Park on the Town of Harrison line alongside a brook and would be 100 feet x 200 feet in size. It will be constructed over the summer by the Department of Public Works and will open in September according to the plan.

MAYOR INTRODUCING HIS DOG PARK PLAN TO INTERESTED CANINES at City Hall Tuesday. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog

The Mayor also announced as part of his "Love Our Pets Initiative" that the city would produce a television program on WPPA-TV, beginning in August on White Plains Public Access that will feature animals in need of homes, discuss pet welfare issues.

To care for pets that already have homes, the Mayor introduced Dennis M. Dolan, President of Best Friends Pet Resorts & Salons who will be opening what the Mayor described as "a state-of-the-art pet care facility in White Plains," occupying the former Colin Cares building on South Kensico Avenue at One Brockway Place. It is expected to open in December.

DOG PARK SITE: You are looking Southeast from second base at Delfino Field II. The White Plains Dog Run Park will be constructed directly across Main Street from the third base side of the field  and extend back 200 feet. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog

PROPOSED ENTRANCE TO DOG PARK: According to Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti, the Dog Run will be constructed this summer at a cost of $9,000 to $10,000, (mainly for fencing). The City Hall News Release reports the Dog Run will be open from dawn to dusk, and include a water fountain for dogs, a dispenser for clean up after dogs, and a waste receptacle, and will be ready in September. Play equipment to amuse your dog will be added, should the city find a sponsor.  Havilands Manor resident and schnauzer trainer, Barbara Dille who suggested the site to Mayor Delfino, said the program sounds very good and is much needed. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog.

MAYOR IS THANKED BY CURRENT RESIDENTS of the New Rochelle Animal Shelter, (a no-kill shelter), for his initiative. Frannie, Hunter, Ginger and a puppie, Bosco visited from the New Rochelle shelter to dramatize the plight of homeless pets. Eleven Million animals are in shelters nationwide, and each year eight million are euthanized. The Mayor said, through the new White Plains Public Access television show, that he hoped more animals would be adopted by the community. Fred Strauss, General Manager of WPPA-TV in White Plains said he is very enthusiastic about the show and thinks it's "a fantastic idea," since his first two dogs were strays he rescued from the street in the South Bronx. He said he'd be keeping WPCNR posted as production details of "The Dog Show" were ironed out. Dana Rocco, (left) Manager of the New Rochelle Shelter  looks on. Frannie, Hunter, Ginger and Bosco may be adopted for just $100 with complete shots, and  a vet check, spayed or neutered depending on gender,  by contacting 632-2935. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog

DOG HOTEL SITE: The former home of Colin Cares (which has moved to 170 Hamilton Avenue), will become the site  of a Best Friends Pet Resort & Salon in December, another phase of the Mayor's Love Our Pets Initiative. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog.

BEST FRIENDS PET RESORTS provide a variety of services for White Plains pets who have homes, including boarding (over family vacations), daycare, grooming, training, a specialty pet boutique, and a veterinary clinic. Exhibits at the news conference displayed some of the "suites" available for pets staying at Best Friends Pet Resorts. The national chain has Best Friends facilities in Norwalk, Rockland County and nearby in Harrison. The facility in White Plains, Dennis  Dolan said, would provide short stay lodging for 200 dogs and 36 cats. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog

FRANNIE, A 9-year old chocolate Lab, shakes hands with the CitizeNetReporter. From this reporter's observations the three older dogs were people-friendly, very well-behaved and would make great pets for any home. Frannie can be adopted, (and she has a yellow lab companion dog, too, that she was found with, abandoned.) Photo by WPCNR NewsDog

HUNTER, a 9 year old mutt, is dignified, friendly, looking for a home. He typifies the millions of older dogs that people do not want, and who are eventually killed because shelters cannot handle the overload of animals who are not wanted. The New Rochelle Shelter where Hunter lives does not kill the animals it cannot find homes for. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog.

GINGER, faithful female companion for someone. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog.

BOSCO, THE LUCKY PUPPY. He's lucky because he lives at the New Rochelle Animal Shelter. He's available now as are Frannie, Ginger, and Hunter and many other homeless, but-cared-for, dogs and cats by calling 632-2925. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog.