Serving Brooklyn's Off-Leash Community

PUPNIC 2008

FIDO's Summer Picnic for Pooches & their People

What better way for FIDO to celebrate summer than a late afternoon picnic on the last Friday of June. Over one hundred dog owners and canine companions came out to the Nethermead in anticipation of a few fun hours of food and games. And not to forget off-leash play... While the Nethermead has always been a congenial meadow where dogs and park users have co-existed on weekday afternoons, we were offered specially designated off-leash area that would accommodate the anticipated crowd.       Young & Old... Did we ever see so many young families with dogs before this year?   Could be that once when you've dealt with a drooling dog, a drooling toddler presents no problem!                   And what's a party without all those wild and crazy guys....errr, gals!         Food, Wonderful Food... Ziti, pesto, egg rolls, fried chicken, salads, fruit, pasta... even more pasta! Our guests were generous with their contributions and Downtown Brooklyn's fabulous eateries redoubled their efforts this year with trays to drool over (strange; we keep using that phrase) Sheep Station; Long Tan; Queen Italian Restaurant, & Enzo's get "four woofs!" for their efforts Our doggies for the most part were well mannered, waiting until the food reached ground level. It was only in those few moments before clean up that Denali broke four years of restraint and levitated the contents of a pasta tray onto the grass - or was it a plot conceived by his canines buddies who didn't believe for one second that "all comes to he who sits and waits"! But every dog has its day. Diane West from New York Tails Magazine showed up with her backpack stuffed with Frosty Pawz "ice cream" style desert for the gang. Judging by the pictures below, it's good right down to the last ant!     Bring on the games! The Olympics they weren't, but the competition was spirited: what looked to be a sure thing for the "Smallest Foot" contest, fell to an even smaller foot!               And the Biggest (furry) Foot winner had best look out, because the second place winner, the blue monster, is still growing!           Biscuit Toss is always a good thing         And what better than to compete with a tag team buddy!   Most Licks in a row? The owner of the first place winner sported a complexion that could only be compared to polished marble Our thanks to 7th Ave Pet Foods for supplying the prizes!   Our Membership Tent saw lots of action: membership sign up as well as a FIDO's petition to reinstate the Nethermead's ten year tradition of weekday afternoon off-leash hours. FIDO bumper stickers flew off the table as did Anthony Guidice's free cans of dog food meals by Weruva and "treaty" type giveaway bags from Sammy at 7th Avenue Pet Foods. For a little light reading, there were a dozen or so copies of Walking Ollie, donated by Valerie Cortez from Penguin Books. BEST of All... It was a chance to sit with furry friends...                                 Pupnic 2008 Sponsors Queen Italian Restaurant (84 Court Street at Livingston) Long Tan Restaurant (194 5th Avenue at Berkeley Pl) Enzo's Wood Fired Brick Oven (Prospect Park West at 16th Street) Sheep Station (4th Avenue at Douglass Street) 7th Avenue Pet Foods (7th Ave between 15 & 16th Streets) Dog Delight Pet foods (3rd Avenue at 26th Street) Behind The Scenes Thanks Go To: Bob Ipcar & Jane Landis Dave Singer Michele Sevik Theresa dePaul Tony Chiappelloni MaryJane Monahan Trudy Kawami Betty Schwartz-Dowling Jennifer Brauer Julius Harrison Valerie Cortes - Penguin Anthony Guidice-Weruva Diane West - New York Tails Magazine Cheers for the Prospect Park Alliance Special Events Staff Will we do it again next year? Bob & Jane: "You bet!" Denali: "Burp...."