Halloween Cutefest RESCHEDULED to Sunday, 10/30

Hey everyone, our Halloween Cutefest has been pushed back one day due to the forecast for rain and snow on Saturday.  Please join us on Sunday, October 30!

Join us for "Halloween CuteFest: Puppies on Parade!"

Join us on Saturday, October 29 for "Halloween CuteFest: Puppies on Parade!" (bring your kids too!).  You know your pooch has always dreamed of being Superpooch!

Meet at the BLDPA table at 3:30 (by the dog park) for dog treats, cider, cookies and conversation!  Get your photo taken by our volunteer photographer and then join us for a short parade around the park and our neighborhood.

This event is part of the LeDroit Park Civic Association's Oktoberfest event scheduled for 11-5 on 10/29.  See their press release on the event:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Washington, D.C.) The LeDroit Park Civic Association and Common Good City Farm are pleased to announce the 1st Annual LeDroit Park OktoberFest.  

OktoberFest is a family and community-oriented event with live music and entertainment, games, food and local vendors.  The event will also feature Common Good City Farm’s Harvest Festival, an afternoon of activities like pumpkin carving and painting, scarecrow making, face painting and more!   

OktoberFest entertainment will include the Peacemakers, one of the original "go go" groups in Washington, DC, eisa taiko drumming and dancing by the CHIN HAMAYA CULTURE CENTER, and traditional German-style music and games. 

The LeDroit Park Civic Association thanks the following sponsors for supporting this community event:  Wells Fargo Bank, Busboys and Poets, Zipcar and Howard University.

OktoberFest will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 11AM - 5PM at the Park at LeDroit, located on the 300 and 400 blocks of Elm St., NW.   The Harvest Festival will be held 11AM – 2PM at the Common Good City Farm (entrance between 2nd & 4th Sts. on V St., NW).

This event is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Marc Morgan, President, LeDroit Park Civic Association at morgan@morganfordc.com or visit the LeDroit Park Civic Association website at www.ledroitparkdc.org.   You can also follow us on Twitter @ledroitparkdc and find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ledroitparkcivicassociation.

Early Close Tonight

Dear BLDPA members
We are closing the dog park around 7 tonight for clean up and to spray disinfectant.
Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks!

Looking for Dog Park Assoc. Board Members

Would you like to help with the Bloomingdale Ledroit Dog Park Association?  Several of our Board members will be stepping down at the end of the calendar year and we need new volunteers.  The time commitment is minimal and you get to support an important resource for dog owners in our community.  Please email bldpadogs@gmail.com for more information or if you are interested in volunteering.

Some issues we will be working on:

• Getting the city to fix the drainage issue in the park.
• Trying to find funding (private or DC gov't) for lights for the dog park (like in Shaw dog park).
• Fundraising for a sun shade structure for next summer's hot days.
• Bringing dog behavior training opportunities to the community.

Warning to Dog Owners about Leptospirosis

This was included in the latest Bloomingdale Newsletter. We are very sad for the loss of Luna. : (

From: Paul
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 8:51 AM
Subject: In Memory of Luna

Dear family & friends: Our beloved Luna passed away this morning at an animal hospital in Fairfax, VA. She was brought there yesterday fighting for her life - The doctors believe that she most likely had a virus called Leptospirosis, which will be confirmed within a week from blood tests. We are inconsolable with the loss of our little princess - She was the daughter of our first Jack Russell Terrier, Pippo, and the little girl in our family. We would like to raise awareness of ``Leptospirosis`` - apparently, there is an epidemic according to the Veterinarian and the Animal Hospital. Please notify any dog owners that you may know to research this virus and take the highest precautions. Luna first showed symptoms late Sunday night, she was lethargic and had vomitted. It seemed as though Luna had a general stomach virus, which we have experienced before with both of our dogs and thought it would just pass.

To all DC residents - this is a major epidemic, specifically, here according to the Veterinarian due to the rat problem that we have. Leptospirosis is transmitted to dogs primarily through rat/possum/raccoon urine (that could be found in a puddle, stream, pond, etc) as well as from contact with rats and other infected dogs and infected dog urine. It is highly contagious between dogs and transmittable to humans. There is a vaccine for Leptospirosis (speak to your veterinarian), however, like with most viruses with multiple strains - it can be of limited help (there are 7 different strains). Note to cat owners - This does not affect cats. We need to finally resolve the rat issue in DC immediately! We would like to thank everyone for their support, the doctors and nurses at City Paws and South Paws and our dear friends Mat, Melissa and Ragnhild for their tremendous support and love these last few days. Again, please forward this information to any dog owners you may know. This is a very serious virus that is lethal to dogs and humans as well.

More about Leptospirosis here.