Dogs, owners celebrate anniversary of Valley Stream dog park

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Roughly 50 people attended The Friends of Valley Stream Dogs Bow Wow Luau, the organization’s annual fundraiser to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the dog parks opening on Saturday, June 16. It was the first time The Friends of Valley Stream Dogs held the event as a luau.

At the celebration, dog owners and their pups participated in a photo contest with a Hawaiian backdrop surrounded by pools and luau-themed items. Raffles raised money for the park, and the Friends of Valley Stream Dogs plan to use their budget to fund the upkeep of the dog park. A local groomer, Grooming by Cris, helped sponsor the event.

“It was a great day of dogs running around,” said Denise Barnard, the director of events for The Friends of Valley Stream Dogs.

But organizers said there were fewer people at the fundraiser than in previous years.

“Our annual Halloween event will have more people there, because dogs love to dress up,” said Rich Infield, President of Valley Stream Dogs.

Director of Events Denise Barnard further said that despite the low attendance, a few new people showed up to the dog park and were interested in becoming members.

The Friends of Valley Stream Dogs is a volunteer organization that provides space for Valley Stream dog owners. The organization originally formed to promote the creation of a dog run and is currently applying for 501(c) 3 status.

The park is open for members everyday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visit www.vsdogs.org for more information on how to become a member.