Lending a paw
Dog-friendly event tries to collar funds for new pound
By Shawn Clubb/ Suburban Journals

October 24, 2006 - Chilly weather failed to take the bite out of an event held Sunday to raise funds for a new city dog pound.

The Animal House Fund held Barkapalooza at Forest Park and managed a decent crowd, said Katherine McGowan, executive director of the group. The not-for-profit group has tasked itself with finding a site, raising funds and having a new pound built to turn over to the city.

The new pound would replace the city pound on Gasconade Street.

"It was gratifying to see so many people did come out that were energized with the project, excited to be there and brought out some great dogs," McGowan said.

McGowan recently said the group's efforts could not get into full swing until the location it wants in Arsenal-Ellendale Park is approved. A group called Citizens to Protect Forest Park wants to require a public vote on such use of city parks. The group has called into question whether the site is appropriate for a pound.

Mayor Francis Slay recently weighed in on the issue on his blog, www.mayorslay.com. He said he hopes the opposition effort does not kill the project.

"The current city dog pound is run-down, worn-out, generally unsatisfactory and almost all the public funds available for it are being spent on actual animal control and not on facility maintenance," Slay wrote. "With other urgent needs pressing on the city's budget, a publicly-funded, new city pound is pretty much out of the question."

McGowan said she and Ed Throop, chairman of the board for the Animal House Fund, plan to sit down with Slay and talk about where they are in the process.

While fund-raising efforts have slowed because of the uncertainty of the site, the Animal House Fund has continued to hold events. The group is working on another fund-raiser for Nov. 30 and Lola and Penelope's, a dog boutique in Clayton. It will hold Party Animals Trivia Night at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at St. Louis City Hall. Information events can be found at www.animalhousefund.org or by calling (314) 968-5505.

McGowan said Slay is not the only city official to endorse her group's efforts. Others include Aldermanic President Jim Shrewsbury, Comptroller Darlene Green, the mayor's Development Director Barbara Geisman, Parks Department Director Gary Bess, Alderman Bill Waterhouse and Jan Kuhl, president of the Ellendale Neighborhood Association.

The Animal House Fund would like to secure the property and do fund raising over the next year, McGowan said. The group hopes to break ground in about a year.

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