You may have noticed these signs near the abandoned tennis courts near the Palmer Park Pet Exercise Training
Area and along the diagonal path from the parking lot into the woods.
We found Boo right off of route MM (where it curves south to Rt. 89) on June 22nd of 2002.
I saw a German Shepherd puppy wallowing in the mud beside the road and commented, "there's a puppy down there."
When I glanced in my rear view mirror, he was in the middle of the road and looked injured.
He was actually chasing his tail. I walked up to him and he growled at me. I told my wife she could try and that I wasn't going near him.
As she walked up to him, he literally jumped into her arms.
We went to the nearest house to see if he might've run away from them (it was the only house nearby) but they had never seen him.
He did have a collar so we suspected then he was a runt and was left to fend for himself in the middle of nowhere.
We called the Walworth County Sheriff and the Rock County Sheriff to see if anyone had reported him missing.
Both told us he was ours in seven days if no one came-a-calling.
No one did.
We figured Boo to be about 6-months old when we found him -- and certainly appeared to be a healthy dog.
And that was the beginning of a sometimes wild, never uneventful, 6 and a half year ride.
He was always thin but we simply figured he'd fill out one day and look like a real german shepherd.
He would occasionally throw up -- but what the heck, he's a dog and dogs eat stuff and throw up.
About two years ago he really began to struggle keeping on weight and keeping food down.
After many months we finally discovered that he had megaesophagus - an enlarged esposhagus.
Whenever he would eat, the food would not work its way to his stomach like most dogs or you and I. His food stayed in his esophagus. And
eventually, he would throw it up.
We now knew why he struggled to keep on weight -- it rarely reached his stomach.
He lost his voice (mainly from throwing up so much) and continued to struggle getting nourishment.
He began to have serious G.I. problems.
Despite all of these problems, he remained alert, still very physical and loved to run and play.
Sometime this fall, aspiration pneumonia began to set in and he never fully rebounded.
Sometime in November eating became painful - he wanted to eat, but processing food caused severe pain.
Over the past three weeks, he has eaten very little.
Last Thursday, Dec 17th, we started talking about putting him down and by Saturday had made the decision to help end his pain (on Monday
the 22nd).
But on Sunday, we fed him scrambled eggs and he made a huge rebound. He played and went for a walk and simply had a wonderful day.
Dr. Schambow called and asked if we still needed him to come by Monday -- we cancelled.
I began thinking about being able to take him for walks in some of the deeper woods in our area (he loved long walks).
Monday however, all the food he ate on Sunday came right back up.
His tail never came up and he laid on the couch - unless he was outside vomitting with diarrhea.
He was in so much pain.
We sat with him through the night and put him down today.
Boo was a trooper with a valiant spirit.
He was a great watch dog.
He would've been a great rescue dog as he loved to dig.
At Christmas and birthdays he inspected every box before we opened anything.
He loved coming to the dog park and loved his companions.
Boo was always a lover and never fought with the other dogs.
He just wanted to play.
I want to thank Dr. Rick Schambow for making all those house calls even when he knew Boo would try to kill him.
Tonight I went out and shoveled. Since I have had Boo, I have never shoveled alone. I kept waiting for him throw a ball at me or grab
one of his buckets for me to throw.
The house is quiet.
And we are all very sad.
And lonely.
Frank Allison said, "He'll be running in a grassy meadow pain-free when the day comes that you cross that
bridge to reclaim him."
I truly look forward to that day.
Tom Edwards
savethedogpark.com ps - if you scroll down. you'll see Boo in some video coverage of our campaign. Notice how hard he is running -- he
was sick at this point but we did not know with what.
In another, you can see how thin he is and that he is drooling a lot -- something he never did until about the time this news story was
aired.
Positive Listening Session In a nutshell, no radical changes are scheduled. About 30 people attended.
Issues ranged from official boundaries of the P.E.T.A, waste removal, a new parking lot and a possible fence along Palmer Drive. I'll post news
stories tomorrow. In the meantime,
Here is the official press release: LISTENING SESSION FOLLOW UP.doc
May 20th, 2008
PLEASE ATTEND THE
"LISTENING SESSION"
scheduled for tonight.
Where: Harrison School
760 Princeton Rd.
Janesville Map Here
When: May 20 - 6:30p
Why: To Discuss The Future Of The PETA With Local Government Officials
PLEASE ATTEND!
Dec 30, 2007
My guess is the P.E.T.A is the busiest park in Janesville:
This Is Why We Fought This Fight.
Don't Forget The City Council Meeting On Jan 28th.
Check This Site For Details On A "Dog-In" Near That Date.
The City Council Still Has Not Voted.
Happy New Year!
12/12 Study Session -- VICTORY?
The Janesville city council agreed tonight to hold public hearings on January 28th to discuss two pool options:
1. Repair & Maintain What We Have (Rockport & The Wading Pool At Palmer)
2. Proceed With Planning To Upgrade Rockport
CHANGES TO PALMER PARK, INCLUDING ANY LARGE POOL OR AQUATIC CENTER WILL NOT BE
CONSIDERED! This, folks, is a victory for the Pet Exercise Training Area Of
Palmer Park! Here is my press release.
I put a question mark after VICTORY above as I urge all of you to continue to write, email or call your city council
members, and to show up at the public hearing on January 28th.
Thanks to all of you!
UPDATE 12/11/07 Sorry we had to cancel the Dog-In. Despite the weather, about 20 dogs were on hand. We will reschedule for the day prior to
the city council's vote (sometime in January - check back for details).
In the meantime,
The Janesville City Council meets tomorrow night (Wed, 12/12/07) -- they'll be discussing the aquatics committee's
report. Should be an interesting evening. The peanut gallery is not allowed to comment, but a good showing would be wonderful
Where: Council Chambers -- 18 N. Jackson
When: 6pm
Afterwards, I'll post comments and any news coverage.
Check here and at www.TheDogIn.com
Sunday's Gazette has a very good story by Ann Fiore on the aquatics center. Illuminating are the comments from the aquatics
committee co-chairs,
Renee Dooman: "The committee just wanted a community pool that kids, adults and disable residents could use. I think Janesville needs to focus on
its future growth, not just staying in the present." (Renee needs to read the Washington Post article to which we've
linked. People are asking for "dog parks" not aquatic centers. Funny, how many of you were ever contacted by an aquatics committee person for
YOUR opinion. I sure wasn't)
And the other chairwoman, Shelly Crull-Hanke said, "Janesville needs a bigger aquatic center long term, and that won't change. It was frustrating
to see [our recommendations] not followed through and getting something built for Janesville. I hope it will be." (Please
folks, this is exactly why we need to be diligent and vigilant in our opposition. A vote has not yet been held. I guarantee the aquatic committee
still has the ear of several city council members. We have won a battle. No victory until the council votes in January. tde)
Janesville aquatics announcement surprises committee chair
REMEMBER, We Need To Keep Up The Pressure -- Only The City Council People Get To Vote.
I Guarantee This Same Shock Is Being Felt Throughout The Council (CLICK HERE FOR WCLO Story)
City Mgr Steve Sheiffer Announces Opposition To Proposed Aquatic Center
(This Is Goodman Aquatic In Madison. By The Way, It's Sitting Empty Right Now. It's Only Available 78
Days A Year And Is Losing $140,000 A Year)
Or Snow Falling On This?
It's Your Choice. Sign The Petition.
Janesville Gazette Lead Column 11/20/07
&
Janesville Gazette Guest Column 11/27/07
CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW (adobe reader is required)
In a November 20th article in the Daily Reporter, Wisconsin's Construction, Law & Public Record Newspaper, city leisure
services director Mike Williams said, "obviously the impact with the dog park will have to be considered, but Palmer Park looks
like the most promising site." ( http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20047176& snippet=f)
"I'd be suicidal if I didn't have this park," Foster, 62, said recently as she sat on a picnic table surrounded by friends -- and dogs --
at the Fort Ethan Allen park. "Coming here is the central part of my day. I couldn't live without it."
The local dog park has found a permanent home in the Washington region, evolving into a place where people can find and build a community
in a sprawling metropolitan area that offers few venues outside the workplace to make friends, particularly for baby boomers or for those who
find themselves alone."
READ THIS STORY!
November 5, 2007 -- Janesville City Manager quoted in NBC 15 story as saying, "There is a lot of room there and it would be
easy to move the dog exercise area," telling us he wants to move the P.E.T.A. across Palmer Drive. The elderly using the current park will
not be able to walk the trails where Sheiffer would prefer.
In an email to the Janesville City Council members, I stated:
A growing number of people are voicing their concerns that
1. you are in favor of building a waterpark at the Pet Exercise Training Area of Palmer Park
2. the cost of building a waterpark at all is prohibitive.
3. And mentioned the Stan Milam quote (on our home page).
To be fair, CIty Councilman George Brunner replied, stating,
Mr. Edwards:
In your email you stated that Stan Milan had said that "all of you (City Council) had come back to Mr. Sheiffer and (that we) have decided
the PETA is the best location" for an aquatics facility. First let me state that I have not heard any council members state the PETA was the best
location.
There will be further debate and a public hearing on the question of an aquatics facility and then a decision as to what if anything
should be done.
The decision will be based on what is best for the city, should the city provide aquatics and if so to what extent, what the city can
afford, and what input or comments the council has received to date and receives during the discussions and public hearing. There have been no
decisions by the city council regarding the building of a new aquatics facility and/or the rennovation of the existing facility at Rockport
Park.
I hope that this helps clarify the matter. I appreciate your input.
George Brunner
City Manager, Steve Sheiffer has replied:
Mr: Edwards
No
decisions have been made on the future of the
Janesville swimming pools. I anticipate that the City Council will be asked to hold a study session in December and then hold a public hearing
in January. The Council will have a number of options available including continuing to repair the current facilities.
Steve
Additionaly, Councilman Craig Degarmo and I have spoken. He has assured me that all options are on the table and all options will be
reviewed.
