The Orange County Register 

 Dog park organizers propose memorial
 to service dogs

 PLACE OF HONOR: Memorial would
 honor police and service dogs 

 October 12, 2000 

 Byline: 
 Credit: Paige Austin

 Orange City News

 With support for the Orange dog park rapidly growing, the park's organizers
 are adjusting their plans to match the ambition and enthusiasm of their expanding
 volunteer base. Organizers are looking to add to the dog park a memorial for
 service dogs.
 Since August, when the City Council approved plans for a two-acre dog park at
 the west end of Yorba Park, more than 100 volunteers have joined the Orange
 Dog Park Association, bringing the total number of members to 135.

 Organizers are capitalizing on their newfound support base by brainstorming new
 ideas for the park, said Rick Cryder, co-founder of Orange Dog Park
 Association.

 The dog park will be not only the first of its kind in inland north Orange County.
 Currently, the nearest dog parks are in Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach dog
 parks. "It will also be the first memorial park for service dogs that we know of,"
 Cryder said.

 Originally, park organizers planned to honor police dogs fallen in the line of duty,
 but as Cryder researched the possibility, he found that there are many more
 service dogs that go unrecognized.

 For example, said Cryder, many police dogs aren't killed in the line of duty, but
 they are forced to retire early with injuries and health problems developed while
 serving.

 The memorial also will honor other types of service dogs, such as seeing eye
 dogs, search and rescue dogs, bloodhounds and therapy dogs.

 Therapy dogs are taken to places such as retirement homes, hospitals, and
 homes for the disabled where they are the source of affection and warmth,
 Cryder said.

 "Dogs have this ability to connect with people. They give that unconditional love
 and help people feel like they can relate.

 "Whether the memorial is a full bronzed statue or a plaque listing the names of
 dogs and handlers, we just want to find some way to pay tribute to our service
 dogs," Cryder said.

 For the dogs that are more beloved family members than public servants, the
 dogs park organizers are putting together a "Doggie Walk of Fame." 

 People will have the opportunity to buy plaques to honor of their own pets that
 will be placed in the ground similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The walk is
 modeled after a dog park in Huntington Beach.

 Sale of the plaques will help raise funds for park maintenance.

 Organizers still need to raise $15,000 to build the park and keep it fenced, said
 Jeannine Lawrie, co-founder of the Orange Dog Park Association.

 After raising $8,795 by selling T-shirts at the International Street Fair, Lawrie
 said she's confident that they can raise the money.

 The Orange Dog Park Association will be holding a "Day at the Park" event
 Oct. 14.

 Residents can come to Yorba Park, see where the dog park will be and ask
 organizers questions about the plans.

 People can also become members of the Orange Dog Park Association or just
 buy T-shirts to support the park. Organizers hope the park can be built at the
 first of the year. That may be optimistic, said Councilman Dan Slater.

 Yorba Park can't open until an architect is hired to design the park, which
 includes several sports fields. 

 There is also concern that the park's bathrooms aren't in working order and
 could have to be totally rebuilt, Slater said.

 For information about the Orange Dog Park Association, call Rick Cryder at
 (714) 744-3999.