Our Mission:
Dogs.
DOGPAW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to maintaining four off-leash dog parks in Clark County, Washington. These parks play a vital role in enhancing our community’s quality of life, providing safe spaces where dogs and their people can run, walk, play, and thrive. Spending time outdoors with your dog not only strengthens your bond but also promotes a happier, healthier lifestyle for both of you!
Why DOGPAW?
DOGPAW (Dog Owners Group for Park Access in Washington) passionately believes off-leash dog parks are valuable to the whole community…
COMMUNITY DRIVEN
With more than 103,000 dogs in Clark County (per Animal Control), having a place for dogs to safely run, socialize, and exercise is very important. Home lot sizes are dwindling, leaving not much room for dogs to play in their yard. “Seeing my pup’s abject joy when he sees his friends show up at the park fills me with the same joy,” says one park user. The dogs develop a community of friends in the parks, and so do the people. For many, their time each day at the park is their best quality time with their friends without the daily stressors of work. “Walking with my friends after work, watching the dogs having a blast…what more could I want?” says another proud doggie mom.
Volunteers join together on the first Saturday of each month to work at a selected park, pulling weeds, trimming bushes and trees, picking up stray poops, and filling holes. “It’s becoming a social event, and we are seeing groups getting together even when it’s not a park beautification day to help keep the parks clean and safe,” says Eileen, the current DOGPAW president. “Our volunteers are awesome, and we couldn’t keep the parks going without them.” Volunteers are a vital part of the organization, handling everything from office-type work to fundraising to equipment repairs. It is truly a community-based operation.
GREEN SPACE
“In 2005, Clark County voters approved the formation of the Greater Clark Parks District” (Littman, The Columbian, 7/3/2016). While DOGPAW parks are not included in the Greater Clark Parks District program, the vote shows how important residents of our gorgeous county feel parks and open green spaces are for our community and an active way of life.
HEALTHIER FAMILIES
Between excellent bonding time, fresh air, and as much exercise as you want to get, dogs and their humans enjoy better cardiovascular health. Studies have shown that 30-minute walks a day help with weight loss, lower blood pressure, and a stronger immune system, along with a lot of other health benefits—and your dog will enjoy those same benefits.
BETTER OUTCOMES
Well-socialized and well-exercised dogs make better neighbors. Studies have shown that dogs that get out daily for exercise for at least one-half hour will bark less, are easier to train, and are less destructive. Bored dogs get into trouble! Troublesome dogs end up being returned to shelters, creating a sad cycle.
Asa and Jaspar
DOGPAW runs and maintains four off-leash parks in Clark County, Washington. Our parks are maintained by volunteers who give their time and energy to help maintain the parks as well as assistance from Clark County. Membership donations and business sponsorship pay for park upkeep. All of our off-leash dog parks are named after Vancouver and Clark County Police K-9s who died in the line of duty.
125k+
Dogs living in Clark County
The latest numbers from Animal Control show that more than 103,000 dogs live in Clark County!
25+
Years Serving Clark County
DOGPAW officially received its non-profit 501(c)(3) status in 2005, and until recently, limited tax dollars supported the parks. In January of 2019, Clark County stepped up to help with some maintenance—such as mowing and dog waste removal—at three of the four parks. Ike, our largest park, is still fully maintained through volunteers and donations.
27+
Acres of fun
With 10+ acres at Ike, 8 acres at Dakota, 2+ at Kane, and 7+ at Lucky, our doggies have a lot of room to run, play, and thrive! Their humans enjoy the miles of trails through these beautiful parks, too!
Happiness is A Dog Park
Enjoying rain or shine at the dog park, we all like to watch a group of happy dogs, all kinds, cavorting and playing, running, chasing and being chased back and forth, tongues hanging out, with boundless energy, and I thought with a smile, ‘This is a dose of happiness’.
Where else can our animal companions go to have so much freedom, so much fun, and share camaraderie with other dogs? And sniffing, oh my!
We are very fortunate to have access to these parks, and to have an organization like DOGPAW to advocate for safe off-leash parks. DOGPAW is grateful to our dog-loving community, members, and sponsors, whose financial and volunteer support helps to keep our parks open.
Marty Rutkovitz
President, DOGPAW
Get Involved!
Join us for fun at the parks! Meet with friends for walks on flat trails at Kane, Lucky, and Dakota, or even good workouts by hitting the hills at Ike Memorial Park. No matter which park you choose, you can take an easy stroll or get a good cardio workout with your pup. We have a lot of ways to volunteer, business sponsorship opportunities, and projects planned for the future.
Event Calendar
Events like our Park Beautification Days and public meetings are listed here, and more can be found on our FaceBook page.
Volunteer Opportunities
From office-type work to pulling weeds and other special projects, we have lots of opportunities for volunteering!
Make a Donation
Like most non-profit organizations, funding is always needed. Please consider donating, becoming a member, or even talking with your employer for matching donations with DOGPAW as your designated charity.