For those of us who use Coindre Hall, West Hills or Gardiner's for our dogs-please read VERY IMPORTANT!!!

Dear fellow dog owners,
We are contacting you because the Suffolk County Parks Dept. plans to get rid of off-leash activities at Coindre Hall and because we continue to get pushed back not only from the Parks Dept. but also County Executive Steve Levy's office regarding our calls to change the anti-dog owner attitude within Suffolk County government.
In recent days, as we have launched a call-in campaign to save Coindre Hall and push for new dog parks throughout the county, the County Executive's office has continued to demonstrate a complete disinterest and disdain for our cause. As a result, it is critical that EVERY SINGLE dog owner reading this message call or email the County Executive and the Parks Dept. in the coming days before Thanksgiving and ask them to save off-leash activities at Coindre Hall and change the anti-dog owner attitude in Suffolk County. If enough of us fail to call or email the County Executive and Parks Dept., not only will dog owners lose one of the most beautiful off leash areas on Long Island, but we will continue to face an uphill battle to create large, off-leash areas in every other Suffolk County Park as well.
Unfortunately, it is not enough to have the support of Legislators. We must change the attitude of the County Executive and the Parks Dept. as well!
The root of the problem starts at Coindre Hall. Recently, Suffolk County Parks Commissioner Ron Foley informed LI-DOG and Suffolk Parks Trustees that off-leash activities at Coindre Hall are an "inappropriate" use of the park and that he plans to eliminate such activities at the park. (To read the story, go to www.lidog.org).
The Commissioner's plans are one more example of how unfriendly to dog owners the Suffolk Parks Dept. has become. While dog owners have worked with local Legislators for over nine years to pass laws creating dog parks at Coindre Hall, West Hills and Blydenburgh, the Parks Dept. has continually diluted, delayed and now finally denied those legislative initiatives. As of early November, when we thought we would be opening a brand new run at West Hills Park, work has essentially halted. And, after LI-DOG proposed a solution for Coindre Hall that would allow dog owners to Share the Park with other park users, the Commissioner now plans to try to eject dog owners from one of the most beautiful, most beloved, unofficial off-leash areas on Long Island.
Whether it's keeping our right to enjoy Coindre Hall or creating large off-leash areas at West Hills, Blydenburgh, Gardiners Park, or any other Suffolk County park, we need a massive calling effort by dog owners to make the County and the Parks Dept. realize they cannot continue to discriminate against us in this way. But, we will not change how the county treats us until every one of us takes a couple of minutes between now and Thanksgiving to call or email Commissioner Foley's boss--County Executive Steve Levy as well as the Commissioner. Let them know:

- It's time for Suffolk County to stop fighting its hundreds of thousands of tax-paying, dog owning citizens every step of the way and start supporting us
- It's time for Steve Levy himself to take personal leadership of this issue
- Suffolk County seriously lags behind dozens of other counties across the nation that have created numerous off-leash areas for dog owners and their dogs
- Dog owners have worked responsibly to create a solution to Share the Park at Coindre Hall
- That it is not fair to try to get rid of the park's most dedicated supporters without working towards a solution with them
- That we love Coindre Hall
- That we care about Coindre Hall and take good care of the park
- That Suffolk Legislators have worked with dog owners in a constructive and supportive way. It's time for the Parks Dept. to stop treating us with such disrespect and work with us on solutions!

This is a pivotal point in our battle. Whether you use Coindre Hall or any other park, it is critical that you call or email the following:

- County Executive Steve Levy, phone 631-853-4235; email [email protected]

- Parks Commissioner Ron Foley, phone 631-854-4984; email [email protected]

Once you have called or emailed these officials, PLEASE let LI-DOG know that you've made these contacts by emailing us at [email protected]. This will help us gauge how successful we are.

If you can get at least 5 friends to call or email, we can really make a difference!!!

Finally, we would like to ask dog owners to join us at the Suffolk Parks Board of Trustees meeting this Thursday, Nov. 16th at 1 p.m. at Southaven Lodge in Southaven County Park, Brookhaven?
It was the Board of Trustees to whom Parks Commissioner Ron Foley said, ''dog owners think they have a right do to whatever they want at Coindre Hall'' and that Coindre Hall is "too small, too busy and [too] an important historic asset" for off-leash activities.
In fact, dog owners at Coindre Hall have been the subject of hours of discussion at the Board of Trustees. To see another discussion about us, go to the Board's January 2006 minutes at: http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/webtemp3.cfm?dept=10&id=2580
Go to the section titled, Alliance to Preserve Huntington Harbor.
Given all the discussion about dog owners at Coindre Hall, we think it's time the Trustees finally met us! As one fellow dog owner noted, many times the Trustees only hear what Commissioner Foley chooses to tell them.
If you'd like to tell the Trustees what you think of Commissioner Foley's plans for dog owners at Coindre Hall and what Coindre Hall means to you, join us Thursday afternoon at the Southaven Lodge in Southaven County Park in Brookhaven.
From the LIE, take Exit 67 South onto Yaphank Rd. Then, bear left onto Gerrard Rd., which will run along the western edge of Southaven County Park. Follow Gerrard Rd. until it merges with Victory Ave. (Sunrise Hwy. Service Rd.) heading East. Then, take your first left off Victory Ave. into the Park. Follow the signs for rowboat parking to park.
Please email us at [email protected], if you can come!

For more information, visit our website at www.lidog.org or email us at [email protected].

As always, thanks for all your support!

The LI-DOG Pack

Re: For those of us who use Coindre Hall, West Hills or Gardiner's for our dogs-please read VERY IMPORTANT!!!

thanks SO much for posting this.