At last Tuesday’s meeting of STDOA, we discussed what to do with two donations that we have recently, and sadly, received. Both are in memory of special people who 
cared about dogs and what we are doing.
The family of our founder and president Luanne Demers is giving us a donation in her memory as well as putting a leaf for her in the Memory Garden at Pinafore Park. Gord Burt, of Renovation Warehouse on Highway 3 east of St. Thomas, also left money to us when he recently passed away. He and our current President Joe Spencer have long 
been friends so Mr. Burt was kept up to date on the dog park and STDOA activities. Renovation Warehouse also has given us storage space when needed for large donations to the Caring Pet Cupboard.
Thank you to the families of both these extraordinary people we count as our friends. We decided to put the money in a memorial fund for the purchase of a park bench.
Last winter, a member pointed out that it would be helpful to have a bench mid-way on the main path going in the park. The pavement can be icy or muddy and somewhere to sit and regroup would be good. The City told us that benches suitable for long-wearing outside usage cost about $2,000 each. That’s the only type that they will agree to have installed on City property. And, indeed, the best type.
A lot of money, which we don’t have yet, but the contributions received from the Demers and Burt families is a very good start. We have wanted a memorial in the dog park for our friends – people and pets – and a bench is both needed and useful. Just like those friends.
If you would like to remember a person or a pet through our bench memorial, please contact info@stdoa.ca to discuss it.
In other news, don’t forget the December 11th fund-raising telethon on Roger’s Channel 13. The $800 rent for Memorial Arena has been covered, thanks to the generosity of Mayor Heather Jackson-Chapman herself and a donor who wishes to remain anonymous. Thank you. Now what’s raised will go directly to the costs of animal care.
The costs incurred by the rescue groups are direct savings to the City budget. The rescue groups take unclaimed animals out of the pound as well as animals who would likely end up there. Both ways, it’s the rescue groups paying the costs, not the City. Without these volunteer groups, the City (and taxpayer) costs for paid employee animal care and “disposal” would be many times higher each year.
And now, in honour of friendships, here’s a link to a lovely item about a woman and a horse from the CBC tv show On the Road Again. In the comments, there is mention that Phyllis and Shrag-ra both passed away in 2010. They remain a testament to the human-animal bond.
