Dog Park Project Gets Boost from Challenge Grant
The fundraising for a local dog park for Harrison got a boost this week with the announcement of a Challenge Grant from
Best Friends Pet Care.
After learning about the project initiated by Harrison Boy Scout RJ Suhre,
Best Friends has launched a matching funds initiative to help speed up the campaign. The company will match dollar-for-dollar, the first $1000 donated between now and Thanksgiving, yielding a total of $2000 towards the goal.
The dog park, which will be located downtown near Veteran’s Park, was approved by the Harrison Town Board in late September with the caveat that Suhre must raise all of the needed funds from private donations since municipal monies could not be used. About $8000 will be needed to put up the fence and prepare the property.
After almost a month of solicitation, however, the campaign is less than halfway to the goal. “We really need to get donations in quickly,” say Suhre, who been working on the project since last spring. “The fencing has to be installed before the ground freezes or we won’t be able to open the park by spring.”
Although Suhre is a dog lover himself, he also undertook the dog park initiative as his Eagle Scout project. The park must open to the public before Suhre turns 18 in March for him to earn the Eagle Scout award.
Best Friends manager Crissy Carpanzano, who has been in Harrison for 15 years, says that when RJ stopped into Best Friends to drop off some flyers about his fund drive, “we all become very excited that Harrison dogs could finally have its own off-leash park. Exercise and socialization are so important for the health of our dogs.”
“We knew right away that we needed to do something to help, and we needed to do it quickly,” she said.
To get the fundraising challenge off the ground,
Best Friends has sent out an appeal to all of its Harrison clients, encouraging them to support the cause. “We set Thanksgiving as our challenge deadline because we want to be sure the RJ is able to meet the deadline for Eagle Scout certification.”
To participate in the Best Friends Challenge Grant, visit or call
Best Friends at 590 Harrison Road in Harrison, 914-967-1721. Donations can be made by phone, using a credit card.“You don’t need to be a client of ours to participate in the Challenge Grant. We will match every dollar donated, regardless of the source,” adds Carpanzano. “So call us soon, and whatever you donate will double in value!”
For more information about the dog park, contact RJ Suhre at 914-469-9089.
Gabby is a goldendoodle who recently celebrated her 1st birthday in camp. She has been coming to Best Friends since she was about 4 months old. She started in our puppy playgroup before "graduating" to our camp. Gabby is full of energy at all times and loves to wrestle with her buddies.
Dublin is a 4 yr old English Springer Spaniel who loves to lounge on the jungle gym, play fetch, and chew on nylabones. He comes to camp several times a week and loves being with his best friends.
Going away for Thanksgiving? Have your pet stay with us amd enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving Day turkey dinner. For only $5, your pet can be treated to a special holiday meal complete with roasted turkey and a biscuit for desert! They will gobble it down faster than you can say "turkey!"
Diego is a 3 1/2 yr old Boxer who is a total ladies' man. He greets all the female workers with a big kiss. Diego loves to rough house and run around camp with his friends too.
Damien is a 5 1/2 yr old yorkie mix who loves to hang out with all his buddies in camp. He loves to give kisses and play chase.
Chompsky is a 2 yr old Lhasapoo who has been coming to camp for most of his life. He is a cuddler and a kisser with his camp counselors, but also enjoys romping and playing with his little buddies.
Lily is a 2 1/2 yr old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and Ruby is a 2 yr old Bullmastiff. They both are so sweet and love to play with their friends. They both also love when their counselors blow bubbles for them to pop.
Jackson is a 1 1/2 yr old Bichon Frise who has been coming to Best Friends since he was 4 months old. He started in our puppy playgroup before graduating to doggy daycamp. He loves to cuddle, give kisses, and wrestle with his little buddies.
Mei Mei is a 2 1/2 yr old yellow lab mix who is also a released Guiding Eyes for the Blind dog. She is the queen of the jungle gym and loves to jump on, over and through it. She also loves to have a bone or kong in her mouth at all times if possible.
