For a Tiny but Feisty Dog Run, A National Pat on the Head
It was big news for East Village canines. The First Run dog run in Tompkins Square Park came in fourth in a national dog parks ranking by Dog Fancy magazine
          -- By Seth Kugel, New York Times, May 22, 2005


Tompkins Square Bark is Top Dog
The canine playground, called First Run, will get its paws on $10,000 this morning as the prize for being named one of the best dog parks in the nation by Dog Fancy.
          -- By Marissa Widdison, New York Daily News, May 20, 2005


The editors of Dog Fancy partnered with Deramaxx to conduct a first-of-its-kind review of U.S. dog parks based on a range of criteria from safety considerations to owner educational resources. With more than 700 dog parks across the country, their list recognizes the best parks for dogs in the United States today:

The Top 10 U.S. Dog Parks

1. Millie Bush Bark Park -- Houston, Texas
2. Fort Woof Dog Park -- Fort Worth, Texas
3. Alimagnet Dog Park -- Burnsville, Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
4. Tompkins Square Dog Run -- New York City, New York
5. University City Dog Play Area -- St. Louis, Missouri
6. Piedmont Dog Park -- Atlanta, Georgia
7. Wiggly Field -- Chicago, Illinois
8. Chattanooga Chew Chew Canine Park -- Chattanooga, Tennessee
9. Best Friend Dog Park -- Huntington Beach, California (Los Angeles)
10. Hazeldale Dog Park -- Aloha, Oregon (Portland)  

The Tompkins Square Dog Run (www.firstrunfriends.org) in New York City is known by regulars as First Run. Located in the East Village, the park has a large and small-dog area which provides the only non-pavement location in the city where dogs are legally allowed off-leash. First Run is undertaking a massive renovation to improve on the already impressive 18,000­square foot park by upgrading the surface of the run, water fountains and entrance areas to make them wheelchair accessible.
           -- Dog Fancy Magazine, June 2005  

Dr. Dave presents The 2005 Eastminster Kennel Club Dog Show
A fun and comical fundraiser to benefit the Tompkins Square Dog Run and the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC). Events and awards include "The Not Very Agile Agility Course, Best Poop, Least Likely to Listen, Most Annoying Bark, Best at Owner Mind-Control, Most Cat-like Dog, etc. 

Suggested donation of $25 at the gate. All dogs and their owners are welcome to contribute and participate. For more information, visit the Eastminster Kennel Club

Bringing Positive Energy To Humans And Their Pets
Tune in your TIVO, First Run's own Kari Harrendorf, along with Charlie, Rosie, Camile and Penny and many of their First Run Friends, host Animal Planet's K9 Karma.

Each episode begins and ends at Kari's Yoga studio, but the good karma doesn't stop there. Each episode focuses on Kari Harendorf and her five-year-old husky mix, Charlie, as they present a new approach to life with your dog in the city. It's all part of Animal Planet's new daytime "Simple Pleasures" programs, reminding people to slow down and enjoy the little things in life. Oftentimes they're the best!

For more information, visit the show's official fan site. And remember to tune in weekday afternoons at 11:30 or 2:30 EST. Better yet, call the studio and enroll in a doga class with your dog!