Citizens for Off-Leash Areas (COLA) is a non-profit that was formed to obtain and maintain off-leash dog exercise areas in Seattle. In June 1996 COLA entered into a formal agreement with the City of Seattle to steward Seattle's off-leash areas. In September 1997, the Seattle City Council voted 9-0 to establish permanent off-leash dog areas, giving COLA the responsibility of stewarding the sites for the Department of Parks and Recreation. This vote was the result of more than six years of organizing, planning, and public process in which many hundreds of Seattle citizens attended dozens of meetings and thousands more wrote, faxed, and telephoned the City Council. COLA's most important fundraising event is Dog-O-Ween. This year it was held on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Genesee Park off-leash area. Along with the inherent fun of watching roving packs of pooches strutting their stuff in various clever Halooween get ups, COLA volunteers provided food, prizes for the most seasonably fashionable dogs and owners, a silent auction and vendor booths catering to the beloved pets.
For more information on COLA activities, visit their website at www.coladog.org.[[In-content Ad]]
