With the campaign to SHARE Willard Beach wrapping up in the next few weeks it is time to look forward to the future of SoPoDOG and how we can continue to promote our mission of responsible dog ownership.

One of the tools we will need is funding from members through dues.

Last year dues were used for several things: our website hosing, handouts and fliers, ordering t-shirts, educational programming, obtaining our own P.O. box, etc.

Volunteers worked on the educational programming handing out fliers at Willard Beach this spring to ensure every dog owner would know about the ordinance changes and follow the rules. We believe that was a great success due to the fact that there were only 2 dog related police reports all spring, summer and fall. This certainly put us in an excellent position to work against the ordinance that came forward this summer.

Without funds we cannot run an active website, keep in contact with our members or hold fundraisers (initially fundraisers can cost money, before more funds are raised). We were also able to attend several local dog related events in Maine and that allowed us to further our presence in not only South Portland, but throughout Southern Maine and the state. All of these activities cost money.

While we are all volunteers we still need funds to pay the bills. Please become a dues paying member of SoPoDOG. It will be critical in the upcoming years to keep the access we currently have and make sure we are a viable group for the long term.

Throughout this campaign I have been astonished to see how many people have supported the work we do. I would like to see our previous membership of 200 people become at least 350 during our membership drive. That is certainly a reasonable number since we have had several hundred people donate, put up signs in their yards, canvass with us, make phone calls, look up phone numbers, write letters to the editor, etc.

Tell your neighbors, friends and fellow dog owners, we need to come together so we are a healthy, cohesive group who is working toward a common goal: responsible dog ownership that promotes access in public space. Membership this year is $10 per person or $15 per family.

Thank you, and I look forward to opening our mailbox and seeing your membership form in it (even the mailbox costs money!).

Donations can be sent to: SoPoDOG, P.O. Box 2163, South Portland, ME, 04106

-Crystal Goodrich

crystalgoodrich@gmail.com