The Long Island Dog Owners Group has learned that contract negotiations between Suffolk County and the Town of Huntington to build a fenced dog run in the woods at the foot of the Coindre Hall property have been suspended. Thanks to ALL the LI-DOG supporters who e-mailed and called Town Supervisor Frank Petrone and the four members of the Town Board to tell them building that dog run would be a big mistake and a waste of taxpayer money! Click here to read LI-DOG's letter to the Town Board.

    The contract between Suffolk County and the Town is the result of legislation passed in 2003 that required off-leash activities at Coindre Hall to be located in a fenced run in the woods at the foot of the property.

    Among the reasons we asked the Town not to proceed with that run are:

• The proposed run is far too small for the number of dog owners who use Coindre Hall now
• It is located in an isolated, overgrown area of the park, which raises significant security concerns
• There is inadequate parking for the large number of dog owners who use Coindre Hall let alone during the summer when town residents also use Gold Star Battalion Beach
• Members of the Alliance for the Preservation of Huntington Harbor have stated that they are not in favor of the location.

    In a letter released to LI-DOG on March 13, Leg. Jon Cooper said he had asked county and town attorneys to "postpone further contract negotiations" until a consensus has been reached on an alternate site for a dog run. Moreover, he wrote, "I have been assured that no further action will be taken until then."

    LI-DOG also received an e-mail from the Town on March 6 stating, "We certainly have no reason to move forward with the agreement if the dog owners are not in favor of it." The e-mail also warned, though, that "a change in location" could bring LI-DOG "back to "square one" and that the town would await further instructions from county representatives.

    Members of the Long Island Dog Owners Group and neighborhood associations are working through Leg. Jon Cooper's Citizens Advisory Committee on Coindre Hall to come up with a better solution that meets our needs as well as those of other park users. While we still have work to do, we are making good progress on agreeing to alternative locations and arrangements for off-leash activities at Coindre Hall. Once we reach an agreement, Leg. Cooper has assured us that he will do whatever is necessary to get county approval for our revised proposal.

    As always, feel free to contact us at lidog_news@yahoo.com.