Friends of the Mora Dog Park

11/11/2025

🦃🍁 Thanksgiving Safety Tips for Pets (from your friends at Mora Community Dog Park)

The holiday hustle can be overwhelming for our four-legged pals. Keep celebrations safe and stress-free with these quick tips:

Skip the Sharing Plate

No turkey bones, skin, or drippings (choking & pancreatitis risk)

Avoid onions, garlic, chives, leeks, grapes/raisins, xylitol, alcohol, unbaked yeast dough, and rich/fatty scraps

Plain bites only if you must share: a small taste of unseasoned turkey breast, green beans, carrots, or pumpkin

Guard the Kitchen & Trash

Use pet-proof trash cans or take scraps straight outside

Keep foil, skewers, twine, corn cobs, and toothpicks out of reach

Park curious noses with a stuffed Kong or lick mat in another room

Mind the Doors & Guests

Post a “Pets Inside—Please Close the Door” note near entrances

Collars with current ID tags on before company arrives

Create a quiet “safe zone” with water, bed, and toys if your pet needs a break

Cold-Weather Caution

Short, supervised potty breaks for small, senior, or short-haired dogs

Dry paws after walks; watch for ice-melt irritation and antifreeze leaks

Traveling?

Buckle up with a crash-tested harness or crate

Pack food, meds, leashes, and a recent photo just in case

Know the Signs to Call a Vet

Vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, drooling, tremors, restlessness, weakness, or sudden pain

📞 Emergency Resources

Local emergency vet (save your nearest ER’s number in your phone)

ASPCA Poison Control: (888) 426-4435

Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661

From all of us at Mora Community Dog Park—have a safe, happy, tail-wagging Thanksgiving! 🐾🧡

10/14/2025

NOTICE: The water spigot at the dog park has been shut off for the season.

Many thanks to the City of Mora, MN for installing the spigot this year! So great to be able to provide the pups with fresh water during the warm months!

10/13/2025

🚭 Keep Our Park Safe — Protect Dogs from Ni****ne Poisoning

Did you know that even a small amount of ni****ne can be highly toxic — and sometimes deadly — to dogs? 🐾 To***co products like cigarette butts, chewing to***co, v**e pods, and ni****ne pouches contain concentrated ni****ne that can make dogs very sick, even if they only ingest a tiny amount.

Please help keep our park safe for everyone’s pups by properly disposing of:
• 🚬 Cigarette butts and ashes
• 🧃 V**e pods and cartridges
• 🪶 Chewing to***co and ni****ne pouches
• 🗑️ Any packaging, filters, or wrappers

Even a single cigarette butt can contain enough ni****ne to cause serious harm to a curious dog. Please always use the trash bins and never leave to***co products on the ground or in the grass.

🐶 Symptoms of Ni****ne Poisoning in Dogs
If your dog eats or chews to***co or ni****ne products, symptoms may appear within minutes. Watch for:

Vomiting or drooling

Restlessness or agitation

Tremors, shaking, or muscle twitching

Rapid heart rate

Weakness or collapse

Seizures

If you suspect your dog has ingested ni****ne:

Call your veterinarian immediately — or an emergency vet clinic.

You can also call the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for guidance.

Do not try to make your dog vomit unless specifically instructed by a vet.

Let’s work together to keep the Mora Community Dog Park clean, safe, and enjoyable for all our furry friends. 💚

****nePoisoning

10/07/2025

🐾 “It’s OK—my dog’s friendly!” … But is the other dog?

We know most pups who visit the park are happy, social, and just want to make new friends. But not every dog is comfortable being approached by an unfamiliar dog — even a friendly one. Some may be nervous, recovering from an injury, working on training, or simply prefer their personal space.

💡 Before allowing your dog to run up to another, always ask first. It’s good manners and helps keep everyone safe and relaxed.

Even in an off-leash area, consent still matters — for both dogs and their people. Uninvited greetings can lead to stress, scuffles, or setbacks in training.

Let’s help make Mora Community Dog Park a fun and respectful place for every pup by:
✅ Asking before letting dogs greet
✅ Watching body language for signs of stress
✅ Calling your dog back if another owner says “not right now”

A little space goes a long way toward keeping tails wagging and everyone enjoying their time at the park! 🐶💚

10/05/2025

Why Picking Up After Your Dog Matters 🐾💩

We all love visiting the Mora Community Dog Park, but keeping it clean and safe takes teamwork! Dog waste isn’t just unpleasant—it can spread harmful bacteria and parasites to other pets, wildlife, and even people. Plus, when left on the ground, it can wash into storm drains and pollute our waterways.

By picking up after your dog every time, you’re helping protect the health of our pets, keeping the park welcoming for everyone, and showing pride in our community. Bags and bins are available, so please do your part—scoop, bag, and toss!

Let’s all help keep our park clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone who visits. ❤️🐕

10/03/2025

🎃🐾 Halloween Pet Safety Tips 🐾🎃

Halloween can be a fun and exciting time, but it also comes with a few extra risks for our four-legged friends. To help keep your pets safe this spooky season, here are a few reminders:

👻 Keep candy out of reach — chocolate and sugar substitutes like xylitol can be toxic to dogs.
🕯️ Be mindful of decorations — wires, candles, and small objects can be hazards.
🎭 Costumes are cute, but only if your pet is comfortable and can move, see, and breathe easily.
🚪 Trick-or-treat traffic can be overwhelming, so make sure your pet has a safe, quiet space away from the door.
🔒 Always double-check collars, leashes, and gates to prevent escape during the excitement.

Let’s all make sure Halloween is safe, happy, and treat-filled for both pets and people at the Mora Community Dog Park! 🍬🐶🐱

10/02/2025

Ordinance no. 483 - Adopted June, 2021

10/02/2025

🐾✨ Looking for new ways to make your dog park visits even more fun? Games are a great way to strengthen your bond with your pup while reinforcing good training habits. Here are a few ideas to try next time you visit:

🎾 Fetch with a Twist – Instead of tossing the ball right away, ask your dog for a “sit” or “stay” before the release. It builds patience and keeps their focus on you.

🌀 Recall Races – Team up with a friend! Stand at opposite ends of the park and take turns calling your dogs. Reward with treats or play when they come running. It’s great practice for recall.

🐶 Hide & Seek – Duck behind a tree or park bench and call your pup. When they find you, make it a big celebration! This helps reinforce trust and attentiveness.

🦴 Training Games – Practice commands like “sit,” “down,” “leave it,” or “drop it” using toys instead of treats. This makes training fun and keeps their mind engaged.

🐾 Obstacle Fun – Use natural features like benches, logs, or low fences as makeshift agility obstacles. Guide your pup over, under, or around for some extra mental and physical exercise.

Remember: keep games positive, respect other park users, and always celebrate your dog’s wins with praise, treats, or play. 🐕💖

👉 What’s your dog’s favorite park game? Share below—we’d love to hear your ideas!

10/01/2025

🌟🐾 October Park Dog of the Month Contest! 🐾🌟

It’s time to celebrate the amazing pups who make the Mora City Dog Park such a special place! We’re looking for our October Park Dog of the Month—and we want to see YOUR furry best friend shine! ✨🐕

📸 How to Enter:
1️⃣ Like this post 👍
2️⃣ Share our page to your own profile so more dog lovers can join in the fun! 🔄
3️⃣ Send us a photo of your dog enjoying the Mora City Dog Park 📷 via Messenger, along with:
• A short bio about your pup 🐶
• What YOU love most about the Mora City Dog Park 💚

The winning dog will be featured as our October Park Dog of the Month with a special spotlight post and featured as our page cover photo for the whole month! 🏆 Winner to be announced October 6th.

Let’s see those happy tails wagging—get your entries in today! 🐾💛

10/01/2025

🐾 Reactive Dog vs. Aggressive Dog: What’s the Difference? 🐾

Many people confuse reactivity with aggression, but they aren’t the same thing. A reactive dog is one who overreacts to triggers—like other dogs, people, or noises—often barking, lunging, or whining. This behavior usually comes from fear, stress, excitement, or lack of social skills. An aggressive dog, on the other hand, intends to cause harm. While both can look similar from the outside, the motivation behind the behavior is very different.

✨ Tips for Reactive Dog Owners:

Know your dog’s triggers and give them space when possible.

Use tools like harnesses, long lines, or muzzles (when appropriate) to keep everyone safe.

Practice calm redirection with treats or cues your dog knows.

Advocate for your dog—don’t be afraid to say “please give us space.”

Celebrate small wins and remember progress takes time.

✨ How Others Can Help When They See a Reactive Dog:

Give space: Don’t crowd gates, trails, or sidewalks. Step aside if possible.

Don’t approach or reach out—even if you love dogs. Wait for the owner to say it’s okay.

Don’t offer treats or talk to the dog without asking.

Stay calm and quiet: loud reactions or sudden movements can increase stress.

Respect the leash: if you see a dog on leash, assume they may need extra space.

Don't shame or judge: Chances are the owner struggling with a reactive dog is embarrassed, stressed, and oftentimes sad that the world can be a scary place for their dog. Your understanding and encouragement can go a long way!

When communities understand the difference and work together, it helps keep all dogs—and people—safe and comfortable. 💙🐶

10/01/2025

10/01/2025

This page is strictly informational and educational to share tips and tricks on dog health and safety, city bulletins regarding the park, organize fundraising events to hopefully expand and improve the park, recruit volunteers for maintaining and keeping the park clean, etc. We encourage everyone to like and follow the page!

For engagement, to share funny dog memes, photos of your pets enjoying the park and arrange meet ups, please join the other group by searching for "dog park in mora".