Hound Heros of Capitol Hill: Hill Hounds (hillhounds.com) is a small, volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization made up of many of the dog-owning residents of Capitol Hill. First organized in 2004, the early members of Hill Hounds set their sites on changing DC laws to allow for the creation of official dog parks within the city, hoping to create the first of such parks here on Capitol Hill. Manned with pens and petitions, they rallied for community support. Once petitions were in, they tenaciously fought the tedious bureaucratic battle required of anyone trying to change legislation, and they won! (No party yet.) The Hill Hounds had more paperwork to fill out, funds to raise for the park’s maintenance and amenities, and negotiations with the DC Department of Parks and Recreation on the park’s would-be design. After almost seven years of meticulous organization, Herculean effort, epic tenacity, and what can only be explained as an incredible passion for unleashing canines who yearn to run free, their goal became reality. On March 25th, 2011, the Hill Hounds became local heroes when Kingman Dog Park opened to the public. If you happen upon one of these doggie do-gooders sit, shake and thank them for the mighty achievement that is Kingman Dog Park.
Social Net-Woofing: Now the pet-owner answer to MoTH (the list serve for parents on the Hill) Hill Hounds is a site for our four-legged friends and their parents to connect and socialize. Go to hillhounds.com for Capitol Hill insider dog intel and owner get-togethers. Any smart Capitol Hill dog owner runs with this pack.
One Nation, Under Dog: It is said that a tired dog is a good dog. If that’s indeed true, then Hill Dogs - politically connected, “pack proud” and exercising their rights daily – are the very best of dogs. ★
www.pawticulars.com capitalcommunitynews.com • 189