Mission: ARF-ARF provides a healthy resource to foster the fitness and social growth of dogs and their owners. This group serves pet owners and potential pet owners in the Rockaways. ARF-ARF views Rockaway Freeway Dog Park as a community project, in partnership with the City of New York and the Department of Parks, designed to satisfy the needs of dog owners and non-dog owners alike. ARF-ARF acts as a steward of this park, further developing and improving it as a beautiful, well-maintained space open to all dog lovers and friends who are willing to uphold the park’s rules and restrictions. This group also works for increased leashed and off-leash recreation opportunities for responsible dog owners, guardians, and for their companions.
Results: 2010 Queens Outstanding Partnership Award (Partnerships for Parks)
2011 Community Groundbreaker Award (Citizens Committee for NYC)
2011 "Best of Outdoors" Dog Park (Curbed NY)
Rescued 14 turtles, 1 Russian tortoise, 1 dog, 1 cat, and brought 20 pet meals to Rockaway residents immediately after Sandy; also worked with rescues and residents to coordinate efforts; also distributed dozens of pet supplies to pet owners during the Holidays
Received Recovery Grant from Partnerships for Parks in 2013
Held 20 successful pet owner events to date
Target demographics: people and animals
Geographic areas served: Rockaways, NY
Programs: Improving and maintaining Freeway Dog Park
Advocating for more pet friendly spaces
Promoting responsible pet ownership
Providing people and their pets with fun social activities that promote better fitness
Providing assistance to pets in need
Arf-Arf was the pre-eminent boots on the ground animal rescue group assisting residents in the Rockaways and Broad Channel directly after Hurricane Sandy. Their representatives are professional, polite and most of all, extremely sensitive to the emotional bonds between owners and their pets. They helped place pets that could no longer be at home with their loved ones due to the storm destroying their living conditions.
ARF-ARF is a friendly and dedicated group of community members who encourage responsible dog ownership and socialization. ARF-ARF is committed to a more pet friendly community and encourages socialization for dogs, as well as their owners. While ARF-ARF's main mission is to steward the Rockaway Freeway Dog Park, they are committed to working with the community in many areas, such as public safety, beautification, and volunteerism. ARF-ARF helped turn an underutillized park area into a thriving, active, safe and fun location for dogs and owners to enjoy the outdoors together.
ArfArf maintains a beautiful site for dogs and their owners. This park is one of the most wonderful venues for dogs. With trees, and grass and a safe place for animals and their families to socialize with others.
To be honest ARF-ARF IS VERY PROFESSIONAL.The organization work with & accept input from the community,they do not operate like a dictatorship.This is the organization to volunteer for those who love animals.
ARF-ARF has a great group of people working to make a more pet friendly Rockaway. It's Board of Directors (all volunteers) hold down full time jobs (except 1 person) while devoting many hours to this organization. These people are among the most devoted to the community and to animals. Freeway Dog Park, once a den of ill repute, has now become a more vibrant and safe space because of the passion this group has for the care of this park. I'm very excited to see what will the years will have in store for ARF-ARF.
