Roam if you want to

Pooches can celebrate autumn at three new dog parks. St. Louis’ Southwest City Dog Park plans to open in the fall, Maryland Heights’s first dog park, Dogport, opened in July, and Swansea Dog Park opened in Melvin Price Park opened earlier this month. The SW City Dog Park, in Willmore Park at Hampton and Jamieson Avenues, will be open from 6am to one hour after sunset. Resident fees are $50 for the first dog, $10 for each additional dog. Nonresidents pay $80 for the first dog, $10 for each additional one. Dogport is at 2350 Old McKelvey Rd., near the Maryland Heights Centre. Only Maryland Heights residents can bring their canines to Dogport, where membership costs $30 for the first dog, and $5 for a second dog. Swansea Dog Park is located on Caseyville Ave. Call (314) 234-0044 for details.

Trouble in paradise

After 35 years of allowing visitors to view exotic animals from their car, the Exotic Animal Paradise in Strafford will close Oct. 1. The drive-through animal park features about 70 species of animals and plans to put the creatures up for auction. Facility owners Ron and Brenda Armitage sold the park due to increasing operating costs. A real-estate developer bought the 500 acres and plans to build housing developments and a golf course. However, there are ways that you can try to help the auctioned animals find good homes. “I think one thing that could be done for the exotic animals is contact small zoos around the country and find out if they are in need of any animals,” says Gail Henning of Christians Caring for Critters. “Make them aware of the upcoming auction, and if they need funds to purchase the animals, fundraising is another option.”

A rational idea

Pop ARF artist Nathan Janes has joined paws with Rational Animal, a nonprofit organization that aims to increase awareness of at-risk animals. Janes has designed a special pewter lapel pin, available at animal rescue facilities, that will help with fundraising projects and support Rational Animal’s Animal Guardian Ribbon Campaign. The orange pin, which is in the shape of a ribbon with a paw print at the top, promotes animal guardianship rather than ownership. In addition to the pin, Janes has also created an original portrait of a dog sitting in front of New York City skyscrapers wearing an animal guardian ribbon and an orange “Adopt Me” vest. For more about Rational Animal, visit www.Rational-Animal.org. For more information on Pop ARF, visit www.PopArf.com.