POTSDAM -- The Potsdam Community Dog Park has decided to be a tobacco-free property upon its opening, tentatively set for late summer behind the Potsdam Animal Shelter, 17 Madrid Ave.

Dog Park Lead Coordinator Deborah Massell has signed a Tobacco-Free Outdoors policy with Tobacco-Free St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis Counties, formally prohibiting use of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, and cigarillos at the park.

The Dog Park committee feels that this policy is consistent with their vision of creating a healthy space for people and dogs to play. Second hand smoke is equally toxic to animals as it is to humans, causing cancers, heart disease, and respiratory illness. The Surgeon General has reported that there is no safe level of exposure to second hand smoke. Eliminating tobacco use at the park will also protect dogs from becoming burned by or ingesting harmful cigarette butts or other environmentally toxic tobacco waste products.

Tobacco-Free St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis Counties Community Engagement Coordinator, Chelsea Bartlett, and Program Assistant, Elizabeth Billings, have been working with Massell since February to provide custom signage for the park as well as pet waste receptacles and posts.

The park will be added to a statewide registry of tobacco-free parks and playgrounds compiled by the Department of Health. For more information contact Chelsea Bartlett at (315) 713-4861 or cbartlett@svpc.net.

Tobacco-Free St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis aims to reduce the impact of tobacco use on our community.

For more information on the dog park, view earlier story at http://northcountrynow.com/news/work-underway-potsdam-community-dog-park-property-owned-humane-society-0114423